Associate Director of Public Policy Job Opportunity

Organizational Profile

The National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) is a membership-based consortium of state and local agencies, corporations, and national organizations committed to the advancement of access, equity, and diversity in classrooms and workplaces. The NAPE Education Foundation, Inc. (the Foundation or NAPEEF), established in 2002, partners with NAPE to provide equity and diversity solutions for educators to help every student fulfill his or her potential through access to the entire career spectrum. NAPE and the Foundation accomplishes this mission by collaborating with stakeholders in career and technical education and workforce development to build the capacity of teachers, administrators, parents, and employers through its four lines of business: professional development, technical assistance, research, and public policy. For the remainder of this announcement the acronym NAPE will be used to describe the membership organization and the Foundation together as the work of the Associate Director of Public Policy is supported by both organizations. The NAPE Education Foundation is the employer of record.

Click here for the NAPE Organizational Chart

Position Description

The Associate Director of Public Policy (ADPP) leads the public policy advocacy component of NAPE’s mission at the federal level in advancing access, equity, and diversity in classrooms and workplaces. The ADPP is responsible for implementing NAPE’s Public Policy Agenda by 1) building relationships with congressional members & their staff along with federal agency officials, 2) working with NAPE public policy members to both gather and disseminate their interests and concerns to federal policy makers, 3) share federal policy updates and pending legislative initiatives and changes that may directly or indirectly affect NAPE state, affiliate and individual members, and 4) provide opportunities for NAPE members to visit congressional members/staff during the year. The ADPP will bring strategic policy knowledge in equity, education, and workforce development. They will use their knowledge of the policy making process, partnership building, and budget management skills to grow NAPE’s public policy efforts. NAPE is committed to building a Public Policy Department and is looking for an individual who would be willing to take on the challenge of working with the NAPE leadership to grow such a department. Initially, the ADPP will recruit and supervise public policy interns providing administrative support to the Public Policy Department.

This is a full-time, remote office position that does require travel up to 3-4 days per week to visit US Congressional members and staff in Washington D.C.

The ADPP is responsible for maintaining an ongoing list (i.e., a spreadsheet) of legislation being proposed by congressional members, if the legislation is directly/indirectly related to NAPE’s mission, who is in support/opposition, where the proposed legislation is currently (in committee, on the floor for a vote, etc.), the likelihood of its success/failure, if there is administrative support/opposition to the legislation, etc. The position requires the Associate Director of Public Policy to reside in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area (or relatively close that travel is not an issue).

Position Goals

• Build relationships with congressional members and staff. Be a resource to congressional members/staff providing data analytics and information about their state from a national perspective through an equity lens.
• Work with the Public Policy Committee, membership, Board, and CEO on legislative priorities and language to share with legislators on federal legislation.
• Guide the organization’s direction and focus in the area of public policy with input and guidance from the public policy committee, membership, NAPE executive committee, NAPEEF Board of Directors, staff, and the CEO.
• To improve the timely communication of important federal public policy issues and actions that support NAPE members and NAPE’s mission on federal public policy discussions and decisions.
• Provide a Public Policy Day experience that includes meeting with legislators or their staff for NAPE members that allows for continued growth in federal policy advocacy.

Reporting

The Associate Director of Public Policy reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer, who is responsible for management and evaluation of the employee. The Public Policy Chairs in cooperation with the CEO are responsible for goal-setting and professional development.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary staff on NAPE’s public policy development, implementation, and engagement strategy with the CEO, Public Policy Chairs, NAPE Executive Committee, NAPE Education Foundation Board, and a wide variety of public stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with congressional and federal agency officials and their staff to facilitate a mutual exchange of knowledge sharing and information related to legislative and/or regulatory activity.
• Identify and secure opportunities (electronic or otherwise) for advocacy of significant policy changes that enhance member’s ability to increase equity for students, educational stakeholders, the workforce and employers.
• Monitor and analyze relevant activities in the Congress and the Administration, providing technical assistance as necessary to: The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; The White House Gender Policy Council; the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career Technical and Adult Education and Office for Civil Rights; the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau; and any other governmental agencies, task forces, councils or committees established that impact educational equity.
• With direction from the Public Policy chairs and the CEO, advance the organization’s policy goals through regulation and other administrative actions, including comments on proposed regulations, leverage congressional support, and direct advocacy.
• Support the Public Policy chair(s) in the strategic direction of Public Policy Committee keeping the NAPE staff informed on NAPE’s public policy efforts with aspects related to NAPEs program implementation.
• Direct the nomination process for NAPE’s Public Policy Committee with support from the Public Policy chairs and CEO in regard to the annual selection of the Public Policy Leadership Awards recipients, as well as the logistics associated.
• Serve as an expert spokesperson for the organization in the media, appear on panels and other speaking engagements as needed, and represent NAPE at briefings, hearings, conferences, and coalition meetings.
• Coordinate and oversee activities associated with the Public Policy Day session in conjunction with NAPE’s National Summit for Educational Equity.
• Coordinate and plan public policy training and technical assistance for NAPE members.
• Write and review public policy related informational material and publications in collaboration with NAPE staff with the support of the CEO and Public Policy Chairs.
• Monitor, anticipate and analyze proposed or pending guidance, regulations, or legislation related to equity and prepare briefings, alerts, and communications to inform members.
• Respond to member inquiries related to public policy for information and technical assistance on a variety of issues, including the intersection of federal policy with state policy.
• Monitor and disseminate information regarding national public policy issues in education and workforce development affecting students based on gender, race, ethnicity, and special population status (as defined in the Perkins Act) in career and technical education (CTE) and STEM education.

Qualifications:

Required:

• A minimum two to four years of experience in government affairs, public policy and/or advocacy on domestic policy issues at the federal level, with an emphasis on the intersection of equity and education, economic security, and workforce development (or related experience).
• A passion for the mission, vision, and core values of NAPE.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting gender, race and special population equity in education and workforce policy (or related commitment).
• Direct experience in public policy and the role of nonprofits in the policy process (or related experience).
• Ability to work with and assist individuals from diverse backgrounds and points of view.
• Ability to work with and through groups to build coalitions/partnerships to accomplish shared goals.
• Experience working collaboratively with coalitions, organizational boards and staff and the private sector. Comfortable working in a fast-paced team environment as well as independently.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, management and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Knowledge of federal legislative processes.
• Bachelor’s degree in education, political science, government, economics or related field or education/experience equivalency.
• Comfortable with significant use of technology and software (Microsoft Suite, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat) and file storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, and SharePoint) that facilitates working virtually and managing team communication across multiple platforms (Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Meetings, and Slack)
• The position requires the Associate Director of Public Policy to reside in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area

Preferred:

• Solid understanding of the Congress, with a focus on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).
• Established relationships with coalition partners in education, equity, workforce development, labor and civil rights.
• Strong working knowledge and experience with career and technical education and workforce development systems, programs, and policy issues.
• Exceptional skills in public speaking.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time position. Compensation includes a competitive benefits package, and salary is commensurate with experience—within the provided range. Salary Range: $65,000 – $75,000

To Apply

Submit the following combined into a single PDF file to Brittany Brady, CEO at hiring@napequity.org.
Deadline for applications December 15, 2023 or until the position is filled. Indicate in the subject line, “Associate Director of Public Policy”

1. Letter of interest that includes a summary of qualifications related to the responsibilities, desirable background, and skills.
2. Resume.
3. Portfolio of professional work.
4. Three professional references knowledgeable about your qualifications in the listed responsibilities, including ONE supervisor.
5. Contact information: Mailing address, email address, and phone number.

Start date: Immediately upon hiring

Equal Opportunity Employer

The National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate in its employment or other practices against persons on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability or status as a disabled military action veteran.

Persons from those groups protected by federal and/or state or local nondiscrimination statutes are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Applicant must live in the continental United States. The position requires the Associate Director of Public Policy to reside in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.