Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd)
Remote
About the Senior Director position:
The Senior Policy Director, Pathways, is responsible for leading and advancing a student-centered policy agenda that strengthens pathways to college and career. The Senior Director manages people, programs and projects to support state-level policy development and implementation in priority states, with an emphasis on education to workforce pathways and 21st century learning. As a team leader at one of the nation's foremost education policy organizations, this is a role for a motivated manager with the drive to advance and transform state education through proven and emerging policy solutions and a creative vision for a future of education.
About ExcelinEd:
Being a part of ExcelinEd means joining a high-performing and motivated team of education advocates with a shared belief that every child deserves a quality education. Team members are committed to our core values of service, integrity, collaboration, expertise and making a difference. Our organization sets big, hairy audacious goals and works tirelessly to support states in transforming education through student-centered policies that increase student learning, eliminate inequities and ready students for college plus careers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Leads and directs the activities of a team of policy professionals responsible for advancing and implementing comprehensive education to workforce pathways policies.
- Supports state leaders in identifying state policy solutions aligned to state needs and developing and implementing pathways policies.
- Manages the development, administration and implementation of annual policy action plans.
- Provides expert testimony to legislative and executive committees and serves as a thought leader by promoting policy solutions on panels at education conferences and other influential venues.
- Develops model policies, policy toolkits, policy analyses and other resources to support student-centered foundational policy solutions, which include state governance, K-12 and higher education return on investment analyses and credentials of value.
- Guides policy implementation in states to establish or accelerate ExcelinEd's policy agenda, including identifying barriers to implementation, designing and leading implementation workshops, developing implementation guides and providing state-specific technical assistance.
- Leads content and programming for ExcelinEd convenings and webinars and participates in workshops, convenings, cohorts, advisory groups and other partnerships to support the organization's thought leadership strategies and advancement of education to workforce policies.
- Authors and collaborates on original research, white papers and state case studies and exemplars that drive and support the organization's objective to strengthen pathways to college and career.
- Authors and collaborates on blogs, talking points, briefings, summaries and presentations for internal and external purposes.
- Builds the education to workforce pathways policy agenda for the annual National Summit on Education
- Contributes to business development through philanthropic engagement and grant concept development and reporting.
- Prepares briefing materials for the organization's executive management and Board of Directors.
- Supervises staff, managing workflow, work product and deployment of resources.
- Directs and manages the delivery of grant-funded projects and initiatives, including the development, planning and management of education to workforce policy projects with internal staff, external vendors and partner organizations.
Preferred Skills/Qualifications
- Expertise in the development and/or implementation of college and career pathways policies.
- Strong understanding of the intersection of politics, policy and the legislative process.
- Ability to speak publicly, often before policymakers and executives.
- Strong writing and communication skills.
- Experience managing a range of projects or similar initiatives, such as research activities, report publications and convenings or workshops.
- Strong organizational and teamwork skills.
- Proven supervisory and employee management skills.
- Proven success in collaborating, managing relationships, partnering and influencing across teams and organizations to drive results in matrixed environments.
- Ability to thrive with ambiguity and direct and deliver on complex work assignments.
Requirements
- 7-10 years of experience working in college & career pathways policy at a state executive, agency or legislative level or with a state or national policy organization.
- Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Education, Public Policy, Social Science, Political Science, Public Administration, Economics, or an associated subject is desirable. Advanced degree preferred.
To Apply
Qualified candidates may apply online via this job portal link: Application Link: Senior Policy Director, Pathways
Required application materials to be submitted online include the following:
Employment Application
Cover letter detailing your interest in the position, how your background and experience makes you a good fit for the position and your salary requirements
Resume
Questions can be directed to EmployeeServices@ExcelinEd.org
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.