Job Summary

The Senior Advocacy Associate serves as a member of the Advocacy Team. This person will report to and support the organization’s Regional Advocacy Director, Southeast in promoting a broad education policy agenda within their region. In partnership with the Regional Advocacy Director, the Senior Advocacy Associate is responsible for executive and legislative branch outreach and engagement, tracking executive and legislative action and communicating regularly with lawmakers, policymakers and state advocates to educate, promote and advance policy solutions that transform education.

This person will also serve as the Deputy Legislative Director for the 401(c)(4) side of the organization.

This role can be executed virtually in the Southeast Region: Tennessee, Alabama or Georgia. There is preference for a candidate who is in Tennessee or is willing to relocate there.

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 a comprehensive student-centered policy agenda that is increasing student learning, expanding opportunity and readying students for higher quality, higher-wage, in-demand jobs.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Monitors and engages in state legislative sessions, meetings of state boards of education and other governmental meetings that impact the organization’s policy agenda.
  • Conducts outreach to the legislative and executive branches within assigned states.
  • Tracks legislation and executive action, reviews policy proposals, and supports policy implementation.
  • Builds partnerships with policymakers and in-state advocacy organizations to promote and advance the organization’s policy agenda.
  • Participates in coalition and state partner meetings and activities.
  • Contributes to the organization’s overall state advocacy strategy by developing annual action plans in assigned regions.
  • Manages and maintains state engagement and bill tracking activities in the organization’s business intelligence and tracking systems.
  • Develops briefing materials for policymaker and executive meetings.
  • Undertakes other interim assignments, as necessary, which may include participating in state and national convenings, developing advocacy resources, tracking, maintaining and analyzing input, output, outcome and legislative impact data, and promoting and supporting the National Summit on Education.

Requirements

  • 3+ years of professional experience
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Social Science, Political Science, Public Administration or other relevant area of study
  • Experience should include working in or around the legislative or executive branch of government in public policy, advocacy, legislative bill drafting, tracking and analysis

Preferred Skills/Qualifications

  • Strong organizational, written and communication skills
  • Strong commitment to advocate for transformative education policies
  • General knowledge of education policy and state politics
  • Understanding of political and legislative processes
  • Ability to differentiate between and appropriately manage 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) activities
  • Ability to travel approximately 10%

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

  • Cover letter including:
    • An introductory paragraph(s) describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to ExcelinEd’s mission and how you came to those beliefs
    • Salary requirements
    • Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Director of Outreach at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

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.

Talent Market is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.