Job Summary:

The Senior Advocacy Associate serves as a member of the Advocacy Team and supports the organization’s Regional Advocacy Directors in promoting a broad education policy agenda within their region. In partnership with the Regional Advocacy Director, this position 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 position also serves as the region’s Deputy Legislative Director for ExcelinEd’s sister organization, ExcelinEd in Action.

This role can be executed virtually. There is a strong preference for this person to be in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico.

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 state 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 state actions, 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 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 up to 5% of the time, depending on the candidate’s location

Compensation:

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $55,000–$75,000, depending on the level at which the position is filled. The position may be filled at the Advocacy Associate or Senior Advocacy Associate level based on the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications.

To Apply:

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

  • Resume
  • Cover letter detailing your interest in the position, ExcelinEd’s mission, compensation requirements, and travel availability.

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, the liberty movement’s talent agency, is a nonprofit that connects liberty-minded professionals with free-market nonprofit jobs at no cost to candidates or organizations. We work with 501(c)(3) 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. Visit Talent Market to explore open roles, join our talent network, or work with us on your next hire.