Vice President of Policy

About EdVoice and EdVoice Institute

EdVoice is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit education advocacy organization that is reshaping public education in California so that all children have futures filled with opportunity. California’s public education system ​is not working well for children from low-income communities, and significant policy changes are needed at the state level. EdVoice is leading efforts to ensure all students receive a quality education by engaging in advocacy and lobbying activities to influence the passage of state legislation that will combat the current system’s inequities. We also lead coalition-building efforts and general awareness campaigns to champion the most important policies each legislative cycle and provide strategic political funding to leaders who prioritize the needs of students from low-income communities through our EdVoice for the Kids PAC.

Our sister organization, EdVoice Institute, is a 501(c)(3) research and coalition-building organization that uplifts scalable solutions to improve academic outcomes for children from low-income communities. EdVoice Institute provides evidence-based policy recommendations across our key pillars to restructure the public education system and prepare students for college, career, and life. These efforts help build the overall political will for change and aid in persuading legislators to prioritize passing high-impact policies that improve public education in California.

The Opportunity

EdVoice is seeking a dynamic Vice President of Policy to lead policy change initiatives that improve educational opportunities and outcomes for children from low-income communities across California. This leader will strengthen EdVoice Institute’s expertise in the highest impact policy areas by developing solutions, publishing policy reports and briefs, researching promising initiatives both statewide and nationally, and supporting policy communications and events. They will stay informed on best practices and policies across states and at the federal level, synthesizing complex information into actionable reports and recommendations. The Vice President of Policy will also drive the drafting of bills EdVoice may sponsor, analyze education legislation each cycle, recommend strategic positions, and provide expert guidance to support advocacy, lobbying, and negotiations.

Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President of Policy will also collaborate closely with the Chief Advocacy Officer to develop and manage systems for tracking, analyzing, and executing tasks related to our short- and long-term policy agenda. They will have one direct report, with plans to expand the team. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in education policy, analyzing legislation, conducting research, writing policy reports, and building relationships with key stakeholders. An analytical thinker, self-starter, and passionate advocate, they will be driven by a commitment to making a lasting impact on California’s underserved students.

Essential Responsibilities

EdVoice Institute - Policy Leadership (70%)

• Lead efforts to define and continuously refine EdVoice Institute’s policy agenda, identifying and prioritizing key policies for deeper engagement
• Identify 2-3 policy areas from EdVoice Institute’s agenda to prioritize at any given time. Current priority policy areas are: 1) Early Literacy: all children reading at or close to grade level by the end of elementary school, and 2) Quality Educators: ensuring all children have a qualified teacher in their classroom.
• Deepen expertise in priority policy areas through research, identifying best practices, and building a collaborative network of national and state-level experts
• Manage the development and publication of policy briefs and reports at EdVoice Institute, highlighting performance data and challenges in priority policy areas, the state's current actions, and policy solutions that can dramatically improve student achievement
• Partner with the Chief Advocacy Officer to educate elected officials, the media, and other leaders on challenges and policy solutions in priority areas through panels, symposiums, webinars, school site visits, and one-on-one briefings
• Hold the state accountable for effectively implementing priority policies, alongside the Chief Advocacy Officer, coalition partners, and other advocates, while recommending improvements to enhance policy execution
• Develop and manage a system to analyze district, state, and national data to identify key challenges impacting student achievement for children from low-income communities
• Track and understand the range of education policies – district, state, and national – that have the greatest impact on classrooms and student achievement and distill essential learnings for internal and external communications
• Maintain a working understanding of the state budget, education policy, and education code, and how they align with or diverge from the EdVoice Institute policy agenda
• Stay abreast of the policy priority areas and actions of key educational agencies such as the State Board of Education, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and others as needed

EdVoice - Turning Policy Solutions into Legislation (20%)

• Lead the bill-writing process for EdVoice’s signature bills in close collaboration with the Government Affairs team
• Provide policy guidance to the CEO and Director of Government Affairs to support negotiations on signature bills
• Participate in meetings with elected officials and their staff, providing in-depth policy expertise alongside the CEO and Government Affairs team
• Support the marketing and Government Affairs teams in creating collateral and refining messaging to build momentum for EdVoice’s signature bills
• Refine EdVoice’s system for analyzing state education bills annually and determining which bills to take a position on
• Develop policy proposals and draft letters of support or opposition to legislation with the Chief Advocacy Officer, to be shared externally with elected officials, influencers, partners, and others
• Work cross-functionally with the Director of Communications & Marketing to align policy communications for campaigns, events, and initiatives

Strategic Leadership (10%)

• Collaborate with the CEO and senior leaders to hone EdVoice’s vision by determining key priorities and strategic direction, based on an assessment of the educational landscape, organizational strengths, and areas for improvement
• Engage with key donors, board members, and partners to build excitement for EdVoice Institute and EdVoice, establishing both organizations as leaders in transforming California education policy for children from low-income communities
• Play a critical role as a key member of the senior leadership team in shaping the organizational culture, systems, and processes to drive impact and efficiency
• Design and maintain knowledge management systems to inform policy strategies by tracking and assessing education policy priorities and the actions of elected officials, educational agencies, districts, and key partners

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• 7+ years of policy, research, and advocacy experience in the education or public sector setting with at least 3 years of experience managing and developing a team
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in education, public policy, or related field preferred
• Experience working in schools and school systems, particularly in an administrative or instructional leadership role, is highly desired
• A strong fundamental understanding of the structural and social inequities within public education at a systemic level, along with a proven track record of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism
• A strong commitment to EdVoice’s mission of reshaping public education in California so that students from low-income communities have futures filled with opportunity
• Strong research and analytical skills with a proven ability to track, analyze, and report on the outcomes of policies and impact
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences, draft policy language, and write position letters
• Strong project management and organization skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and policy and knowledge management tools
• High level of ethics, integrity, and accountability with the ability to use discretion

Application and Hiring Process

We are excited to review your application! To apply, please submit your resume to resumes@leveledtalent.com. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so it is in candidates’ best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Please note: Only applicants who submit materials through our search partner Leveled Talent will be considered.

This is a full-time position based in California. The work environment is currently remote with 10%-15% travel expected to meet with the full team and key partners.

EdVoice is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all races, national origins, ages, religions, creeds, veteran or disabled statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities, or gender expressions. Please visit our website for more information at www.edvoice.org.