Policy Specialist (Remote)

Title: Policy Specialist

Department: US Policy & Programs

Reporting to: Sr Director, U.S. Policy

Compensation: $74K - $80K USD Annually

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Remote - USA

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.  

About the Opportunity: 

In partnership with other Departments and teams in the Social Impact Division, the US Policy team envisions a world in which individuals can thrive anywhere. The team works collaboratively with partners and policymakers to advance reforms that foster economic and social inclusion for immigrants, refugees, and international students and help receiving communities realize mutual benefit to build shared prosperity and resiliency. Our current policy focus areas include ensuring the recognition of occupational credentials (such as in healthcare) of internationally trained newcomers (refugees, other displaced persons, and immigrants); the creation and expansion of state-level Offices of New Americans to help build welcoming and economic integration infrastructure; and workforce access and inclusion.

Our policy team aims to be proactive and strategic; future-oriented; impact-focused; and collaborative work environment to support federal, state and local policy makers and advocates. This position works in close collaboration with the policy team on research and data analysis, policy evaluation, strategic advocacy efforts and other support duties.

What You'll Do:

Knowledge Management – 65%

• Support the Senior Policy Managers, in coordination with the Director of US Policy, with information, research and other knowledge needs to help move the discrete policy agendas and goals forward
• Identify and review state and federal bills of interest in discrete policy areas and share knowledge with Policy team members
• Actively provide input to Senior Policy Managers and other team members that helps insert knowledge and best practices into policy-oriented conversations in discrete policy areas.
• Suggest research and other knowledge gathering efforts that can help hone policy goals and outcomes, including from sources such as partner publications, academic institutions, and social media of policymakers and advocacy leaders
• Lead work in Quorum as an input to policy conversations, such as the identification of legislative action, social media alerts, potential bills, and bill tracking
• Maintain Policy Map as an information, sharing tool for WES team members and partners and support its utility across partner ecosystems
• Support with policy analysis for advocacy alerts, take actions and letters of support to IMPRINT Coalition and other WES partnerships

Reporting and Coordination Support – 25%

• Support on lobbying reporting by tracking state engagement and collecting lobby logs that represent the policy team’s national and state level work
• Support with the reporting of Key Performance Indicators as well as other output and outcome driven work
• Support meeting prep, coordination, and virtual logistics, notating follow up action items, as needed for knowledge management and reporting needs
• Represent the Policy team in internal collaborations with other teams, such as Performance Learning, Management and Evaluation and other USP&P programs
• Support Policy Director and Senior Policy Managers and other team members in updating key tools and reports required, including by the WES Senior Leadership Team, and/or WES Board.
• Proactively work with other key team members to develop visual and other tools that help tell the story of the impact of Policy on WES-wide and other goals
• As requested, develop documents that explain and support policy team goals, such as for use by the comms team in developing strategic communication plans or position papers.

Additional Duties as assigned (10%)

• Preparation for events, meetings, and other activities that move policy objectives forward, as requested
• Liase with other WES teams, such as research and the Canadian policy team, to ascertain areas of shared objectives and research

Your Experience:

The ideal candidate will have:

Required

• A Bachelor’s degree with 4-6+ years of relevant work experience required.
• Professional experience in philanthropy, workforce development, immigration, refugee resettlement, and/or social sectors strongly preferred.
• Professional experience in discrete policy areas including occupational licensure, immigrant and refugee economic inclusion, and workforce development.
• Professional experience in policy analysis and research
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong project management skills with comfort coordinating with a range of internal and external stakeholders on a diverse portfolio of projects.
• Techy savvy with strong database management skills and comfort learning new applications and programs.
• Track record of delivering high-quality, accurate work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Fluency in English required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Bring an entrepreneurial mindset to generate new approaches, spot innovative opportunities, take calculated risks, and is strongly action oriented.
• Have a deep-rooted intellectual curiosity, an openness to diverse ideas and perspectives, and a continued interest in learning and professional development.
• Thrive an environment that values transparency, collaboration, and an orientation for results.
• Bring an innovative attitude and have a willingness to stretch up and down in their role.
• Build informal working relationships and quickly establish credibility in new areas of work.
• Have a commitment to supporting immigrants and refugees and an interest in elevating their voices and experiences through their work.

Desired

• None

What We Offer:

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization.

Our Values: 

• • Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
  • Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
  • Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
  • Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.
  • Expertise - We challenge ourselves to be the best at what we do.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

Our Commitment:

At World Education Services, we're committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

If you encounter challenges accessing or using our career site due to a disability, you may request reasonable accommodation by contacting us via email at hiring@wes.org. Our Talent Acquisition team is dedicated to supporting qualified candidates by providing solutions that can meet their needs. 

Please be advised that this email address is intended to receive and respond to inquiries concerning the accessibility of the online application system, and requests for assistance and accommodation during any part of the recruitment process. Résumés or applications sent to this email address will not be reviewed.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.