Senior Director, State Advocacy and Support

What is the Role

The Senior Director, State Advocacy and Support, will be responsible for improving state policy environments and building advocacy strength in a portfolio of states. The Senior Director, State Advocacy and Support will also leverage their expertise and experience to execute long-term strategies and respond to in-the-moment crises. They will coordinate with state partners and key internal teams to drive various aspects of this effort, including policy, advocacy, legal, communications, and development.

What You’ll Do

This position will be responsible for leading a scope of work at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools that includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

• Working with state associations and other partner organizations to improve their state policy environments. • Leading direct, on-the-ground advocacy efforts to pass pro-charter legislation in priority states. • Building state association capacity in policy, advocacy, legal, communications, and development. • Building local partnerships with allies. • Mobilizing diverse coalitions to support our policy goals. • Producing tools and other resources that will be helpful to state charter school associationsand other partner organizations. • Working in partnership with the National Alliance’s communications, development, legal, research, state, and federal teams as necessary.  • Creating fundable programming, writing progress reports for donors, and managing cross team deliverables for grants. • Fulfilling the role of expert and go-to in the sector for all things related to advocacy in public charter schools.

Who You Are

• You have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree is a plus. • You have knowledge and experience in advocacy, with a minimum of seven years of experience in advocacy. Direct advocacy experience working in a statehouse is a plus. Expertise in K-12 education policy is a plus as well. • You have experience collaborating with state and local partners to advance goals. • You are at ease when communicating with important stakeholders and flourish in buildinghonest and productive relationships. • You are passionate about improving educational opportunities for kids. • You believe great public school options and schools being held accountable are key elements of reform. • You approach problems with a diagnostic mindset, creativity, and the courage to take risks. • You thrive in a fast-paced environment and consider yourself a self-starter. • You operate with passion and purpose and have an entrepreneurial spirit --and your accomplishments reflect it. • You are comfortable with frequent work travel including the occasional need to travel on short notice. • It’s a plus if you have experience working with 501(c)(4) and 527 entities as well as independent expenditure campaigns. • It’s a plus if you have fundraising and donor relations experience.

What We Offer

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools offers a sector-leading salary and benefits package. We cover 100% of an employee’s medical, dental, and vision premiums, and 50% for spouses and dependents, including an HRA to cover 100% of in-network medical deductibles. We also offer:

• 403(b) retirement account with up to a 6% match after 90 days of employment
• Automatic life insurance coverage, short- and long-term disability coverage, and FSA
• 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave
• 25 PTO days annually, plus every federal holiday and a week off at year-end
• Monthly reimbursement for internet and cellular service, plus a $500 home office setup stipend in your first 90 days

The anticipated starting salary range for this role is $110,000-$140,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. 

Who We Are

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools believes that all families deserve high-quality public school options. Charter schools are independent public schools providing families with a new set of public school options. Each of these schools is developed to be a partnership between parents, teachers, and students.

When given the option, parents are choosing to enroll their children in charter schools. In fact, the demand for charter schools is far outpacing the supply in most communities. What began as a small movement in a few states has grown to become a major force in education reform across the country. Through advocacy, research, and strategic communications, the National Alliance works to grow the number of high-quality charter schools available to all families, especially those who do not have access to high-quality public schools.