Research and Policy Manager, Education Civil Rights Alliance (education law & policy)
Job Description
National Center for Youth Law
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) works to amplify youth power, dismantle racism and other structural inequities, and build just policies, practices, and culture in support of young people. Our efforts advance justice through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation’s approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every young person thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.
Education Team
NCYL’s Education team engages in education justice work in partnership with many entities at the national, state, and local levels, across the nation. The team seeks systemic change – through coalition-building, policy advocacy, litigation, research, communications, and organizing – to increase equity within the education systems that serve children and youth, from early childhood through post-secondary education. A description of NCYL’s education work can be found here: https://youthlaw.org/focus-areas/education.
Position
NCYL seeks a Manager for the Education Civil Rights Alliance (ECRA) to advance education civil rights, equity, and justice across the nation, with a focus on state and local efforts to make systemic change. This position will partner with our Senior Director of Education to co-lead the national ECRA. The candidate should be passionate about helping public schools become nurturing centers for learning that our young people need to thrive, and protect them against discrimination and the denial of an equitable opportunity to learn. Further information on the ECRA can be found here: http://edrights.org/.
Essential Functions
- Co-lead the national Education Civil Rights Alliance (ECRA) to advance civil rights, equity, and justice in education.
- Plan, manage, and facilitate national meetings of the ECRA network, subcommittees, and national Steering Committee.
- Engage with ECRA members from local, state and national partner organizations toward the achievement of strategic objectives.
- Build and continue ECRA relationships with education equity coalitions.
- Provide thought leadership and develop advocacy related to federal and state education policy developments, relevant federal and state court decisions and the findings from research in the field of education.
- Draft and send frequent communications and updates re: relevant federal and state policy and litigation developments.
- Manage ECRA Amicus Briefs (including brief development and sign-on gathering).
- Support advocacy on federal policy, including meetings and written communications with policy-makers and staff, and national multi-organizational federal policy efforts with the Administration and Congress.
- Assist with the development and dissemination of research findings regarding policies and practices relevant to the civil rights of public school students K-16.
- Support ECRA fundraising, including proposal and report-writing.
Qualifications
- J.D. degree or advanced degree in a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in education law and/or policy.
- Demonstrated leadership in collaborative work addressing civil rights issues in education.
- Experience establishing and maintaining a network of partnerships and relationships within the education field.
- Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research relevant to the civil rights of public school students such as use of the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC).
- Demonstrated experience translating research findings into talking points briefs and white papers for policymakers and lawyers.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively facilitate large and small group meetings.
- Commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion from a racial justice perspective.
- Leadership skills, including the ability to manage multiple complex projects and to think strategically.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines and produce high-quality work product in a fast-paced environment.
- Clear and persuasive oral and written communication skills.
Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position requires some travel.
Salary, Benefits & Location
This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary is competitive at $111,585.00 annually. A geographic salary differential may be applied if the candidate resides somewhere other than the Oakland, CA, Los Angeles, CA, or Washington, DC areas.
NCYL provides a robust benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, generous vacation and sick benefits, flexible spending account, commuter benefits, employer contribution to a retirement plan, short-term and long-term disability insurance.
Candidates must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Washington DC or Wisconsin.
This position is eligible for 100% remote work through December 31, 2023. It is possible that starting in January of 2024, NCYL will require people to work in an office, in which case they will need to be in a location where they can commute to a NCYL office regularly (DC, Los Angeles, Oakland or Sacramento).
