Research and Policy Vice President of State & Local Policy
Job Description
Job Title: Vice President of State & Local Policy
Reports To: President
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 403b
Benefit Conditions: 30 day waiting period
Seniority Level: Executive
Industry: Non-profit Organization Management, Education Management
Summary:
The Colorado League of Charter Schools has 14 staff members, a statewide membership of 261 schools with over 128,000 students, a distinguished 27-year history, and a prominent board of directors. The League’s mission is to improve student achievement by supporting Colorado’s charter public schools, positively reshaping the public-school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded high-quality public-school choice. The League’s vision is for all Colorado students to have access to high-quality, publicly-funded school options. The League’s expectation is that all employees of the organization will champion its mission and vision with passion and dedication.
As the Vice President of State & Local Policy you will be responsible for advocating for favorable policies for public charter schools at the state and local levels in addition to managing the League’s State & Local Policy Team. State policy includes laws, rules and governance decisions made by the State Legislature, State Board of Education, and Colorado Department of Education. Local policy includes policies and governance decisions made by school district boards, counties and municipalities as germane to public charter schools. The Vice President is also expected to track and advocate for favorable federal policies through the League’s relationship with national organizations such as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Policy & Political Strategy
- Guide the League, its advocacy allies and member schools through all phases of the annual legislative cycle. Priorities include development of an annual legislative agenda with broad member buy-in, engagement of the League’s advocacy allies, and management of the League’s contract lobbyists to ensure successful execution of that agenda.
- Cultivate effective working relationships with legislators, especially those on the Colorado General Assembly education committees, members of the Colorado State Board of Education and the Governor’s staff.
- Develop, expand and lead the implementation of an annual agenda for influencing the formation of strong district authorizer policies. Priorities include identification of priority districts/communities, alignment of effective school boards, advancement of favorable policy, and as necessary, mobilization and advocacy of charter beneficiaries/supporters.
- Proactively monitor and positively influence other state, county and municipal bodies/institutions that set policies immediately germane to public charter schools.
- Oversee and manage the League’s Governmental Affairs Committee, including but not limited to recruiting new members and arranging for and scheduling meetings, agendas and materials.
- Assist in the development and maintenance of appropriate political structures to enable the League to most effectively accomplish its policy objectives.
- Partner with the President to manage the League’s outside general counsel.
- Execute a fundraising strategy focused on advancement of the League’s policy objectives.
- Establish and maintain systems and structures whereby the League can consistently expand and activate a large base of charter advocates statewide in support of state and local issues. Priorities include growth of the League’s Colorado Charter Advocacy Network (COCAN) and successful execution of train-the-trainer systems focused on advocate leader development.
- Work in coordination with the League’s senior leadership team and events team to plan and implement the annual Advocacy Day, fall Leadership Summit sessions and spring Conference sessions.
- Work with the League’s Communications Team to write and disseminate regular policy and political updates and actions.
- Field and respond to member questions regarding legislation and the League’s policy agenda.
Organizational Leadership
- Serve on the League’s Senior Leadership Team and act in concert with other vice presidents and program directors. Contribute to overall organizational decisions and actions as well as implementation of the strategic plan, operations plan and annual budget decisions and actions.
- Identify annual performance targets and program goals, as well as specific indicators to measure progress toward meeting those goals for League policy and political strategy work.
- Supervise, coach and provide overall guidance to those supervised. Specifically, ensure that direct reports know what is expected, have the materials and equipment to do their work effectively, receive explicit, on-going feedback, and develop professionally.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and/or Experience
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree and 5 years’ experience in policy, political strategy work, lobbying and/or advocacy.
- 3 years or more of personnel management experience.
- Experience developing and leading successful state and local policy initiatives.
- Prior experience speaking before legislative committees and administrative bodies.
Skills
- Social sector orientation with desire to give back and advance equity and opportunity for all.
- Ability to use Microsoft & Google products to analyze information and to generate fact sheets, flyers, talking points, etc.
- Working knowledge of the legislative process and public policy formulation.
- Deep knowledge of charter schools and Colorado’s K-12 education systems.
- Ability to perform tasks in a nonpartisan manner with tact and political sensitivity.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrated experience in strategic thinking, decision-making and problem solving.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- Normal office environment. The noise level in the work environment varies between quiet and moderate. A combination of in-office and remote work is allowable.
