Director, Education and Health Policy

The National Urban League seek a Director, Education and Health Policy in the National Urban League Washington Bureau (NULWB).  Under general supervision of the Vice President, Policy and Legislative Affairs, the Director, Education and Health Policy will lead the work of the Washington Bureau in representing the education and health policy interests of the National Urban League and its affiliates before Congress and the administration. The Director’s primary role will be to develop and implement strategies to advance the Urban League’s priorities through federal legislation, research and Congressional and Executive Branch engagement.  The Director will proactively work to keep Urban League affiliates informed of federal policy changes and provide technical guidance as needed.  The Director will also have an active role in shaping the Urban League’s federal health policy priorities.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the development and implementation of advocacy and engagement strategies that advance the Urban League’s educational equity and excellence agenda for the implementation of the Every Child Succeeds Act (ESSA).
• Lead the production of P-16 research and policy analysis for the development of reports, presentations, opinion articles, fact sheets and other advocacy materials.

• In collaboration with the NY education programs team, work to develop impactful advocacy and engagement tools to support state and local efforts of Urban League Affiliate CEOs.
• Monitor federal legislative and regulatory activity in Congress and the Executive Branch and recommend courses of action to advance Urban League priorities.
• Lead the development of legislative language, comments on federal administrative rules and guidance and policy statements.
• Produce policy overviews, strategic memos and actionable recommendations on federal, state and local education and health policy issues.
• Represent the Urban League in meetings with national partner organizations and coalitions.
• Lead the development of content for a variety of communication channels including the Washington Bureau’s weekly newsletter, op-eds and social media.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Education, Public Policy, Public Administration, Social Policy or another related field preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in education policy;

• Capitol Hill experience is preferred.
• Experience working in a state education agency (SEA), local education agency (LEA), or education advocacy organization is a plus.
• Familiarity with P-16 education policies, such as those which addresses opportunity gaps in urban education; early learning; college and career readiness; equity and excellence at scale; accountability; student engagement; educator effectiveness; parent & family engagement and access to comprehensive data; College and Career Ready Standards and related Assessments; out of school time learning; parent, student and stakeholder engagement; and college access and completion.
• Proficiency in health policy a plus

Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong communication (written and oral), policy & analytical skills.
• Inquisitive, self-starter, with ability to work independently, with multiple internal stakeholders and flexibly in a high pressure environment
• Demonstrated ability to produce under tight deadlines and evolve under changing work conditions as is often the case in federal advocacy work.
• Digital & technological literacy.
• A good sense of humor, demonstrated ability to collaborate, and willingness to work with a team, and across the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize a wide range of duties and responsibilities, organize tasks, and remain flexible to changing and multiple requests.
• Ability to work with and across multiple and varied constituency groups.
• Demonstrated ability to convey ideas and positions to diverse groups – externally to technical and nontechnical audiences at various levels (e.g., partners, states, federal government), and internally with peers – both orally and in writing.
• Robust research skills and demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into understandable, accessible language.
• A clear policy, advocacy or research area of interest applicable to educational and health policy.

To apply: Submit cover letter, resume and a writing sample by clicking here: http://bit.ly/diredpolicy

Deadline to apply: January 18, 2021

The National Urban League is an Equal Opportunity Employer