Policy Director

StudentsFirstNY

Description

The SFNY Policy Director reports to the SFNY Executive Director and serves on the organization's senior leadership team.  The Policy Director is responsible for shaping SFNY's statewide policy agenda; preparing recommendations to the senior staff regarding all aspects of the most ambitious, strategic, and aggressive education policy reform agenda in the country; and drive the innovation of new policy ideas and reforms.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a framework for identifying and cultivating new innovations in education reform; lead the process for proposing new solutions to common problems faced in education; and maintain relentless focus on creating and enabling policy practices that prioritize equity, opportunity, and student achievement
• Collaborate with SFNY senior leadership to shape the organization’s overall policy agenda, outreach and advocacy strategy, and the criteria by which we measure our success
• Serve as a key spokesperson for SFNY – drafting and publishing/delivering reports, briefs, speeches, presentations, letters, editorials, blog posts; participate in social media; and connect educator fellows, members, and families to opportunities to advocate, speak, and write in support of our agenda
• Oversee high-quality, targeted training and development to a variety of audiences (including fellows, members, families, and students) with the goal of preparing staff, network, and membership to speak and advocate on behalf of education reform
• Plan and host SFNY policy events (advocacy trainings, panel discussions, social events, policy forums, speaker series), connecting members with key local and state policymakers
• Review, analyze and publish relevant district and state education policy news to members through newsletters, briefs, presentations, and events

Preferred:
Education/Experience
• Significant education policy, legislative, and/or advocacy experience, with experience in developing and leading action plans to achieve concrete policy outcomes
• Thorough command of education policy issues at the district and state levels in New York; knowledge of effective research practices and techniques and common education data resources; and an exceptional ability to cultivate and develop relationships and networks, especially around education issues
• Ability to clearly communicate – in writing and in conversation – complex policy and legislative issues to audiences and constituents of diverse backgrounds, including internal employees and external constituencies
• Masters Degree or higher in Education, Education Policy, Political Science, Public Policy, or in a related field preferred

Skills & Knowledge Required
• Excellent writing and research skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects, work within tight deadlines, and prioritize work
• Ability to lead and produce deliverables with a lean and nimble team
• Ability to work independently and as a key member of multiple small project teams
• A proven track record showing an ability to motivate and influence others and connect with communities
• Superior interpersonal and problem- solving skills
• Must be willing and able to work and travel irregular hours (weekend and evenings may be required).
• Ability to speak and/or write in Spanish preferred.

How TO APPLY:
The application process may include a resume review, phone interview, project exercise, and in-person interviews. To be considered for the position, please submit your resume and a cover letter to: http://www.studentsfirst.org/pages/open -jobs?jvi=oVU7WfwC,Job

About Organization:
The StudentsFirstNY team is growing, and we're always looking for talented, passionate people to join us in our fight to protect the interests of children. We are building a grassroots movement of parents, teachers, students, administrators, and concerned citizens who are organized around one purpose: to put laws, policies and leaders in place that will help provide every child in New York with a quality education.

About StudentsFirstNY

StudentsFirstNY is New York's leading voice for students who depend on public education for the skills they need to succeed, but who are too often failed by a system that puts special interests, rather than the interests of children, first. We believe that the students of New York State and New York City cannot wait one minute more for an end to broken policies that stand in the way of ensuring a quality teacher in every classroom and an end to tired rhetoric that serves only to delay meaningful fixes to the problems in our schools.

At a critical moment in the national debate over education, with dramatic change happening in Albany and coming to City Hall, StudentsFirstNY is bringing together parents, children, educators and political leaders who know that great schools can help students overcome the challenges of poverty - and who together will build a grassroots movement to fight against a failed status quo which, if left unchanged, will ultimately shatter the people's faith in the importance, power and possibility of public education. We will be sophisticated organizers, truth-tellers and advocates who believe in the potential of great schools to alter the course of students' lives, and StudentsFirstNY will work tirelessly to realize that potential at every school, and for every child, in the Empire State. StudentsFirstNY is an affiliate of StudentsFirst, a national organization founded in 2010 by former Washington D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee.

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