Job Description
Job Description
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to promote high-quality early learning for each and every child, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research.
NAEYC is seeking a strategic, knowledgeable, and collaborative State Policy Director to lead our state-level policy and advocacy work. This role is instrumental in advancing our mission to support the ECE profession and improve access to high-quality early learning by shaping and influencing state policies across the country.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in early childhood education, a strong understanding of state policymaking processes, and a proven ability to engage diverse stakeholders-including policymakers, advocates, and educators.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement ambitious and achievable state policy goals and advocacy strategies to advance the ECE profession and improve access.
- Research and monitor proposed, existing, and new state legislation and regulations impacting ECE, including workforce development, compensation, regulation, and quality standards.
- Support senior leadership in philanthropic proposal development, grant tracking, and management of subgrant opportunities.
- Develop state policy resources: memos, testimonies, fact sheets, blog posts, and webinars.
- Serve as liaison to NAEYC state affiliates: provide technical assistance, facilitate peer learning, and support advocacy capacity.
- Lead affiliate engagement at the Public Policy Forum and support organizing state advocacy teams.
- Act as a subject matter expert and key point of contact for state policymakers.
- Facilitate peer-learning cohorts of state leaders and advocates.
- Represent NAEYC in state policy coalitions and at external conferences and events.
- Additional responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications:
- Master's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 8-10 years of experience in government relations, advocacy, or public policy-preferably in early childhood, higher education, or workforce development.
- Experience within state systems, federal agencies, or Capitol Hill strongly preferred.
- Direct experience in early childhood education or program leadership is a plus.
- Deep commitment to NAEYC's non-partisan mission and values.
- Knowledge of the Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession is highly desirable.
- Strategic and systems-level thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
- Deep understanding of state policy landscapes and processes related to child care and early learning.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills-able to distill complex policy for diverse audiences.
- Proven relationship-builder across sectors and political ideologies.
- Experienced in providing technical assistance to advocates and policymakers.
- Strong project and time management skills.
- Supervisory or team leadership experience, with a focus on coaching and accountability.
Physical Demands:
There are specific physical demands that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. For example, moving throughout a building, handling materials and objects, and communicating freely - writing, speaking, listening. Further discussion and reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Position Designation: Travel/Hybrid: Indicates this position requires approximately 20%- 25% travel. Required travel includes participation at NAEYC's Annual Conference and its annual Public Policy Forum. Additionally, this position will likely attend 3-5 affiliate conferences a year and represent NAEYC at other conferences/convenings. This role is based in the DC Metro Region and is required to physically be on-site in the DC office one day a week due to the needs of the organization. Employees are expected to be in the office on Wednesday's unless otherwise determined by immediate supervisor and department leadership.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
NAEYC is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, matriculation, genetic information, disability, or protected veterans status, or any other factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable laws and regulations.
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