Jobs at SchoolHouse Connection

SchoolHouse Connection, a fast-paced, results-oriented national nonprofit organization working to overcome homelessness through education, is seeking a a Senior Manager or Director to advance our federal policy agenda.

SHC is the nation’s leading expert on the early care and education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. We provide strategic advocacy and practical assistance in partnership with early childhood programs, schools, institutions of higher education, service providers, families, and youth. We have ushered to enactment many critical federal and state policies and programs for children and youth experiencing homelessness, and we provide extensive practical assistance to ensure that these policies lead to real outcomes. 

The Senior Manager/Director will report to the Executive Director, and be part of a dynamic policy team. This role requires experience with the U.S. Congress, federal regulatory agencies, and grassroots advocacy.

This is a full-time, salaried position with generous benefits, and opportunities for advancement. The Senior Manager/Director will work remotely, as do all of SHC’s employees. However, regular in-person meetings in Washington, DC are required. For this reason, only applicants living in and willing to relocate to the DC Metropolitan area will be considered. SchoolHouse Connection is committed to developing a diverse and dynamic team and welcomes applications from people of color, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Policy analysis and strategy

• Monitor and analyze federal legislation and regulations related to the early care, education, and well-being of children and youth experiencing homelessness.
• Stay informed about developments and trends in early care, K12 education, higher education, housing, and homelessness that relate to SHC’s policy agenda; anticipate emerging issues and help position SHC to address those issues.
• Collaborate with SHC staff and SHC’s practitioner network to ensure that SHC’s federal policy advocacy is informed by and reflects the realities of local communities and the lived experience of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.
• In collaboration with SHC’s policy team, develop and promote SHC’s policy positions relating to early childhood through postsecondary education, as well as housing, income, and other related policy areas.
• Write issue briefs, position papers, public comments, talking points, and other policy-related documents and materials for a wide range of audiences.

Congressional and federal agency relations

• Identify opportunities for advancing SHC’s policy agenda, including identifying prospective legislative and policy champions and developing strategies for educating and engaging them in our work.
• Develop and maintain positive bipartisan working relationships with key policymakers, including congressional staff, administrative and regulatory officials and staff, and other leaders in the executive and legislative branches. 
• Track interactions between SHC (and SHC’s stakeholders) and elected officials and federal agency staff.

Stakeholder engagement and grassroots advocacy

• Write action alerts, talking points, newsletter articles, blogs, and other materials to inform, mobilize, and engage SHC’s network and partners in federal policy advocacy.
• Organize and connect members of SHC’s grassroots network directly to federal policymakers through virtual and in-person meetings, in collaboration with other SHC staff.
• Collaborate with Youth Leadership & Scholarship (YLS) staff to identify opportunities for SHC’s Youth Policy Corps to engage with policymakers; assist YLS Director in preparing youth for these opportunities.
• Collaborate with SHC’s Director of State Policy and Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager to leverage state policy relationships to advance SHC’s federal policy agenda, and vice versa.

Strategic communications 

• Collaborate with SHC’s Director of Communications and Marketing and SHC’s communications consultants to:
• identify and take advantage of opportunities for using media to reach policymakers and shape public opinion related to SHC’s federal policy goals (op-eds, letters to the editor, social media, etc.).
• engage SHC’s network and partners in legislative advocacy
• help convey complex policy issues in an easily understandable way using multimedia resources 

National partnerships

• Represent SHC on policy-related coalitions and at relevant policy-related meetings, trainings, and conferences.
• Identify, develop, and nurture collaborative relationships with national organizations that contribute to the realization of SHC’s mission and strategic objectives. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• An understanding of and commitment to SHC’s mission and advocacy principles.
• Significant federal public policy experience, including engagement with, or previous employment in, the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch.
• Strong understanding of federal legislative and regulatory processes; the ability to draft legislative language is a plus.
• Excellent non-partisan relationship-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to work diplomatically with people holding a wide range of viewpoints.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills: precise, accurate, clear, and persuasive.
• The ability to motivate others to advance SHC’s policy goals and to persuasively communicate complex information in concise and compelling messages.
• Deep understanding of the federal education policy landscape, from early childhood through postsecondary; an understanding of housing and homelessness policy is a plus.
• The ability to learn new issues well and be a “quick study” on a range of policies.
• Outstanding strategist, with a demonstrated ability to find creative pathways or alternative solutions in the face of unexpected obstacles, shifting policy landscapes, and evolving priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to handle a heavy workload and achieve results, often in time-sensitive situations, while displaying high standards of excellence.
• Extremely well-organized and detail-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to plan, manage, coordinate, and execute multiple projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to learning and using SHC’s project management platform (Asana) and communications platform (EveryAction).
• The ability to work independently and take initiative, while collaborating closely and working in alignment with a small but mighty team.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary commensurate with experience. If the candidate is at Senior Manager level, salary range is $75,000-$90,000. If the candidate is at Director level, the salary range is $90,000-$110,000.

Benefits: Work from home; flexible work schedule; generous holiday, personal, and vacation leave; health insurance reimbursement plan; 403(b) retirement plan; small, collegial team; many opportunities to use skills, learn, and grow professionally. 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit the following materials to jobs@schoolhouseconnection.org with the subject line “Senior Manager/Director” by March 1st. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified. 

Please send:

1. A cover letter specific to the duties and qualifications of this position;
2. A current resume highlighting experience relevant to this position;
3. At least two writing samples related to the duties of this position;
4. At least two references.