Manager, State Policy

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Manager, State Policy, reports to Catherine Brown, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, and serves as NCAN’s dedicated point person for advancing state-level policy change on college affordability. This is a new role created to meet the demands of three state policy-focused grants and NCAN’s strategic refresh, which places increased emphasis on state policy as a lever for driving postsecondary access and success.

This role will give NCAN the dedicated capacity to proactively track, advance, and communicate state policy wins on college affordability — especially in the areas of cost and value transparency, emergency aid, state higher education investments, and need-based aid. The Manager, State Policy, will build relationships with state partners, support NCAN members in driving state advances in college affordability, and translate policy developments into actionable strategies and knowledge resources for the field.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project & Stakeholder Management

• Drive state-level progress on increasing college cost transparency and value and college affordability through targeted policy and advocacy strategies and stakeholder engagement.
• Support state partners and NCAN members working to expand state emergency aid programs and improve college affordability, particularly for first-generation, low-income students.
• Coordinate with external partners to align strategies and provide technical assistance to state teams pursuing policy change.
• Manage multiple projects and policy priorities simultaneously, meeting deadlines and keeping stakeholders informed without requiring close oversight.
• Represent NCAN in state and national coalitions, partner convenings, and collaborative initiatives related to college affordability policy.

Research & Analysis

• Develop and maintain a national scan of state policies related to cost and value transparency in postsecondary education, emergency aid, and other key priority areas.
• Identify model state policies and best practices to inform NCAN’s advocacy and member support work.
• Monitor the state policy landscape and track emerging trends, legislative activity, and policy opportunities relevant to college affordability.
• Communicate with NCAN members and partners about the potential impact of state policy changes on students and institutions.
• Synthesize research and policy data into accessible briefs, memos, and resources for internal and external audiences.

Member Communication & Knowledge Sharing

• Share policy wins, key lessons learned, and promising practices with NCAN members and partners through blogs, webinars, newsletters, and other communications channels.
• Write and contribute to NCAN’s weekly newsletter and website, translating complex policy developments into accessible content for practitioners.
• Support the development of policy resources, toolkits, and member-facing materials that equip NCAN’s network to advance college affordability in their states.
• Present policy updates and analyses at conferences, member calls, and speaking engagements (estimated 25–40% of time external-facing).

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

At 90 Days

• Completed onboarding with a clear understanding of NCAN’s mission, strategic priorities, and policy workstream.
• Developed strong working relationships with internal team members and key external partners and stakeholders.
• Taken an ownership role in at least one active state policy project.
• Published at least one blog post on state policy for NCAN’s website and weekly newsletter.

At 12 Months

• Produced a comprehensive national scan of state policies for increasing transparency around the cost and value of postsecondary education.
• Built strong relationships with at least four NCAN member organizations to drive state policy change.
• Established credibility as a go-to resource on state college affordability policy within NCAN’s network and among external partners.
• Advanced measurable progress on at least one state policy priority, including documenting wins and lessons learned for the field.

Benefits include: generous leave time · health, dental & vision insurance · employer-matched 401(k) · professional development · performance-based bonus (budget dependent)