Vice President of Policy

BASIC INFORMATION

Place of Performance: Near Olympia, WA

Supervisor: Executive Director

Direct Reports: N/A

Status: Full Time, Exempt

Travel Requirements: Olympia/Seattle

Salary Range: $150,000 - $185,000

WHO WE ARE

Washington State Charter Schools Association is committed to making sure every child in Washington has access to a high-quality public school that will set them on the path to success. Working toward this vision of the future, we are hyper-focused on achieving a policy and regulatory climate that ensures every student in Washington has access to ever-improving public school options, with a focus is charter public schools.

WA Charters is restructuring its operations to better meet the needs of its member schools — creating an entrepreneurial, start-up environment where team members have a real hand in shaping the organization's future. To get there, we are advancing a pro-charter policy agenda, building advocacy strength and political influence, strengthening our communications and research capacity, and mobilizing the charter community through collective action — all while building a strong, sustainable organization. Candidates who thrive in dynamic, fast-moving environments will find this an exciting moment to join our team.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Vice President of Policy serves as the Association's chief policy strategist and lead voice at the state capitol. This role advances a legislative and regulatory agenda that protects and expands high-quality charter public schools in Washington, and cultivates the trusted relationships across the legislature, executive agencies, and the authorizing community that make that policy agenda achievable. Ultimately, this role supports the goal of WA Charters being the trusted voice of Washington public charter school education policy. The ideal candidate is both a substantive expert on Washington education policy and a trusted, relationship-driven presence in Olympia.

POLICY STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT

• Serve as the Association's subject-matter expert on Washington's charter school law, education finance, and the broader K-12 regulatory landscape.
• Anticipate emerging policy trends and design innovative legislative and regulatory solutions that strengthen the operating environment for charter schools.
• Analyze proposed legislation, budget provisions, and agency rulemaking for impact on member schools, and translate complex policy into clear guidance for schools and stakeholders.
• Create a bill review process to assess each bill's impact on the charter community and determine whether to support or oppose it.
• Monitor and analyze the policy landscape to anticipate emerging threats and develop proactive strategies to address them.

LEGISLATIVE POLICY EXPERT

• Build and maintain trusted, bipartisan relationships with policy experts, legislators, legislative staff, OSPI, the Charter School Commission, the Governor's office, and other key officials.
• Represent the Association before legislative committees, agencies, and rulemaking bodies; provide testimony and draft policy recommendations.
• Collaborate with internal staff and lobbyists to maintain a system that accurately updates legislator support of charter schools based on evidence.
• In coordination with the Executive Director and the lobby team, execute the legislative and policy strategy.

SCHOOL POLICY SUPPORT

• Act as a thought-partner and direct support for policy implementation with charter public schools.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, work with member schools to understand barriers or issues and identify creative policy solutions.

THIS ROLE IS FOR YOU IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT

• Finding innovative ways to bring home wins for schools through the legislative and regulatory process
• Nerding out on education policy, because the details matter to you and you love digging into them
• Working in a start-up environment, where we roll up our sleeves and work hard together to build something sustainable
• Talking with lawmakers and testifying before committees to share what policy will and won't do, and why it matters
• Politics and policy, but above all, making a real difference for students and schools

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Occasional local travel outside of the office, driving own vehicle or public transit
• Occasional need-based irregular hours outside of the standard workweek (e.g. nights and weekends)
• Occasionally lift/carry up to 25 pounds
• Occasionally push/pull up to 25 pounds
• Note: WA Charters will make accommodation where necessary

WHAT WE OFFER

• A chance to transform Washington State’s public education to create broader, equitable outcomes and policies for all students in Washington State
• A passionate, fun, fast-moving, and collaborative team
• Salary range $150-185K, depending on experience
• Medical, dental, vision, and Rx benefits and life insurance (details provided upon request)
• 401(k) Plan with an employer match
• PTO days, sick time, and paid federal holidays

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

WA Charters is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

• Medical, dental, vision, and Rx benefits and life insurance (details provided upon request)
• 401(k) Plan with an employer match
• PTO days, sick time, and paid federal holidays