Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Michigan

Job Title: Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Michigan

Location: Remote; Michigan residency strongly preferred

Reports To: Executive Vice President

FLSA Status: Full time/Exempt

About TICAS

The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) is a national nonprofit with offices in Oakland, California and Washington, D.C. We are a trusted source of research, design, and advocacy for student-centered public policies that promote affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education, nationally and in California, Michigan, and New York. TICAS advocates for every student, regardless of race, ethnicity, or family wealth, to have access to a quality higher education without the need to incur debt to realize their dreams of earning a college credential. Our staff combines expertise in research and data, laws and regulations, change management, and the policymaking process. TICAS values a workforce with varied backgrounds, perspectives, skills, and experience at all levels of the organization. Our most important asset is our talented and passionate employees. Representing varied life experiences, skills, geographic, economic, or other backgrounds, our people use their unique educational experiences and perspectives to advocate on behalf of students across the country. For more information, please visit our website: www.ticas.org.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Michigan leads TICAS’ efforts to promote and develop student-centered policy and advocacy to advance college affordability, accountability, basic needs, completion, and student and borrower protections across the state. The Senior Director proactively identifies and nurtures potential allies, coalition members, and other partners, advancing shared goals and bringing their insights to policymakers. This dynamic position combines research, policy, and practice to investigate and advocate for data-informed policy recommendations that benefit today’s students. The incumbent leads the Michigan team and works closely with the executive team and across the organization.

Essential Job Functions

Advocacy, Strategy, and Policy Development

• Oversee the creation and implementation of a Michigan policy agenda to advance TICAS' mission and priorities in the areas of college affordability, accountability, basic needs, completion, and student and borrower protections
• Develop and execute strategies to advance the Michigan policy agenda through legislative, regulatory, and other means, including those that:
• Identify burdensome restrictions that prevent students from enrolling, persisting, and completing college;
• Identify solutions that promote students’ college access, persistence, completion, and basic needs security, including those that would mitigate and/or eliminate burdensome restrictions;
• Center the needs of today’s students, including students of color, first generation, rural, adult, parenting, low-income, and those with some college and no credential
• Foster the inclusion and integration of student and community voice as part of the overall advocacy and policy strategy
• Create and improve processes that enable TICAS to engage in legislative, budgetary, and regulatory decisions in a timely manner
• Oversee the monitoring, analysis, summary, and feedback on relevant policy proposals, including legislative, regulatory, and administrative policies
• Provide technical assistance on policy proposals to ensure that unintended consequences are addressed ahead of time and that the most appropriate language is codified into law
• Collaborate with TICAS’ policy, communications, research, and operations teams to maximize advocacy, strategy, and policy development in Michigan
• Provide strategic thought leadership to TICAS’ executive team on stakeholder issues and opportunities as well as coalition and partnership development with organizations with shared interests

Research Development and Dissemination

• Oversee the conceptualization, development, execution of research projects that advance the Michigan policy agenda
• Collaborate with the research team on projects to advance the Michigan policy agenda
• Consult on general research projects that take into consideration Michigan’s policy context
• Disseminate research findings among policymakers, coalition members, allies, and the broader higher education field

Written Communication, Reporting, and Project Management

• Manage the development and completion of clear and persuasive reports, memos, briefs, fact sheets, and other materials to communicate findings and recommendations, drive media coverage, and shape policy debates
• Manage research projects with multiple components, which may include direct reports, TICAS colleagues, and/or other external partners
• Utilize Monday as a project management tool, including for the TICAS Production Workflow Process
• Manage the logistics and details of hosting convenings (virtual and in-person) for the Michigan team
• Author and edit op-eds, research briefs, and fact sheets in a compelling and effective manner to various audiences, including non-technical readers
• Prepare and deliver testimony, presentations, and other materials in public venues
• Represent TICAS in press interviews, public speaking engagements, testimony, conferences, and meetings

Staff Management and Development

• Provide regular supervision, coaching, and delegation of tasks to applicable reports, including delegation of work responsibilities, training in those responsibilities, and monitoring the team member’s successful completion of their responsibilities
• Communicate job expectations, including planning, monitoring, and reviewing results and performance aligned with expectations
• Provide coaching/feedback to associates/direct reports and lead/deliver their annual performance evaluations, including identifying training and development opportunities and assisting in the setting of each team member’s monthly and annual goals and objectives
• Provide feedback to supervisor on direct reports’ performance on a regular basis and during annual performance review discussions
• Foster an inclusive organizational culture that respects colleagues’ diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise
• Engage in training and professional development to improve management practices

Stakeholder and Partner Management

• Proactively identify, develop, cultivate, and maintain relationships with potential allies, coalition members, and policymakers with whom TICAS can work closely to advance the organization’s student-centric policy goals in the near-term and long-term
• Identify, cultivate, and maintain strong relationships with relevant key executive and legislative policymakers and staff at the local, state, and federal levels, by providing trusted reliable and independent information and research
• Empower policymakers and higher education leaders to remove access, completion, affordability, and poverty-related barriers for today’s students,
• Lead and support grant proposals and oversee and complete grant deliverables with quality and within outlined timelines
• Manage contractor relationships and contract processes with internal staff

Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education, public policy, or related field; graduate degree in such fields preferred
• Minimum of 6 years progressive experience in higher education policy, local and/or state government, research, practice, or advocacy work in a nonprofit organization
• Minimum of 2 years supervisory experience
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Strong working knowledge of higher education policy topics at the state level, of state-based education organizations, allies, and coalitions, and of government funding sources and budget/policy processes
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, including the ability to describe complex policy issues clearly and accurately for different audiences
• Ability to direct, motivate, and supervise direct reports to achieve performance and activity expectations through effective and ongoing performance management
• Skilled at organizational and time management to independently establish priorities and coordinate and complete competing assignments within established timeframes
• Can operate with a high degree of autonomy, responsibility, initiative and professionalism
• Demonstrated ability to remain flexible, manage multiple priorities, and stay highly organized and detailed oriented
• Keen ability to listen, build productive and positive relationships, and partner with diverse employees and TICAS stakeholders

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, TICAS makes employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and skills. We are committed to a strict policy of non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants and strive to promote equity in all areas of employment. We are committed to ensuring that employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or a condition related to pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, military service, application for military service, or any other status protected by applicable law. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plan, plus dental and vision coverage (100% paid for employee coverage, plus an additional 50-75% TICAS contribution for all other dependents depending on plan)
• Remote and hybrid work flexibility
• 44-50 days of annual paid time off based on tenure, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave
• 40 days of paid parental leave for new parents
• Summer Fridays
• Retirement plans with employer contributions
• Professional development opportunities, including memberships
• Employee assistance plan