Policy Advocate

Founded in 2016, EdAllies is a Minnesota-based education advocacy nonprofit that partners with schools, families, and communities to ensure that every young Minnesotan has access to a rigorous and engaging education. We advance policies that put underserved students first, remove barriers facing successful schools and programs, and foster an inclusive conversation about what’s possible for students. To learn more, visit www.edalliesmn.org.

POSITION

EdAllies is seeking a Policy Advocate to focus on advocacy campaign strategy, outreach, amplification, and mobilization. The Policy Advocate will closely track education policy developments at the Minnesota Capitol and within state agencies, and develop strategies to translate key takeaways and action opportunities to parents, students, educators, and community leaders. You will work closely with EdAllies’ Advocacy Programming Manager to guide program participants through hands-on advocacy opportunities, coaching them on testifying, facilitating lobby days, and more. You will support the Senior Policy Director with legislative meetings, bill tracking, hearings, coalition work, and strategy. You will partner with the Director of Communications to develop videos, social media updates, and other strategies to amplify real-time policy updates. The ideal candidate is eager to get into the weeds of policymaking, with an acumen for engagement, public speaking, and activating community.

This position reports to the Senior Policy Director. EdAllies is a hybrid work organization, with employees working 2 days in-person at our Minneapolis office. This position will also spend significant time in the community and at the Capitol during legislative session, including some work on evenings and weekends. Occasional in-state travel may be required to meet with stakeholders in different communities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Supporting the Senior Policy Director to closely track education policy developments, becoming a subject matter and process expert to inform the larger community;
• Connecting community members to advocacy and communications opportunities strategically designed to drive meaningful policy change;
• Keeping partners informed on policy issues to support their ongoing engagement in advocacy;
• Supporting the Senior Policy Director with direct legislative work, including attending meetings and hearings, coordinating testimony, and other advocacy tactics;
• Managing logistics and event plans for lobby days and policy engagement events, engaging other team members as needed;
• Utilizing systems to track and maintain community engagement with the policy process;
• Leading EdAllies’ Youth Advisory Council, partnering with a cohort of students to develop and execute advocacy campaigns grounded in student needs;
• Serving as a public-facing ambassador for the organization as needed, including through social media videos, service on task forces and coalitions, testimony, and more;
• Coordinating issue-specific listening sessions and workgroups;
• Collaborating closely with team members to advance EdAllies’ mission and vision.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates should possess a strong commitment to EdAllies’ mission, and to education equity more broadly. The ideal candidate has:

• Strong communication skills, including comfort with public speaking and the ability to break down complex policy issues for multiple audiences;
• Strong relationship-building skills with demonstrated experience working across lines of race, ethnicity, age, political identity, and socioeconomic background;
• Experience organizing groups around advocacy goals;
• Familiarity with the Minnesota policy process and eagerness to engage in work at the Capitol;
• Demonstrated understanding of effective policy advocacy strategies and tactics;
• Familiarity with local education landscape and/or current education policy debates;
• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to seek and implement feedback from colleagues, and to support projects across the organization as needed;
• Commitment to principles of student-centered education, inclusiveness, and justice;
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment, self-direct and prioritize among competing goals, and work both independently and collaboratively;
• Personal experience or connection that drives a passion for the work preferred;
• 2+ years of experience in education, advocacy, organizing, or related field; and,
• Commitment to operating with EdAllies’ core values of equity, inventiveness, humility, honesty, and courage.
• Proficiency in Spanish, Hmong, or Somali is a plus.

COMPENSATION

The position pays an annual salary of $60,000-$74,000, based on qualifications and experience. Candidates with more than five years of relevant experience may be eligible for hiring at the senior advocate level, with a range of $70,000-$90,000.

EdAllies also provides a robust benefits package which includes medical, dental, long-term disability, life, and vision insurance premiums paid in full for employees and significantly subsidized for families; 401(k) matched up to 5% with immediate vesting; 21 days of annual PTO; 9 paid holidays plus a paid winter break and 2 floating days; Summer Fridays; flexible bereavement leave; parental leave with 8 weeks fully paid; school activities and student service release time; and more.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should complete the online application form, which includes a place to upload your resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications submitted by August 16.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Our team will review applications and schedule half-hour virtual interviews with first-round candidates in mid-to-late August. We will then select a smaller pool of finalists for more in-depth, in-person interviews in early September. We may ask for position-related work samples, a short project related to duties, and a list of references at this time. The selected candidate would ideally begin work by October.

EdAllies is an equal opportunity employer, with a commitment to a diverse, inclusive workplace. From hiring to internal practice, we work to promote a culture that is welcoming and free of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, pregnancy, disability, work-related injury, covered veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other factor that the law protects from employment discrimination.

EdAllies provides a robust benefits package which includes medical, dental, long-term disability, life, and vision insurance premiums paid in full for employees and significantly subsidized for families; 401(k) matched up to 5% with immediate vesting; 21 days of annual PTO; 9 paid holidays plus a paid winter break and 2 floating days; Summer Fridays; flexible bereavement leave; parental leave with 8 weeks fully paid; school activities and student service release time; and more.