Policy Manager

Who We Are: The Partnership for Children and Youth (PCY) is an innovative policy, advocacy and capacity-building organization committed to closing the opportunity gap for students from under-resourced communities in California, with an emphasis on before and after school, summer learning. For more than 20 years, we have inspired and helped people, organizations, and systems to leverage their existing resources and work together to educate and support children furthest from opportunity. We have a longstanding reputation as excellent partners and collaborators with a diverse set of allies and stakeholders.

Partnership for Children and Youth is also the operating manager of the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance (CA3), the statewide voice for and expert on expanded learning policy. CA3 is a coalition of over 40 expanded learning providers, intermediary organizations, and school district advisors from across California.

PCY has a warm and supportive culture where authenticity, continuous learning, collaboration, and trust-building are highly valued. PCY is a small but mighty team, where creative, adaptable, passionate, and self-starters thrive. The team is committed, flexible, and inclusive and cares deeply about our work. The organization has high standards and a sense of accountability to continually center the communities we serve, and where wellness is upheld as a key principle.

Job Summary:

Are you passionate about educational equity and justice? Do you want to have a hand in turning community expertise and policy research into actionable statewide solutions, on behalf of the millions of children and their families in California’s public schools? Then you may be a great fit for the Policy Manager position at PCY.

The Policy Manager plays a key role in the development of PCY’s policy agenda through strategic research, in-depth analysis, managing communications, and building essential relationships. The work specifically targets and benefits three critical groups: the expanded learning workforce, middle and high school-age youth, and early learners. The main goal is to secure greater investment and create high-quality and more equitable opportunities across a variety of learning and education sectors. The successful candidate will be a motivated strategic thinker who enjoys both research and relationship-building. They thrive at connecting the dots between cross-sector issues, translating policy into user-friendly content, and building strategic relationships. They have strong attention to detail, are a team player, and self-motivated.

This role is a perfect fit for a policy advocate who is looking to join a small but mighty team that is working to ensure that all Califonia’s nearly 6 million students in public education have access to opportunities to learn beyond the school day and year to build skills and relationships, expand their horizons, access social capital, and discover their passions.

This position reports to the Director of Policy and collaborates closely with PCY’s Co-CEOs and the policy and practice teams, and the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance (CA3).

Key Responsibilities:

Policy Development, Analysis & Advocacy

• Develop and drive PCY’s policy agenda on specific expanded learning issues, including older youth and college and career readiness, workforce development and pathways, wellness, early learning, and child care.
• Conduct research, interviews, and literature reviews to identify program models and implementation best practices.
• Synthesize, analyze, and document research into policy and practice recommendations and actions to increase access to and the quality of afterschool and summer programs.
• Develop public-facing collateral, position statements, factsheets, briefs, talking points, slide decks, and blogs.
• Track, analyze, and provide updates on current state, local, and federal policy trends, legislation, and news across expanded learning, TK–12 education, child care and early learning, college and career readiness, student mental health and safety, community schools, and services for students with disabilities.
• Develop, implement, and monitor project workplans, activities, and outcomes.
• Assist with additional activities, special projects, and other organizational duties as assigned.

Partnership Development & Management

• Identify, build, and manage relationships with advocacy partners, system leaders, expanded learning practitioners, researchers, and other key interest holders.
• Collaborate and align with the PCY workforce and practice teams' goals and initiatives to develop effective system changes and solutions.
• Deepen expertise and partnerships by participating in relevant and strategic workgroups, networks, and coalitions.
• Support partner organizations to develop their advocacy capacity among staff, educators, families, and students.
• Conduct outreach and maintain strong relationships with policymakers and state officials and staff.
• Collaborate and align with CA3’s policy agenda and stakeholders.
• Supervise consultants and interns as needed.

Qualifications/Core Competencies

Must-haves

• Strategic thinker who can research, understand complex issues, and propose equitable and pragmatic solutions without much guidance.
• Knowledge of the state legislative and/or government agencies, including legislative, budget, and advocacy campaigns.
• Understanding of education or youth-focused policy (e.g. K-12 schools, afterschool, early learning, youth justice, workforce development).
• Commitment to and passion for educational and social justice, racial equity, inclusion, and PCY’s mission.
• Experience analyzing and synthesizing legislation and policy research into accessible content and products for diverse audiences.
• Organization and project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives with internal staff and external partners, and respond to shifting state policy landscape and timelines.
• Strong relationship-building skills with diverse partners and interested parties.
• Experience and interest in communications.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, including effectively “managing up.”
• Ability to travel within California 5-8 times per year and to the Bay Area/Sacramento monthly.

Nice-to-haves

• Strong facilitation skills, including planning and executing effective meetings and capturing actionable follow-up.
• Experience working in state government, policymaking, advocacy, and/or with state government officials and their staff.
• Experience advocating and/or working with youth and/or workforce development or education community-based organizations.
• Familiarity with Google products, Canva, Doodle, Zoom, Mailchimp, and advocacy platforms.
• Experience working with nonprofit executives or school districts.

Job Category: Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation: Annual salary range: $77,000-$85,000 commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer coverage for employee premiums. 401(k) retirement plan with 4% employer match. Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Paid time off including vacation starting at 10 days, 11 observed holidays plus winter break for team rest and restoration, 3 personal days, and 12 sick days. Professional development opportunities also included.

Reports to: Director of Policy

Work location: Remote. California-based preferred. Ability to travel within California required.

Desired Start Date: February 16, 2026

To apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to: jobs@partnerforchildren.org. Deadline to apply is December 16, 2025. Email applications with attachments in Microsoft Word or PDF format only. Due to the volume of anticipated responses, we may not be able to respond to each applicant.

Partnership for Children and Youth is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels of our work. The organization’s policy regarding equal employment opportunity means that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, benefits, wage and salary administration, scheduling, disciplinary action, and termination will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, pregnancy or parenthood, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer coverage for employee premiums. 401(k) retirement plan with 4% employer match. Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Paid time off including vacation starting at 10 days, 11 observed holidays plus winter break for team rest and restoration, 3 personal days, and 12 sick days. Professional development opportunities also included.