Director/Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Basic Needs - Fully Remote; Washington, DC-area preferred

About TICAS

The Institute for College Access and 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 racial equity in higher education. Our staff combines expertise in research and data, laws and regulations, change management, and the policymaking process. For more information, please visit the website: www.ticas.org

Position Summary

The Director/Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Basic Needs leads TICAS work to develop and implement policy and advocacy strategy to better align public benefit programs, including SNAP, TANF, childcare and housing subsidies, to facilitate post-secondary credential access and completion, and to help enrolled students receive federal and state benefits to which they are entitled. This vital leadership role is responsible for leading research and analysis, policy development and advocacy efforts, and for expanding and maintaining strong relationships with key policymakers, advocacy partners, other stakeholders to advance TICAS goals. This dynamic position combines research, policy, and practice to investigate and advocate for data-informed policy recommendations to improve federal, state and institution-level practices.

This position reports to the Senior Vice President.

Essential Job Functions

Government and External Relations

• Proactively identify and cultivate potential allies, coalition members, and policymakers with whom TICAS can work closely to advance TICAS’ near- and long-term policy goals.
• Develop and cultivate relationships on behalf of TICAS, including funders, and present/address issues and opportunities with members of senior leadership.
• Collaborate with policy teams, research team, and communications team to develop strategies to communicate information effectively through press engagement, written and digital content, and other event formats, including preparing and delivering conference presentations, briefings and panels.
• Maintain strong relationships with relevant key executive and legislative policymakers and staff, by providing trusted reliable and independent information and research.

Advocacy, Strategy, and Policy Development

• Oversee the creation and implementation of TICAS’ Basic Needs policy agenda to:

1. Reduce or eliminate duplicative or burdensome program restrictions and criteria that serve as a barrier for people engaged in or trying to access postsecondary programs.
2. Reduce students’ basic needs insecurity to lower colleges costs and increase college completion.
3. Promote state policies that improve postsecondary enrollment and completion by better aligning college affordability policies with policies related to employment, training, and basic needs.

• Develop and execute strategies for advancing TICAS’ policy priorities through legislative, regulatory, and other means.
• Proactively identify and cultivate policy champions amongst Legislators and their staff, directly and/or via direct reports, on behalf of TICAS and flag issues and opportunities for senior leadership.
• Provide technical assistance on policy proposals to ensure that the strongest language is being adopted into law and unintended consequences are addressed ahead of time.
• Oversee the monitoring, analysis, summary, and feedback on relevant policy proposals, including legislative, regulatory, and administrative policies.

Communication and Reporting

• Draft clear and persuasive reports, memos, briefs, fact sheets and other materials to communicate findings and recommendations, drive media coverage and shape policy debates.
• Author and edit op-eds, research briefs, and fact sheets in a compelling and effective manner to various audiences, including non-technical readers.
• 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 associates, 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 monthly and annual goals and objectives.
• Provide ongoing feedback to the Senior Vice President on direct reports’ performance and contribute feedback to annual 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.

TICAS strongly encourages applicants from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply. TICAS is committed to sustaining a diverse community with a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and encouraging to all. TICAS fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and cultivates diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, culture, and experience. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

TICAS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Education and Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Minimum of 8 years’ post-bachelor’s degree relevant experience in higher education, research or advocacy, state or federal policy.
• Intermediate/expert proficiency in the Microsoft Suite.
• Demonstrated commitment to and focus on inclusion and equity, with ability to build and nurture relationships with diverse colleagues and stakeholders, in a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and encouraging to all.
• Substantial knowledge of US public benefits programs and/or higher education policy and funding at the federal level.
• Strong working knowledge of organizations, allies, and coalitions in the higher education and/or basic needs sectors.
• Intermediate experience with public speaking and presentations.
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills.
• Demonstrated research and analysis skills, and ability to interpret, convey, and work with both quantitative and qualitative analyses.
• Demonstrated ability to manage grant-funded projects, including deadlines, reporting, and project management.
• Organizational and time management skills to complete competing assignments within established timeframes.
• Experience managing people and teams.