Senior Manager, Policy & Legislative Affairs

ABOUT THE DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD (DC PCSB)

Every day, we’re making it better for 44,000+ public charter school students, families, and communities to receive a quality education that makes them feel valued and prepared for lifelong learning, fulfilling careers, and economic security. DC PCSB is an independent agency of the District of Columbia government. Our mission, vision, values, and work are rooted in the principle of ensuring that every DC student has access to a quality education.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The senior manager of Policy and Legislative Affairs serves as the lead policy chief, setting the agency’s policy agenda and shaping and advancing initiatives that align with our mission and strategic goals. This role involves developing policy frameworks, supporting legislative advocacy, and collaborating with internal and external groups to influence public policy. This individual also provides expert analysis and recommendations to executive leadership.  

Key Responsibilities include: 

• Government Relations: 
  • Monitor and evaluate local and federal legislative and regulatory developments.
  • Design and implement comprehensive policy strategies that align with organizational and charter sector objectives at the DC Council, State Board of Education, within the Mayor’s Office and at the Federal level.
  • Analyze emerging policy issues and provide recommendations to inform decision-making.
  • Lead the development of position statements and legislative priorities.
• Speechwriting, Messaging, and Storytelling: 
  • Supervise the creation of written materials produced by the Policy and Legislative Affairs team. This includes testimony, policy briefs, talking points, etc. 
• Network Building & Strategic Partnerships: 
  • Build relationships with key legislative staff, policy groups, and external partners to strengthen advocacy efforts and broaden policy impact. 
  • Work effectively to build informal and formal coalitions, and develop contacts, to advance areas of common interest within and outside of the organization.
  • Collaborate with members of the External Affairs Department to support our collective efforts to advance organizational priorities.
• Reputation & Issue Management: 
  • Monitor and memorialize public conversations in hearings, community meetings, working groups, and online.
  • Proactively initiate, cultivate, and maintain relationships with local and federal legislative officials including DC Council, Congress, local and federal government agencies, and local and national advocacy organizations to communicate our priorities and positions.
  • Serve as a key spokesperson on policy matters, both internally and externally, responding to inquiries from government agencies and policymakers. 
• Advocacy & Policy Influence: 
  • Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, government agencies, and advocacy coalitions.
  • Prepare the organization for legislative hearings and represent on working groups and public forums.
  • Conduct thorough research and analysis of policy issues impacting the organization, public and public charter schools, and, specifically, public charter school students. 
  • Track policy outcomes and measure the effectiveness of advocacy initiatives.
• Leadership & Team Management:
  • Advise Executive Leadership and Board on issues impacting the organization and the public charter school sector.
  • Supervise and mentor Policy and Legislative Affairs staff, providing guidance on policy development and analysis.
  • Manage the planning and execution of the daily workflow of the Policy and Legislative Affairs Team.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning within the Policy and Legislative Affairs Team.
• Other duties as assigned

Competencies and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, law, or a related field, law degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in public policy, legislative affairs, or government relations, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of the legislative processes at the local/state, and federal levels.
• Innovative and proven track record of developing and executing successful policy strategies and advocacy campaigns.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy issues for diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities with a results-oriented mindset.
• Experience in the education, nonprofit, or public sector is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience establishing relationships with external partners, like policymakers.
• Excellent political judgement and discretion. 
• Confident self-starter with the ability to lead a team and follow-through and meet deadlines.
• You must express comfort and willingness to discuss, learn, and implement DC PCSB’s Mission, Vision, and Values using them to build relationships, navigate conversations, and engage in continuous learning.

Compensation
Salary is competitive and commensurate with prior experience in a similar role. DC PCSB offers a comprehensive benefits plan covering 100% of the employee’s insurance premium. If you’re employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the PSLF Program. Please visit the studentaid.gov website for eligibility details and requirements. DC PCSB offers a generous telecommuting policy.

To foster fair compensation practices within our organization, there is a non-negotiation policy built within our compensation system.
The salary band for this role is $114,302 - $132,427

DC PCSB is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to fostering a unified workplace. We are committed to ensuring all employees feel valued and respected. We recognize that multiple perspectives and experiences contribute to a strong and effective team, enhancing our ability to fulfill our mission.