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National Office Employment Opportunities
DIRECTOR, POLICY & INITIATIVES
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Position: |
Director, Policy & Initiatives |
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Location |
Washington, DC |
The Director of Policy & Initiatives provides leadership, direction, and oversight to the Public Education Network’s (PEN) policy initiatives and related special projects as outlined in the operating plan, and in support of PEN’s strategic plan goals. The Director is responsible for ensuring integration and coordination of efforts across the initiatives, particularly in achieving state and national policy outcomes. The Director provides management oversight for the initiatives and is responsible for integrating and coordinating support functions within PEN that are related to the initiatives. The Director is responsible for developing and monitoring management and administrative processes and procedures that support the policy initiatives work. The Director reports to the President.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director will exercise professional judgment with the appropriate supervision for:
Project Management
Conceptualize and design policy initiatives to support PEN's mission.
Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with national organizations and experts in support of advancing the state and national goals and outcomes of the initiatives.
Establish and monitor policies and procedures regarding all management aspects of the initiatives, including fiscal and programmatic compliance. Ensure that internal financial and administrative processes are being met by staff. Manage division's staff and budget resources.
Initiate and coordinate research and evaluation, knowledge management, communications, and development efforts in support of the initiatives.
Research and Evaluation
Manage an evaluation and research function that helps PEN obtain evidence about its effectiveness and meet its potential for improvement; supervise and contribute to internal evaluation and data collection efforts around the PEN priority policy areas (teacher quality, college access, high school completion, expanded time); coordinate external research and evaluation projects around the initiatives and their theories of change; and help to translate findings into organizational learning.
Knowledge Management
Direct and manage a knowledge management (KM) initiative, developing and executing a strategic plan to foster collaborative knowledge building and sharing of effective practices across the network. Develop the strategic vision and supporting programs and policies for the KM initiative, drive the system-wide cultural transition toward knowledge sharing and collaboration, and manage the support infrastructure to ensure that knowledge resources and expertise are explicitly aligned to the needs of LEFs across the network. Develop and manage plans for fostering the growth of online LEF communities to support knowledge building and sharing of effective practices. Develop mechanisms for soliciting and responding to LEF needs for quality resources, data, and collaboration opportunities.
Communications
Oversee communications and documentation efforts related to the initiatives and dissemination of products to the network, funders, PEN board and committees, and PEN senior management.
Funder Relationship Development
Policy Development
Serve as primary liaison to the board's policy committee. Provide staff support to the committee throughout the year and surrounding all committee meetings. Oversee the process of PEN policy position development in the four PEN priority policy areas (teacher quality, college access, high school completion, expanded time). Serve as a spokesperson, as needed, about the local, state, and national policy efforts related to the policy positions.
Integration
Oversee integration and coordination of various functions within PEN as related to the initiatives, including member services, public engagement, administration, and finance.
Directly supervise all staff working on policy initiatives. Provide leadership, direction, and mentoring to staff to ensure their professional growth.
QUALIFICATIONS
A master's degree or PhD plus at least ten years program leadership and management experience, including demonstrable results through effective program management, financial management, and fundraising for multi-million-dollar budgets and management of interdisciplinary teams.
Demonstrated knowledge of a broad range of education reform topics and of public engagement efforts related to education reform.
Ability to provide innovative leadership. A proven track record of team leadership as well as of highly collaborative work on teams both within and outside his/her own organization, and of effectively mentoring and developing the technical skills of less senior research staff, while encouraging the continual professional development of more senior researchers
Strong team player with a results oriented focus and highly disciplined approach to meeting objectives.
Strong strategic thinking, project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to proactively identify key issues and risks.
Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods. Excellent research and analytical skills, and ability to synthesize extensive information and data into succinct, clear reports, briefs, etc. and to communicate effectively in writing for diverse audiences, ranging from academics to the public.
Knowledge of and experience with knowledge management and organizational learning. Strong customer-service and problem-solving approach.
Demonstrated ability to assess and address technical assistance needs, employing strong facilitation skills, leadership skills, and site visits (travel approximately 35%).
Experience in working with state and/or national stakeholders and national partners in support of policy change.
Ability to be flexible and work in a fast-paced environment. Hands-on approach and a willingness to pitch in and do what is necessary for the team to achieve goals. Capacity to deal with ambiguity.
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