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Position: Associate Director, Bay Area Local Advocacy

Location: Remote, must reside within the Bay Area, CA

FLSA: Exempt

Description of Job:

The Associate Director of Local Advocacy spearheads efforts to influence policy changes and build strategic relationships, ensuring charter school members in the Bay Area Region gain equitable access to essential resources and support. By leading community engagement, legislative advocacy, and coalition-building initiatives, this role fosters a supportive environment for the success and growth of charter schools. This position works closely with charter school operators, district and county elected officials, and senior staff to enhance policy, influence the political landscape, and create a supportive ecosystem to ensure schools have the resources and supports they need to thrive.

Overview of Responsibilities

Reporting to the VP of Northern and Central Valley Advocacy, the Associate Director leads efforts to help shape and advocate for the landscape of charter schools and policies that benefit charter schools in the Bay Area Region. Responsibilities include engaging with local elected officials and stakeholders, driving school advocacy campaigns, building and maintaining strategic relationships with authorizers, and collaborating with community organizations to support educational access and equity for charter schools. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in policy advocacy, excellent communication and relationship-building skills, and a deep understanding of the local educational landscape. Proven experience in managing successful advocacy campaigns and working with diverse stakeholders will make them well-suited to advance school interests effectively.

Essential Duties:

Member and Community Engagement:

• Build and maintain relationships with charter school leaders across the designated counties.
• Organize regular meetings, training sessions, and webinars to engage and support charter school members in advocacy efforts.
• Act as the primary point of contact for charter schools, addressing their concerns and providing guidance on advocacy and policy issues.
• Help create, support, and distribute communication materials such as newsletters to inform stakeholders about advocacy efforts and policy developments.
• Member Management: Such as preparing for meetings with charter leaders and school visits, tracking meeting and conversation notes on Salesforce, and contributing to member satisfaction within the Bay Area Region.
• Relationship and Coalition Building:
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local district and county elected officials, district staff, charter school leaders, community partners, and senior charter staff.
• Partner with like-minded community organizations to advance access to quality public education.
• Participate in community events, forums, and meetings to promote charter schools and favorable policy changes.
• Help coordinate grassroots efforts to mobilize community support and raise awareness about charter school needs, if needed.

Policy, Research, Analysis and Advocacy:

• Address charter-related policy issues within priority school districts, County Offices of Education, and other relevant local school districts and county education offices as needed.
• Develop and implement advocacy campaigns to address specific issues impacting charter schools at local school boards and support charter school renewals.
• Work to support a favorable local policy environment that ensures charter schools have fair access to resources such as facilities, funding, and technology and that these schools are subject to equitable and transparent oversight.
• Promote an active charter community by engaging local leaders in setting key policy priorities, participating in advocacy strategy discussions, and mobilizing community support for positive policy changes.
• Assist government affairs legislative advocacy and policymakers by engaging members and obtaining their support.

Political Engagement:

• Provide support as appropriate to CCSA Advocates?CCSA?s 501(c)4 organization?with campaign efforts at the local and state levels.

Internal Collaboration and Management:

• Collaborate with other members of the local advocacy team and other cross-team functions to align efforts and achieve organizational goals, such as member renewal and acquisition campaigns.
• Support the public relations and creative services team by seeking and elevating member stories for earned and owned media amplification.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and direction of the Northern California local advocacy team.
• Support CCSA-sponsored events and activities as needed, including CCSA?s annual Charter Schools Conference.
• Help track the progress and outcomes of advocacy efforts and report on key metrics and successes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of advocacy strategies and recommend improvements based on feedback and results.
• Use of Salesforce to track member communication, local votes, contact points, and meetings.

What Success Looks Like:

The Associate Director, Bay Area Local Advocacy will play a pivotal role in building strong relationships with charter school leaders, school boards, community organizations, and local and state elected officials through effective engagement in advocacy efforts. These partnerships would advocate for charter-equitable policies and educational equity for all students. Effective advocacy and policy impact would be demonstrated by the development and implementation of comprehensive advocacy strategies leading to equitable policy changes at the local level. Charter schools would experience successful renewal and access to necessary resources, with organized actions, events, and community meetings garnering board support and achieving advocacy goals. Overall success in this role would be reflected in tangible policy wins at the school board level, increased engagement and support from members and stakeholders, and a strengthening reputation for CCSA as a leader in educational advocacy and charter school support.

Competencies:

• Relationship Building: builds relationships and rapport with people across differences, levels, functions, cultures, and geography. Contributes to opportunities for individuals to work together.
• Local Insight: Possesses a deep understanding of the Bay Area landscape, including key players and power dynamics.
• Effective Communication: Adapts and conveys complex messages clearly across diverse groups. Listens actively and seeks to understand the interests and concerns of others.
• Analytical and Strategic Skills: Ability to analyze complex information, identify patterns and connections across workstreams, evaluate risks and benefits, and proactively create solutions while anticipating future trends and implications.
• Growth Minded: willingness to engage in reflection and examine one?s own biases, assumptions and attitudes. Embraces giving and receiving feedback, while applying feedback and reflections to improve performance and evolve personally and professionally. Enjoys and seeks new challenges that provide professional growth and development.
• Works Through It: Demonstrates resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges and setbacks, maintains a positive attitude and remains focused on goals, even under pressure. Adapts to changing circumstances and finds creative ways to independently overcome barriers when necessary.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Committed to fostering a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace by promoting the value of individual differences.

Required / Preferred Capabilities

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in public education, public policy, advocacy, or a related field, required.
• Strong communication and public speaking skills
• Relationship-building skills that instill trust
• Deep understanding of the local educational landscape.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Must Reside (or be willing to relocate) in the Bay Area Region.
• Ability to travel and reliable transportation - Travel throughout the region for internal and external meetings, school visits and board meetings, including overnight travel for staff retreats, conferences and other CCSA-related activities (about 30% of the time). Schedule may include occasional evenings and weekends based on organizational needs.

How to Apply

• When applying, please submit a cover letter answering the following questions:
• What about our mission resonates with your experience and interests?
• What makes you an exceptional candidate for this position?
• Where did you learn about this opportunity?
• When are you available to start?

Benefits and Salary

Salary range for this position is $70,304- $75,720 annually. Selected candidates will be offered a starting salary based on years of aligned experience and any specialized training or certifications (if preferred for the position). Our organization is deeply committed to equity and thus has a no-negotiation policy. CCSA also offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage upon hire, 401K eligibility with a company match (up to 6%) after the first 90 days of employment, and generous paid time off.