Director Of Advocacy Campaigns

START DATE:

Summer 2023

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Priority deadline for application is June 16. Anything received after that date will be kept on file and considered if the position is not filled.

REPORTS TO:

Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy

LOCATION:

The Partnership team works in a hybrid capacity. This position will be based in Los Angeles, and will be a combination of working remotely, in our Downtown LA office, and at Partnership schools.

 

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Launched in 2007, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools’ mission is to transform schools to revolutionize school systems, empowering all students with a high-quality education. The Partnership is a non-profit, in-district partner to LA Unified, not a charter network. As an independent nonprofit organization, the Partnership serves 13,200 students across 20 LA Unified schools in Watts, Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles. The Partnership works within the LA Unified School District context, which includes honoring all collective bargaining agreements for its teachers and school staff. To learn more about the Partnership, our mission, and how we approach our goals, please visit our website.

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Partnership is seeking a Director of Advocacy Campaigns to lead our advocacy strategy and campaign work with the goal of advancing education equity in Los Angeles and beyond. The Partnership works directly with 20 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools and leverages this position to influence policy and practice within LAUSD and at the state level, particularly with respect to high-need schools. The Director of Advocacy Campaigns will guide the development, strategy, and collaborative implementation of advocacy campaigns meant to change policy and support implementation of equitable practices at scale. Relationships are at the core of our approach, and this position will be responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships and partnerships with key players in the education policy world, including state legislators, LAUSD leadership, advocacy partners, and school community members. The position is one of the key leaders on the Partnership’s 5-member policy team, which spearheads systems change work across our organization. This is a full-time, year-round position.

 

The Partnership is committed to continuously building an anti-racist culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classrooms and in our home office. The Director of Advocacy Campaigns will be someone who is committed to implementing these values in creative ways when executing day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy campaign strategy and leadership (60%)

• Build a case for supporting and championing the Partnership’s advocacy work through cross-team and inter-community work
• Champion and amplify the Partnership’s system-wide change and advocacy work across teams, communities, and advisory boards comprised of students, parents, and educators
• Support policy research and analysis work, as needed
• Provide direction for ongoing campaign development through campaign strategy development, tactical scenarios and plans, coordinating campaign activities, and organizing campaign actions
• In collaboration with Communications Team members, develop communications and narrative change strategies for issue campaigns, and elevate the visibility and impact of the Partnership’s policy work
• Lead the Partnership’s state advocacy work through convening community partners and developing a collaborative and comprehensive advocacy strategy 
• Build a culture of learning and collaboration between school-facing teams and the Partnership’s advocacy work through communities of practice, data sharing, advisory groups, and more, all with the goal of infusing campaign priorities with instructional and in-school best practices
• Develop inclusive processes to center community leaders, Partnership staff and allies, and other stakeholders in campaign development and implementation

 

Relationship-building and advocacy partnerships (40%)

• Build and cultivate relationships with education policy leaders in Los Angeles and California,  including state legislators, California Department of Education (CDE), Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) leadership, advocacy partners, and school communities
• Collaborate with Partnership schools to identify and develop students who are social justice advocates, leaders, and equity champions in their communities
• Provide strategic leadership in the Equity Alliance Coalition in partnership with Catalyst California, Community Coalition, and InnerCity Struggle
• Create active and reciprocal partnerships with grasstop and grassroot leaders, policy organizations, and education coalitions to advance the Partnership’s education equity agenda

 

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES

All Partnership team members are expected to learn, grow, and model the following organizational competencies:

• Teaming & Collaboration: Builds and contributes to a strong team culture that promotes a sense of belonging for all team members
• Anti-racism: Acknowledges and actively seeks to disrupt the systemic racism that exists within educational systems and society which oppress the students and communities we serve
• Learning & Growth: Continually seeks to learn, grow, and improve in order to best serve our students and communities
• Psychological Safety: Feels freedom to express oneself openly and honestly, and to be one’s authentic self
• Long-Term Thinking: Focuses on long-term strategies and goals as the key to realizing the Partnership’s mission of empowering all students with a high-quality education
• Root Cause Analysis: Proactively makes time to examine the underlying causes of challenges, and identifies and addresses their root causes

 

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work on and manage multiple projects at any given time and pivot among priorities
• Flexibility, adaptability, and readiness to deal with a changing landscape while also driving the work forward
• At least 5 years of highly relevant professional experience in policy, advocacy, and/or  community organizing, with specific experience developing and executing an advocacy strategy and driving policy results
• A deep belief in the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values, as well as the power of our communities
• Experience cultivating productive partnerships and alliances with diverse stakeholders and individuals, including advocacy partners and community members; experience building relationships and alliances with LAUSD or other education leaders is preferred
• Experience advancing equity within government systems, especially through issue campaigns surrounding education and other social issues
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus with the goal of building relationships with Spanish-speakers in Partnership school communities
• Experience interfacing with elected officials and navigating political systems at the local, state, and/or federal levels
• 3+ years experience managing complex and cross-functional projects and/or teams
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Knowledge and understanding of communities served by the Partnership, including familiarity with education and other social issue campaigns alive in those communities
• A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all Partnership team members

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The starting salary range for the Director of Advocacy Campaigns position is $104,031-$112,406. Starting salaries are dependent on experience, skills, market rates, and pay equity among current staff members. The Partnership also offers a robust benefits package including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents; a 403(b) retirement program with employee match and vesting; parental and sabbatical leaves; a professional development allowance; and generous paid time off.

 

The Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our compensation practices. Our goal is to ensure that pay is fair for all staff members who hold many intersectional identities – new and tenured alike. When we set salaries for new team members, we consider market rates, pay equity among staff in similar roles across the organization, skills and experiences required for the role, and organizational budget. Because of all of these factors, the majority of new team members do not begin at the top of the salary range provided.

 

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Partnership for LA Schools is a contractor with Los Angeles Unified School District and has implemented a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy. All new employees are required to be fully vaccinated a week before their start date unless they are approved for an accommodation due to a medical reason or because of a sincerely held religious belief. 

 

For more information about this policy, please email the Manager of Home Office Talent & Organizational Culture at [email protected].

 

TO APPLY

Please prepare your resume and a cover letter tailored to this position. You will submit your documents using our online application system here: bit.ly/director-of-advocacy-campaigns

For technical assistance, assistance for applying with a disability, or questions, please email Melanie Liu, Senior Manager of Home Office Talent & Org Culture, at [email protected].

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to – and actively pursues – diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The Partnership prohibits discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race such as hairstyle), creed, color, religion, registered domestic partner status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, age, military and veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy or childbirth, physical disability or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. The Partnership also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

 

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, training, transfer, wages, benefits, termination, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.