Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy

KIPP Public Schools Northern California•Oakland, CA

21h•$104,000 - $127•Hybrid

About The Position

KIPP Northern California seeks a strategic, politically astute, and relationship-driven Associate Director of Advocacy to advance our regional policy and authorizer strategy. Reporting to the Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement, this leader will own and drive KIPP NorCal’s local authorizer engagement across a portfolio of districts, lead high-stakes charter renewals and advocacy campaigns, and strengthen parent power across our network. This role sits at the intersection of political strategy, family engagement, and cross-functional execution. The Associate Director will regularly interface with executive leadership, elected officials, district leaders, school teams, families, and community partners to ensure strong renewal outcomes, protect and expand access to facilities, and build long-term political capital for KIPP schools. Success in this role means securing favorable charter renewal outcomes, increasing family advocacy engagement year over year, strengthening relationships with key decision-makers, and building sustainable advocacy systems across the region. This position is based at our Regional Support Office in Oakland, with a minimum of three days per week onsite at the RSO or school campuses. The role requires reliable transportation and travel throughout the Bay Area and Stockton (approximately 20%), including occasional evening meetings.

Requirements

5+ years of professional experience with increasing responsibility in advocacy, public policy, political campaigns, consulting, strategic planning, or nonprofit leadership
Demonstrated experience leading advocacy campaigns, navigating public-sector decision-making processes, or managing high-stakes political or policy initiatives
Proven ability to develop strategy and translate it into execution across multiple stakeholders, such as families, internal colleagues, and elected officials
Experience working with senior leaders, board members, or elected officials
Track record of building coalitions and partnerships across diverse communities
Experience managing complex, cross-functional projects with competing timelines
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required
Drive Results : Demonstrates strong political judgment and decision-making in complex, high-stakes environments.
Planning & Execution : Independently manages multiple high-priority initiatives (e.g., renewals, board votes, compliance cycles) with urgency, follow-through, and accountability.
Communication & Influence : Writes and speaks clearly and persuasively; builds coalitions and motivates action across diverse stakeholders.
Data-Based Improvement : Uses qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategy, strengthen renewal narratives, and drive continuous improvement.
Stakeholder Management : Builds trust-based relationships with families, community leaders, and public officials; navigates across lines of difference with cultural competence.
Student Focus : Maintains a deep understanding of the needs of Northern California communities and centers advocacy efforts on advancing equitable outcomes for students.
Cultural Competence & Equity : Demonstrated experience advancing initiatives that promote inclusive practices and improved outcomes for historically marginalized communities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in education policy, charter schools, or public-sector governance
Experience building grassroots or community-based organizing efforts
Spanish fluency or professional proficiency

Responsibilities

Lead Strategic Authorizer Engagement Serve as the primary strategic lead for a portfolio of charter authorizer relationships, ensuring strong long-term positioning and successful renewal outcomes.
Develop and execute multi-year authorizer engagement strategies aligned to organizational priorities
Build and maintain trusted relationships with district staff, superintendents, board members, and key decision-makers
Lead planning and execution for charter renewals, material revisions, and oversight processes
Lead cross-functional project plans for renewals, including academic, operational, financial, and legal inputs
Guide schools through oversight visits, public hearings, and compliance submissions
Prepare high-quality public board meeting materials, data analysis, and responses to authorizer inquiries
Monitor relevant political and policy developments affecting assigned districts
Lead school tours with elected officials and represent KIPP at school board and public meetings
Lead Local Advocacy Campaigns & Mobilization Partner with the Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement and the Chief External Officer to align on campaign priorities.
Design and execute local advocacy strategies that protect and advance KIPP’s interests.
Develop clear and actionable campaign plans, timelines, messaging, and mobilization strategies
Lead cross-functional work with the Real Estate, Facilities, Operations, Compliance, and Finance teams to support school-level needs (e.g., Prop 39, facilities negotiations, safety concerns)
Build relationships with families, students, and staff in advance of key decisions to ensure informed and meaningful engagement
Plan and facilitate stakeholder meetings, public comment strategies, and visible community support efforts
Track engagement metrics and refine mobilization strategies over time
Build and Strengthen Parent Advocacy Infrastructure Lead and grow KIPP NorCal’s KIPP Leaders of Change network to build sustained parent advocacy power.
Design and facilitate quarterly KIPP Leaders of Change convenings
Develop and maintain strong 1:1 relationships with family leaders across the network
Provide advocacy education and leadership development for parent participants
Partner with the PACE Director to align local, state, and federal advocacy priorities
As needed, organize state-level and federal-level stakeholder mobilizations