Child Care Policy Specialist
About The Position
The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (OCC), seeks a Child Care Policy Specialist to develop and interpret policy directives and guidance for states, territories, and tribes administering child care assistance programs. OCC administers child care funding to support eligible families and increase the availability and quality of child care and development services. The role includes writing policy documents and reports, analyzing data and research to inform policy, explaining policies to varied audiences, and responding to policy questions from grantees and stakeholders. The specialist drafts regulations and sub-regulatory guidance, prepares policy responses and presentations, reviews statutes and pending legislation, provides technical assistance on draft bills, and prepares Congressional testimony and responses. The role also involves researching legislative proposals, compiling and analyzing data, coordinating with program and research teams, reviewing reports from governmental and non-governmental entities, and supporting budget, performance measurement, financial management, and grantee reporting activities.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- Minimum of four years of experience.
- Knowledge of child care laws, regulations, and policies.
- Experience developing and analyzing child care policy for the federal government, a state government, a national organization, or a similar entity.
- Experience analyzing and writing complex technical components of legislation, regulations, or other policy.
- Experience presenting information to a wide array of audiences.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Expertise using Microsoft Excel and Word.
- Ability to analyze, summarize, and compile data and information.
- Ability to perform detail-oriented work.
- Ability to collaborate with staff from varied backgrounds and skill sets and work in a team to improve processes or systems.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including responding to internal and external requests.
- Strong prioritization and time-management skills to balance ongoing responsibilities with urgent requests.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree preferred.
- Relevant education, such as a master's degree or higher in a field involving policy analysis.
Responsibilities
- Draft regulations and sub-regulatory policy guidance, including Program Instructions, Information Memoranda, Policy Interpretation Questions, Dear Colleague Letters, and FAQs.
- Draft policy responses to questions from states, territories, and tribes and to issues arising from program operations, monitoring, and oversight.
- Prepare talking points, slides, and presentations for grantees and other stakeholders about policy guidance, programs, and initiatives.
- Review and analyze statutes and pending legislation, and provide technical assistance on draft bills.
- Draft Congressional testimony and responses to Congressional requests and questions.
- Research and draft legislative proposals reflecting Administration priorities.
- Support subject-matter experts and develop expertise in child care policy issues.
- Analyze and compile data, research, and information, and prepare summaries, tables, and reports to inform policymaking at federal and state levels.
- Coordinate with technical assistance, program operations, monitoring, and research teams regarding policy issues.
- Review and provide comments and updates on reports and other documents prepared by governmental and non-governmental entities, such as GAO and OIG.
- Prepare reports, including reports for Congress.
- Support budget formulation, performance measurement, financial management, grantee reporting, and other activities as assigned.
Benefits
- Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance
- Personal and family sick time
- Company-paid holidays
- Parental leave
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Group term life insurance and travel assistance
- Voluntary life and AD&D insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Transit and parking commuter benefits
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Tuition reimbursement
- Personal development, certifications, and learning opportunities
- Employee referral program
- Corporate-sponsored events and community outreach
- Care.com annual membership
- Employee Assistance Program
- Supplemental benefits, including critical care, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, legal assistance, and identity theft protection
- Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
