Policy Director

READY FOR SCHOOL READY FOR LIFE•Greensboro, NC

1d•$95,000 - $112,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Policy Director leads Ready Ready’s efforts to shape policy and advocacy strategies that ensure every child in Guilford County enters school developmentally on track. This role provides strategic leadership in policy development, analysis, and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, while amplifying the voices of families and communities in decision-making. The Policy Director builds and sustains relationships with policymakers, community leaders, and advocacy partners, ensuring that Ready Ready’s policy agenda aligns with the organization’s mission, values, and strategic priorities. This position reports to the CEO and works closely with the leadership team, staff, and external partners to advance systems change in early childhood.

Requirements

Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, social work, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum 7 years of experience in policy development, advocacy, or government relations, preferably in early childhood, education, or human services.
Deep understanding of local, state, and federal policy processes.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.
Proven ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships across sectors and communities.
Demonstrated experience elevating family and community voices in policy and advocacy efforts.
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of early childhood, education, and/or healthcare systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and comfort with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Zoom, shared drives).
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and Ready Ready’s mission of improving outcomes for children and families.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in North Carolina’s policy environment.
Established relationships with policymakers, advocacy organizations, and community leaders in the state.
Familiarity with early childhood systems, research, and best practices.

Responsibilities

Policy Leadership Develop, implement, and continuously refine Ready Ready’s policy agenda, grounded in data, community input, and research.
Monitor and analyze local, state, and federal policies, legislation, and regulations impacting early childhood systems.
Translate complex policy issues into clear, actionable information for staff, partners, and the community.
Identify emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in early childhood policy nationwide and assess relevance to Guilford County.
Advocacy and Partnerships Build and maintain trusted relationships with elected officials, public agencies, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders.
Represent Ready Ready in coalitions, advisory groups, and community initiatives that advance early childhood policy and equity.
Create platforms and opportunities for families and community members to inform policy decisions and share lived experiences.
Lead strategic advocacy campaigns, ensuring alignment with Ready Ready’s mission and priorities.
Research and Analysis Conduct rigorous policy research, prepare briefs, reports, and actionable recommendations to guide organizational and community decision-making.
Integrate evaluation findings and community insights into policy and advocacy strategies.
Assess the impact of proposed or existing policies on children and families, with a focus on equity and inclusion.
Organizational Support Advise the CEO, Board of Directors, and leadership team on emerging policy trends, risks, and opportunities.
Partner with communications staff to craft compelling messaging, materials, and campaigns related to policy and advocacy.
Support fundraising and resource development by contributing policy-related content for grant proposals, reports, and donor communications.
General Document, synthetize, and analyze job-related data to use for learning and improvement, to track progress, and to report to funders and other stakeholders.
Provide regular reports on progress to Ready Ready leadership team and liaise across other partners/consultants.
Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO and/or supervisor.