Vice President, Advocacy

Education Reform Now Advocacy

13d•$185 - $200

About The Position

Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is seeking a Vice President, Advocacy to build and lead its national state-based advocacy function. The role will align state advocacy with DFER’s executive engagement strategy and advance policy commitments from inception through implementation, working with governors and their senior teams, executive branch leaders, legislative leaders, and in-state advocates. The Vice President will lead deep, multi-lever campaigns in two to three priority states each year while maintaining relationships with governors and their teams in several additional states. The role will shift across regions and markets as political conditions change. The Vice President will develop advocacy plans in five to seven states; identify emerging-market opportunities; and coordinate with the Policy Team on timely state-specific strategy. The role includes engaging newly elected governors after elections and serving as an administration’s policy partner through its first legislative session and budget cycle. The Vice President will manage relationships and lobbying efforts, coordinate coalitions and communications, and build the function’s structure, processes, and tools. Responsibilities also include budget and vendor management, setting annual goals and OKRs, reporting to leadership and the board, and ensuring compliance with state lobbying registration and reporting requirements. The role reports to the President and requires 30% travel. DFER offers a salary of $185,000–$200,000 and benefits including health, vision, and dental coverage; flexible spending and benefits plans; life and short- and long-term disability insurance; a 401(k) plan with a match; paid family leave; paid time off, including vacation, sick time, and national holidays; and paid vacation. DFER welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to organizational diversity and a team that reflects the diversity of students in the communities it serves.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree in public policy, political science, or a related field is a plus, but not required with equivalent experience.
Eight to ten or more years of experience in state government, state legislative affairs, campaigns, or political advocacy, including senior-level roles.
Deep working knowledge of state legislative processes, procedures, and calendars, ideally across multiple states.
Established relationships with, or demonstrated ability to quickly build relationships with, state legislators, governors’ offices, and legislative staff.
Direct experience lobbying or directing lobbying efforts on specific legislation, with a track record of advancing or passing bills.
Experience overseeing external lobbyists or vendors, including contract management and performance accountability.
Expert collaboration skills and ability to identify and align internal and external stakeholders and partners to advance policy and legislation.
Sound political judgment, including the ability to assess shifting legislative dynamics and adjust strategy in real time.
Ability to work collaboratively, manage confidential information with discretion, and remain resilient in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing educational equity and excellence for all students.
Willingness to travel 30%.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in public policy, political science, or a related field.
Experience working in or alongside a governor’s office or state agency, including on budget development, executive actions, or policy implementation; strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Build and oversee DFER’s Advocacy function, aligning state-based advocacy with its executive engagement strategy and existing political relationships.
Establish ownership and accountability for moving campaign commitments into enacted policy through executive, budgetary, legislative, and regulatory channels.
Identify emerging-market states and develop state-by-state advocacy plans in five to seven states aligned with DFER’s executive strategy and Policy Framework.
Coordinate with the Policy Team on policy strategy memos for governors and their teams, identifying appropriate executive, budgetary, legislative, and regulatory levers.
Lead post-election engagement with newly elected governors and serve as an administration’s policy partner through its first legislative session and budget cycle.
Develop and maintain relationships with governors’ senior staff, cabinet and agency leaders, legislative leaders and staff, and in-state advocacy partners.
Meet regularly, in person and remotely, with governors and state legislative staff on relevant policy priorities in collaboration with Campaigns and Policy teams.
Partner with the Policy Team to track and draft legislation in target states.
Manage lobbying contracts and oversee four to six active lobbying efforts.
Coordinate with in-state coalitions and advocates to build support for priority policies across executive and legislative branches.
Assess local partner landscapes where coalitions are not established and support on-the-ground partners in forming coalitions where feasible.
Partner with Communications on earned media, op-eds, and public campaigns supporting state priorities.
Work with Research to deploy state polling and data in advocacy plans.
Represent DFER at state and national convenings and build visibility for its state wins.
Build the Advocacy function’s structure, processes, and tools, including state tracking systems, playbooks, and reporting templates.
Manage the Advocacy budget, including lobbying contracts, consultants, and state-based vendors.
Set annual goals and OKRs for state policy wins and report progress to leadership and the board.
Ensure compliance with state lobbying registration and reporting requirements in partnership with Finance and compliance counsel.