Position Profile

Early Childhood Education Policy Director

Overview:
Children First PA seeks an Early Childhood Education Policy Director to help advance its mission of improving the lives of our region’s children through initiatives and advocacy for the building blocks of opportunity – equitable access to high-quality early education and childcare, public education, healthcare, and dependency and delinquency systems that heal.

The Early Childhood Education Policy Director will mobilize coalitions and play a critical leadership role in setting and advancing local and state policy priorities for thriving infants, toddlers, and children under the age of 5. This is a unique opportunity for early childhood policy professionals that are passionate about our children’s future, experienced in policy and advocacy, and adept at leading teams to get results for Southeastern PA’s youngest residents.
About Children First
Children First PA, formerly Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PCCY), is a private nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the lives and life chances of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s children through thoughtful and informed advocacy. Children First is a child advocacy organization that uses research, people power, and coalition building to create the momentum for reform of public policies that enable more children to grow up healthy, well-educated, and ready to take the reins of their communities.
Background of A Highly Favorable Candidate:
A strategic and dynamic leader with a proven track record of effectively leading stakeholder processes and mobilizing coalitions for improving policy. Competitive candidates will be persuasive and adept communicators, creating data-informed reports, policy briefs, and other written and verbal messages that influence diverse audiences and move ECE policy priorities forward. The ideal candidate will have professional experience and knowledge of early childhood policy issues (e.g., childcare quality standards and subsidy, pre-K access and affordability, childcare sector wages, paid family leave, racial equity), advocacy, and politics. The successful candidate will be an adaptable early childhood policy strategist, inspiring and energizing supervisor, and effective coalition builder who thrives in a mission-driven organization.
Professional Characteristics:
  1. Policy Knowledge: Knowledge of early childhood policy issues and experience developing and executing strategy & tactics to advance policy improvement and adoption.
  2. Advocacy Knowledge: Professional experience understanding and advancing legislative goals and leading coalitions, including the ability to develop strategies and tactics that persuade legislators and elected officials, and the ability to organize, mobilize, and facilitate widespread community participation.
  3. Stakeholder Relationship Management Skills: Ability to cultivate, manage, and grow relationships with diverse policymaker, parent/caregiver, and other networks and coalitions.
  4. Advanced Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate policy issues and priorities, relevant data, etc., clearly and persuasively.
  5. Strategic and Critical Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and develop strategy and aligned tactics to achieve policy outcomes. Ability to critically assess a situation, information, etc., and (re)calibrate strategy accordingly.
  6. Data and Trend Analysis Skills: Strategic and detail-oriented ability to collect, interpret, and simplify large datasets in support of policy priorities and advocacy goals.
  7. Media Savvy: Professional experience using social, news, and other media to amplify efforts towards a cause and policy improvement.
  8. Management/Supervision Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience managing and supervising a team with a spirit of collaboration and empowerment to help achieve team goals.
  9. Adaptability/Flexibility: Ability to work independently and with others in a hybrid, dynamic environment.
  10. Planning Skills: Strong project management and strategy development skills aligned with policy priorities and legislative calendar, etc.
  11. Organized: Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities.
  12. Proficiency with Technology: Facility with Excel and Word, web-based research, social media platforms.
Responsibilities:
  • Lead the development and implementation of advocacy strategies to advance state and local policy priorities that meet the needs of infants, toddlers, and pre-school aged children by:
  • Developing messaging documents
  • Recruiting community leaders to participate in Children First’s advocacy
  • Creating and expanding broad based coalitions
  • Mobilize people in Children First’s early childhood networks and parents/caregivers to shape health policy through civic engagement
  • Communicate with key policymakers about early childhood priorities
  • Monitor trends and collect and analyze data on early childhood policy in order to (1) identify unmet needs and persistent challenges and (2) establish priority issues
  • Monitor news, social, and other media
  • Develop & execute multimedia strategies to amplify early childhood efforts
  • Assure grant objectives are met according to schedule
  • Contribute to grant writing and funder relationship management
  • Write compelling reports that advance Children First’s early childhood policy goals. Develop and execute dissemination plans.
  • Supervise the early childhood team including the Racial Equity Coordinator, Provider Council Coordinator, Advocacy Associate, and Suburban Field Managers/Coordinators.
Compensation:
$100,000-$110,000 annually with benefits aligned with nonprofit industry standards.
Organizational Information:
The Early Childhood Education Policy Director reports to the Executive Director and supervises the Early Childhood Team, including the Racial Equity Coordinator, Provider Council Coordinator, and Advocacy Associate. This position also co-supervises Suburban Field Managers/Coordinators with the K12 Education Policy Director.
Relevant Financial Information:
Children First’s Fiscal Year 2023 Revenue is approximately $6M with funding from foundation, individual, corporate, government, and other sources.
Service Area / Industry Information:
Southeastern Pennsylvania; Counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, and Bucks
Additional Information:
This is a full-time hybrid position requiring ~25-30 days of annual travel to Harrisburg; in addition, this role requires periodic in-person meetings in the counties and a weekly in-office staff meeting. Must have a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle. Children First PA requires COVID-19 vaccination.
Application Process:
Email your resume to Kori Beaman at CFECE@diverseforce.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Confirmation of receipt of application will be sent by return email. Virtual screening with preferred candidates will be arranged forthwith. No phone calls, please.