Policy is crucial to scaling the solutions that improve outcomes for children — and that means kids in every state need relentless people who are passionate about making these policies reality. Here are some opportunities for people pursuing an early childhood policy career.
The Alliance is seeking a Deputy Director of Staff, Equity, and Culture who is passionate about developing an organizational culture that advances the Alliance mission, vision, and values – creating a powerful community of allies working in states to improve outcomes for young children. This is a new position. We are looking for an individual to join and help strengthen a team committed to centering racial equity in our internal systems and in the community building that is at the core of our work.
Our allies in both state and national organizations often share their early childhood policy openings with us, and we routinely post them here and on LinkedIn. Take a look at the the latest ones here, and follow us on LinkedIn so you don’t miss the perfect fit.
James Bell Associates, a nationally recognized program evaluation and applied research firm specializing in evaluations of health and social service programs and capacity building technical assistance, is seeking a research associate for its Child and Family Development practice area to provide evaluation, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) technical assistance (TA) using an equity approach. The ideal candidate would also be able to provide expertise in the application of equity principles and approaches in early childhood research, evaluation, policy, and practice.
This is a full-time remote position. The salary range is $65,000 to $80,000, based on experience.
The Vice President of Policy & Field Building will lead All Our Kin’s efforts to promote its policy and field-building agenda with federal and state governments, and among leading policy organizations in addition to leading, promoting, and collaborating with our specialized site-level and technical assistance work. This position will advance All Our Kin’s mission and core values by providing strategic leadership for a policy, field-building, and advocacy agenda that influences positive change in national and state-level public opinion, engagement, policy, and regulation that helps shape the future of family child care. The VP of Policy & Field Building will report to and work closely with the Chief Strategy Officer and will oversee all components of All Our Kin’s field building and policy work.
All Our Kin, Inc. is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that trains, supports, and sustains family child care providers to ensure that children and families have the foundations they need to succeed in school and in life. Through our programs, child care professionals succeed as early childhood educators and as business owners; working parents find stable, high-quality care for their children; and children gain an educational foundation that lays the groundwork for achievement in school and beyond.
CCAoA seeks a Policy Analyst to support the organization’s state and federal policy efforts. The Policy analyst will be thoughtful, energetic, and collaborative and able to juggle multiple projects while continuing to advance CCAoA’s mission and vision. This position reports to the Chief, Policy and Advocacy.
Child Care Aware® of America, our nation’s leading voice for child care, works with more than 500 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to ensure that families in every local community have access to quality, affordable child care. To achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake groundbreaking research and advocate for child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families.
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Senior Director for Early Childhood Policy, within the Education department. The Senior Director for Early Childhood Policy will serve as the co-lead of the Early Childhood team and be a creative and analytic partner in American Progress’ work to change the country’s approach to early childhood education, including by connecting with K-12 and higher education efforts and seeking out and developing connectivity with the organization’s five crosscutting priorities:
This position requires developing and promoting policies and solutions to ensure that young children and families have access to equitable early childhood outcomes. This Senior Director for Early Childhood Policy will help lead American Progress’ efforts to further these goals by advancing smart, focused strategies through research, strategic communications, and working in coalition with stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels. Ideal candidates will have a deep understanding of early childhood policy, with expertise in one or more of the following core areas: access, affordability, and quality of education and services for young children, including babies and toddlers, as well as for families and educators; child care, preschool, and health services, with an emphasis on equity.
Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families (AACF) is looking for a team member who will provide leadership on state budget and tax issues and perform data analysis, research, and advocacy to advance policy solutions to address poverty, economic well-being, and a fairer tax code, particularly for Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color (BIPOC) families and families whose incomes are below the federal poverty threshold. Candidates must have a proven track record in economic analysis and advocacy. This position must support AACF’s equity statement and be committed to supporting equity in all areas of the work. This position is full-time and based in AACF's main Little Rock office.
Advance Illinois is hiring a Senior Policy Advisor for Early Childhood and is looking for an individual with 3-5 years of experience: in ECEC policy, working at a related agency, or leading an ECEC center. The ideal candidate is a systems thinker, with strong knowledge of the early childhood field – including system challenges and opportunities – preferably with knowledge of and experience with Illinois-specific policies, stakeholders, and context. The organization is looking for a strategic thought partner and self-starter who is able to work independently and is comfortable working in a small team environment and partnering not only with staff members but with a diverse network of outside partners and stakeholders.
United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN) is looking for a National Organizer to engage parent leaders in its campaigns and move the policy agenda. This individual will join existing staff / consultant team and 36 member organizations to elevate the voices of parents across the country. This is a full-time position that can be done remotely or out of the Chicago office of fiscal sponsor and lead partner COFI (Community Organizing and Family Issues).
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center is hiring an individual to take a leadership role in developing strategy and timelines for successfully engaging state leaders and national partners to expand the reach of the Center’s work and engage in targeted state support efforts.
The Coalition & Campaign Manager will split time between FFYF and FFAF. Reporting to the Government Affairs Director of both organizations, the position is a versatile one and involves a variety of tasks, often simultaneously. The Coalition & Campaign Manager is responsible for executing the day-to-day activities of the Federal Child C.A.R.E. (Comprehensive, Accessible, Reliable, Early learning) Coalition, and related working groups, including coordinating with the Coalition’s partners, working closely with other FFYF and FFAF staff to develop content for the Coalition, and ensuring that the Coalition is effectively achieving its goals.
The Coalition & Campaign Manager also will work closely with the Government Affairs and Policy teams to advance FFYF and FFAF’s legislative priorities, positions, and goals.
Together with senior leadership, the Policy Director will guide KAC’s legislative and regulatory policy agenda. This position oversees the development of policy recommendations across issue areas, the daily activities of KAC policy advisors, and the strategic mobilization of partners. This position supervises the statehouse policy team and provides strategic direction and guidance on a broad portfolio of policy, advocacy, lobbying, and communications work to influence policymakers. A successful applicant will bring extensive supervisory, project management, and team leadership experience to serve as a cross-functional facilitator both internally and externally.
Reporting to the Vice President, the Policy Director will serve as a thought partner and strategist to senior leadership and key stakeholders. During the Kansas legislative session, this position will be expected to be in Topeka and the Statehouse on a regular basis, including potentially early mornings, late nights, and weekends.
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center is hiring an individual with expertise in state health policy to serve as the Policy Manager for its child and parent health team. The policy manager will lead a team of researchers and policy analysts, who are responsible for understanding the evidence on which policies are effective at improving outcomes for children and families, how states can make more equitable policy choices, tracking state policy adoption, and sharing expertise in prenatal-to-3 (PN-3) policy with relevant stakeholders. Applicants should have project and people management experience.
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center is looking for an individual with expertise in state early childhood policy, research, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. The org is hiring a Senior Equity Research Associate to cover the area of economic and family supports policy. The Senior Equity Research Associate will take a leadership role in developing equity-focused evidence reviews of state policies to better understand the historical foundations of the policies and how policy features can advance equity or maintain inequalities, as well as whether the impact of the policies lead to reductions in disparities in outcomes. Additionally, the staff member will connect directly with state policy leaders, advocates, and individuals with the lived experience of the policies, to identify the policy choices states can make to promote greater equity in building a prenatal-to-3 system of care.
The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning is seeking applications for a Research Scientist to serve as Early Learning Principal and member of the executive leadership team. In collaboration with the Lastinger Center Director, the Early Learning Principal will direct and execute a vision for the Center’s early learning portfolio, including the development and implementation of early learning-focused, technology-enhanced professional development for early childhood educators and leaders serving children zero to five. This will be a 12-month, non-tenure track faculty appointment.
Children’s Alliance seeks a director for the Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA), tasked with facilitating the work of ELAA coalition members as they build a brighter and more equitable future for Washington’s youngest children. The best candidate for this position will bring a demonstrated commitment to dismantling racist and anti-Black policies and practices as well as expertise in change management, leadership for racial equity, long-term planning, and facilitation. ELAA is a broad coalition of more than 50 organizations representing a diverse array of Washington nonprofits, professional associations, businesses, and industries. ELAA is united by the belief that all children in Washington state deserve to have the opportunities and support they need in their first five years of life to be prepared for school and a bright future.
The Manager of Community Partnerships will work closely with the Raising Child Care Fund Director to implement the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, which addresses goals for growing its pooled fund, promoting philanthropic understanding of and support for movement building, and building relationships with grantee partners and external partners. The Manager of Community Partnerships will build on RCCF’s partnership with the child care movement and coordinate with national groups with expertise in organizing to ensure our grantee partners have access to skill-building, capacity building resources, and learning opportunities they desire. The Manager of Community Partnerships will lead strategy, research, and recruitment of new grantee partners in collaboration with national movement leaders and make recommendations to the Managing Committee. The Manager of Community Partnerships will lead a strategy to grow and diversify state and regional foundation support directly to grassroots partners.
Children's Institute in Oregon is hiring for a Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor. This role has a passion for eliminating systemic inequities in children’s earliest years and honoring the strengths of young children and families across Oregon. This staff member will develop relationships with community-based organizations, early childhood organizations, and early learning system leaders at the local and state level to support collaborative policy and budget development, and engagement in legislative advocacy.
Children's Institute in Oregon is hiring a Senior Health Policy Advisor. The Senior Health Policy Advisor has a passion for health equity and closing opportunity gaps, particularly in a child’s earliest years. The Senior Health Policy Advisor will play a key role in building Children’s Institute’s health knowledge and capacity to inform our statewide policy and advocacy agenda.
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