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.
There are currently no open positions at the Alliance.
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.
New America’s Early and Elementary Education Policy program seeks a senior policy analyst who will work to help ensure that all children have access to a system of high-quality early learning opportunities from birth through third grade that prepare them to thrive in school and in life. The successful candidate will play a central role in advancing priorities and key projects for the Early and Elementary Education Policy program. The senior policy analyst will lead research projects to identify policy solutions and effectively communicate those solutions to policymakers, educators, the media, and other key audiences. The senior policy analyst should bring to the role a mix of analytical, communication, and project management skills. They must be a strong researcher and writer who is able to synthesize complex bodies of knowledge for policymakers and the public. The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, entrepreneurial, committed to creating more equitable early childhood outcomes, and able to help form new ideas in early education policy.
Advance Illinois is a not-for-profit policy and advocacy organization that works toward a healthy public education system that prepares students to achieve success in college, career and civic life. Spanning the early childhood through higher education continuum, the Advance Illinois Policy team analyzes qualitative and quantitative data; reviews research and local and national practices; and stays abreast of federal requirements to inform the development and continuous improvement of state education policies and actions. We then work collaboratively with the full Advance Illinois team to advance them. We are seeking a passionate individual who is committed to public education, looking to grow in the not-for-profit sector, and able to thrive in a fast-paced and high-energy workplace.
Advance Illinois seeks an outstanding Senior Policy Associate to work on issues related to state and regional education policy. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical, research, writing and communication skills, and the demonstrated ability to go above and beyond to support multiple projects.
The Senior Policy Associate will report to the Director of Policy and will support the policy needs of the organization. We are looking for a self-starter who is comfortable working in a small team environment and partnering not only with staff members, but with diverse outside partners.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has an excellent opportunity for an Associate Government Relations Manager on the Federal Advocacy Team.
The Associate Government Relations Manager (AGRM) will be responsible for working with American Heart Association federal advocacy staff and the American Heart Association's Voices for Healthy Kids (VFHK) team to advance federal policy priorities on issues relating to the prenatal-to-age-three (PN3) population. The AGRM will model and reflect the Association and VFHK’s commitment to health equity and racial justice and expected to embody the principles and values of equity and inclusion in all practices and policy solutions.
The AGRM will also support the Association’s leadership, collaboration, and support of the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT). The NCIT is a diverse group of more than 2,000 local, state, and national organizations representing business leaders, health care professionals, care and assistance providers, state and local officials, parents, advocates, and researchers committed to advancing the health and equity of children prenatally-through-three.
CLASP seeks a Policy Analyst who will work on a team of advocates to increase access to high-quality child care and early education for children and families with low incomes. Because early care and education is so crucial both to children’s and parents’ life opportunities, the team focuses on promoting policies that support both child development and the needs of their parents or caregivers. CLASP’s work focuses on solutions to the particular challenges children and families with low incomes face in accessing the quality child care and early education opportunities of their choosing and addressing barriers they face related to race, language, culture, and immigration status. In addition, the team brings its expertise in child development—including the importance of parents’ wellbeing and family economic stability—to public debates about policy related to immigration, health and wellbeing, and the stability and quality of jobs paying low wages.
The Policy Analyst will support the team’s effective advocacy for people with low incomes and people of color on a wide range of early childhood issues, including infant and toddler wellbeing; child care and subsidy policies; two-generation policies; maternal and child health; and the intersection of civil rights, racial justice, immigrant rights, and early childhood.
The BUILD Initiative is a national effort that advances state work on behalf of young children (prenatal-five), their families, and communities. BUILD staff partner with early childhood state leaders focused on early learning, health, mental health and nutrition, child welfare, and family support and engagement to create the policies, infrastructure, and cross-sector connections necessary for quality and equity. BUILD provides consultation, planning, and tailored implementation assistance, learning opportunities, resources, and cross-state peer exchanges. These efforts help state leaders improve and expand access to quality and promote equitable outcomes for our youngest children. BUILD takes a whole child/family/community approach to systems building. The organization is deeply committed to racial equity and promotes data analysis to determine how programs and services impact the places and people furthest from opportunity and then BUILD facilitates state actions to remedy marginalization and under resourcing. BUILD is state-focused, but we embrace the significant role of community and the potential positive impact of federal funding such as ARPA, Title V, TANF, and the many other federal funding streams. BUILD promotes cross-sector collaboration across systems and including public and private sector stakeholders. This is critical to building broad ownership and addressing complex systems issues that undergird inequities. BUILD is an organization placed to assist state leaders to do the hard things, test new strategies, and innovate.
This role is part of BUILD overall, a highly effective team working to bring about positive change for young children and families that is constantly learning about all aspects of the early childhood field and working at the forefront of an exciting movement to promote early childhood systems building.
BUILD is a virtual organization. Staff members work from home offices. Team members must periodically attend in-person meetings but work primarily via phone and computer.
Jumpstart is seeking a highly entrepreneurial leader to serve as Vice President of Policy & Government Relations. This position will be responsible for developing and executing Jumpstart’s policy advocacy strategy at the federal, state, and local levels with a particular focus on policies that support the early education workforce and the national service movement. The Vice President of Policy & Government Relations will have responsibility for leading collaboration across multiple departments to develop and implement Jumpstart’s state-based strategy in CA, MA and GA.
The Strategic Data Project (SDP) is an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. The SDP Fellowship program helps school system leaders use data and evidence in strategic decision-making to improve public education. By placing fellows in school systems and education organizations across the United States, SDP provides a unique entry point for passionate quantitative researchers and data strategists who want to make a difference. The SDP Fellowship is a unique opportunity, combining full-time employment as an education data analyst/data strategist at an SDP-approved partner organization and two-years of intensive in-person and virtual professional development, training, and mentorship to build your toolkit as an education data leader. but work primarily via phone and computer.
The Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE) is hiring a senior policy associate, who will be integral to the team’s work to advance equity in early learning funding systems through research and partnerships. CELFE develops and promotes research- and data-informed strategies to transform funding of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs for children ages birth to five. Housed in Northern Illinois University’s Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development (OERD), CELFE works in collaboration with academic, data, and research partners across the NIU system through the Research and Data Collaborative (RDC).
The Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE) is hiring a policy analyst, who will be integral to the team’s work to advance equity in early learning funding systems through research and partnerships. CELFE develops and promotes research- and data-informed strategies to transform funding of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs for children ages birth to five. Housed in Northern Illinois University’s Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development (OERD), CELFE works in collaboration with academic, data, and research partners across the NIU system through the Research and Data Collaborative (RDC).
The BUILD Initiative is a national effort that advances state work on behalf of young children (prenatal-five), their families, and communities. BUILD staff partner with early childhood state leaders focused on early learning, health, mental health and nutrition, child welfare, and family support and engagement to create the policies, infrastructure, and cross-sector connections necessary for quality and equity. BUILD provides consultation, planning, and tailored implementation assistance, learning opportunities, resources, and cross-state peer exchanges. These efforts help state leaders improve and expand access to quality and promote equitable outcomes for our youngest children. BUILD takes a whole child/family/community approach to systems building. The organization is deeply committed to racial equity and promotes data analysis to determine programs and services impact the places and people furthest from opportunity and then BUILD facilitates state actions to remedy marginalization and under resourcing. BUILD is state-focused, but we embrace the significant role of community and the potential positive impact of federal funding such as ARPA, Title V, TANF, and the many other federal funding streams. BUILD promotes cross-sector collaboration across systems and including public and private sector stakeholders. This is critical to building broad ownership and addressing complex systems issues that undergird inequities. BUILD is an organization placed to assist state leaders do the hard things, test new strategies, and innovate.
This role is part of BUILD overall, a highly effective team working to bring about positive change for young children and families that is constantly learning about all aspects of the early childhood field and working at the forefront of an exciting movement to promote early childhood systems building. This staff member is a part of the National ECE Workforce Center, a federally funded center staffed by a partnership from Child Trends, BUILD, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment and ZTT, in which BUILD leads the design and delivery of technical assistance.
BUILD is a virtual organization. Staff members work from home offices. Team members have will attend or facilitate in-person meetings but work primarily via phone and computer.
The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment is recruiting a Senior Analyst who will focus on tracking and analyzing ECE policies, translating research into policy and practice, and engaging with educators and other stakeholders in the service of reforming conditions for the ECE workforce in California and across the nation.
Save the Children Action Network (“SCAN”) is hiring a State Manager for Louisiana who will be responsible for developing advocacy infrastructure in target legislative districts by identifying, cultivating and organizing SCAN supporters, student activists, and volunteer leaders. You will develop key relationships with coalition partners, elected officials and community stakeholders to advance SCAN’s advocacy campaigns. In partnership with the State and National Campaigns team, the manager will help assess supporter base, determining key audiences and demographic segments to target, selecting strategies (both online and offline), to educate and engage targeted individuals and groups to meet annual goals and deliverables.
Save the Children Action Network (“SCAN”) is seeking a State Manager for New Mexico, who will be responsible for developing advocacy infrastructure in target legislative districts by identifying, cultivating and organizing SCAN supporters, student activists, and volunteer leaders. The manager will develop key relationships with coalition partners, elected officials and community stakeholders to advance SCAN’s advocacy campaigns. In partnership with the State and National Campaigns team, the manager will drive the legislative agenda in New Mexico and design campaign tactics for SCAN’s local, state and federal priorities.
MDC, a catalyzing force for advancing equity and economic progress in the South, is hiring a program manager for advancing home-based child-care provider leadership to lead a North Carolina replication of Leading from Home, a Home Grown initiative. This is a statewide role and remote position with travel around North Carolina and to MDC offices in Durham monthly. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Home Grown—a national collaborative working to remove policy barriers to home-based child care, strengthen home-based child-care practices and business models, and support the growth and recognition of the sector—is seeking a project manager to lead the organization’s partnership with local communities and home-based provider serving organizations as they partner with Home Grown to implement innovative solutions in support of home-based childcare providers. The project manager will be responsible for coordinating, convening and mobilizing support to Home Grown’s replication sites participating in the Thriving Providers Project (TPP).
Children’s Institute in Oregon is hiring a Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor with a passion for eliminating systemic inequities in children’s earliest years and honoring the strengths of young children and families across the state. 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.
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