POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Senior Vice President (SVP) of Policy & Advocacy will serve as a key player within the organizational leadership team, and will lead strategies to advance an education equity agenda that addresses the legacy of racial inequities and underinvestment in our highest needs schools. The SVP of Policy & Advocacy will work closely with the Chief External Officer (CXO) to develop the organization’s strategic goals, policy positions, key initiatives, and strategies for advocacy. The SVP of Policy & Advocacy will serve as an important representative of the Partnership in a wide range of external settings, and will lead relationships with partners, coalition members, policy makers, and other stakeholders. The SVP of Policy & Advocacy will set the vision for the Policy & Advocacy team, and create strategic campaigns in alignment with current issues priorities and the Partnership’s strategic plan. They will also be accountable for the overall vision, goals, strategy, performance, and operations of the Partnership’s Policy & Advocacy Team. This is a full-time, year-round position.
The Partnership is committed to continuously building an anti-racist culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classrooms and in our home office. The SVP of Policy & Advocacy will be someone who is committed to implementing these values in creative ways when executing day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Advocacy Vision, Organizational Strategy & Agenda Execution (40%)
Lead the Policy & Advocacy Team in creating strategic campaigns in alignment with current issue priorities and the Partnership’s strategic plan
Guide ongoing campaign development, including developing campaign strategy and tactical scenarios and plans, coordinating campaign activities, and organizing campaign actions
Provide strategic direction for fostering leadership development and political education opportunities with student and parent leaders across our schools
Develop processes that allow leaders, staff, allies, and stakeholders to inform and guide Partnership campaign strategies
Strategically grow the Partnership’s leadership within local communities while simultaneously deepening the organization’s state advocacy strategy and capacity; approximately 60% of advocacy will be focused at LAUSD, 25% at state level, and 15% at local city and county level
Relationship Management & Stakeholder Engagement (35%)
Build and maintain relationships with key players in the Los Angeles education policy world, including Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) leadership, advocacy partners, and school communities
Provide representation and strategic leadership on behalf of the Partnership in meetings with policy makers, allies, and coalitions, as well as media and advocacy events, community partner support, and engagement and grassroots mobilization efforts
Create engaging partnerships with grasstop and grassroot leaders, policy organizations, and education coalitions to advance the Partnership’s education equity agenda
Lead 1-2 campaigns that advance equitable funding and resources for schools
Team Management & Organizational Leadership (25%)
Provide management, coaching, and leadership development and capacity for the four members of the Policy & Advocacy Team
Model Partnership competencies for direct reports and team members
Support learning and development across the organization on systems change and advocacy priorities
Build systems to track and scale the impact of Partnership policy and advocacy strategies
Collaborate with the Communications Team to develop communications and narrative change strategies for issue campaigns, and to elevate the visibility and impact of policy work
Work across teams, communities, and advisory boards comprised of students, parents, and educators, with the goal of amplifying the Partnership’s system-wide change work
Engage and collaborate with the Partnership network of schools to identify and develop equity champions in our communities

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES
All Partnership team members are expected to learn, grow, and model the following organizational competencies:
Anti-racism: Acknowledges and actively seeks to disrupt the systemic racism that exists within educational systems and society which oppress the students and communities we serve
Root Cause Analysis: Proactively makes time to examine the underlying causes of challenges, and identifies and addresses their root causes
Long-Term Thinking: Focuses on long-term strategies and goals as the key to realizing the Partnership’s mission of empowering all students with a high-quality education
Teaming & Collaboration: Builds and contributes to a strong team culture that promotes a sense of belonging for all team members
Psychological Safety: Feels freedom to express oneself openly and honestly, and to be one’s authentic self
Learning & Growth: Continually seeks to learn, grow, and improve in order to best serve our students and communities

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS
A deep belief in the power of our communities, the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values
A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all team members
Minimum of 8-10 years of relevant professional experience in policy, advocacy, and/or community organizing, with specific experience developing and executing an advocacy strategy and driving policy results for historically marginalized communities
At least 3-5 years of management experience, including managing and leading teams (including teams of managers and directors), complex projects, and cross-functional teams
Experience interfacing with elected officials and navigating political systems at the local, state, and/or federal levels
Proven track record of building productive relationships and alliances with advocacy partners, community members, diverse stakeholders, and LAUSD leaders
Knowledge of communities the Partnership serves, the K-12 public education sector, and other social issues campaigns and political work impacting Los Angeles
Experience understanding complex systems, and building and running issue campaigns focused on equity
Bachelor’s degree or commensurate years of experience
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion on a systemic level
Superb oral and written communications skills for multiple audiences, including an ability to proactively communicate critical messages to stakeholders and a diverse range of audiences
A combination of creative and strategic thinking with a standard for high-quality execution
Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize, and work under multiple deadlines
Strong team player and active collaborator
The ability to travel between school sites and in-state, as needed (approximately 20% of time at school sites and up to two weeks per year in-state)
Spanish language fluency (spoken and written), to be used in community engagement efforts, preferred

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The starting salary range for the Senior VP of Policy & Advocacy position is $153,510-$172,045. Starting salary ranges are dependent on experience, skills, market rates, and pay equity among current staff members. The Partnership also offers a robust benefits package including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents; a 403(b) retirement program with employee match and vesting; parental and sabbatical leaves; a professional development allowance; and generous paid time off.
The Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our compensation practices. Our goal is to ensure that pay is fair for all staff members who hold many intersectional identities – new and tenured alike. When we set salaries for new team members, we consider market rates, pay equity among staff in similar roles across the organization, skills and experiences required for the role, and organizational budget. Because of all of these factors, the majority of new team members do not begin at the top of the salary range provided.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
Partnership for LA Schools is a contractor with Los Angeles Unified School District and has implemented a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy. All new employees are required to be fully vaccinated a week before their start date unless they are approved for an accommodation due to a medical reason or because of a sincerely held religious belief.
For more information about this policy, please email the Manager of Home Office Talent & Organizational Culture at Melanie.Liu@PartnershipLA.org.

TO APPLY
Please prepare your resume and a cover letter tailored to this position. You will submit your documents using our online application system here: https://www.theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=P6382
For technical assistance, assistance for applying with a disability, or questions, please email Melanie Liu, Senior Manager of Home Office Talent & Org Culture, at melanie.liu@partnershipla.org.