About the Role
EdLoC is looking for a Chief Policy Officer (CPO) to play a leadership role in developing and advancing EdLoC’s policy, advocacy, and communications goals. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in wealth-building policy and expertise in communicating and advocating for wealth-building opportunities on behalf of young people of color from low-income communities. This position will work in partnership with the CEO and the EdLoC membership to set the organization’s advocacy agenda, develop policy positions and papers, analyze legislative developments, and represent the organization on Capitol Hill, state legislatures throughout the country, and in public advocacy forums.
The ideal candidate is a seasoned executive and policy wonk who is comfortable with public speaking, working through complex policy and political issues, and committed to fostering the necessary collaborations to advance the EdLoC agenda. This position offers an incredible opportunity for a seasoned leader passionate about working on issues of social justice and economic prosperity for young people of color.
Specifically, the CPO will contribute to the advancement of EdLoC’s values and thought leadership through four key functions: 1) shaping and executing EdLoC’s advocacy agenda, 2) developing policy tools and advocacy training, 3) building a network of political allies and standard bearers, and 4) contributing to organizational leadership.
- Shaping and Executing EdLoC’s Advocacy Agenda (30%)
- Set the short- and long-term vision, strategy development, and evolution of EdLoC’s policy agenda by ensuring it represents EdLoC’s values and the priorities of EdLoC’s membership.
- Keep appraised of issues related to social capital, wealth building, and policy discussions at the intersection of social justice, economic prosperity, and racial equality to inform EdLoC’s advocacy discussion.
- Work closely with EdLoC membership to ensure their views are represented in the development of EdLoC’s advocacy agenda and as policy discussions evolve.
- Create meaningful engagement opportunities that position EdLoC members as the face of the organization’s policy agenda at the local and national level.
2.Developing Tools and Advocacy Training (30%)
- Build capacity among EdLoC’s membership to increase values-aligned policy development and advocacy at the local level through a robust, easily accessible training program.
- Write white papers, policy positions, and Op-Eds that inform EdLoC members--and invest legislators--on issues impacting wealth building among young people of color from low-income communities.
- Capture stories from communities where EdLoC members reside that exemplify EdLoC’s third values in the areas of socioeconomic equity and wealth building.
- Launch an Advocacy Days series designed to raise awareness regarding the lack of wealth-building opportunities for young people of color from low-income communities, and position EdLoC as a leader at the intersection of social justice, economic prosperity, and racial equality.
- Collaborate with policy-aligned, like-minded organizations to implement new initiatives that increase the visibility and political standing of EdLoC’s membership.
- Building a Network of Political Allies and Standard Bearers (30%)
- Lead and manage the activities of EdLoC’s external policy team (Raben Group) to ensure accountability and effective collaboration in moving EdLoC’s agenda forward.
- Build partnerships in aligned policy areas that support EdLoC’s policy agenda and advocacy.
- Establish and grow robust relationships among policy makers, elected officials, community advocates, and grassroots organizers to advance EdLoc’s policy agenda.
- Cultivate partnerships by effectively communicating EdLoC’s mission throughout the wealth-building sector and in the broader racial equity and social justice sectors.
- Contributing to Organizational Leadership (10%)
- Collaborate with the executive team to establish org-wide strategic plans, goals, and impact metrics.
- Guide goal-setting processes for the Policy team, ensuring an alignment between, within, and across individual, team, and org-wide goals and priorities.
- Work with the Chief of Staff to create, maintain, and oversee systems and processes to ensure effective management of the daily operations of program staff and an organizational structure that supports the organization’s goals.
- Supervise, coach, and collaborate with program staff to ensure programmatic and team success, as well as to support the team’s ongoing professional development and growth.
- Develop and implement strategies that will maximize the synergies among Network team areas.
- Lead annual planning and manage budgets for policy programs and projects.
Qualifications & Attributes
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Communications, or related field. Master’s degree strongly preferred.
- 10 -15 years of senior-level experience across nonprofit, education, philanthropy, or grassroots organizations, overseeing multiple mission-driven programs in policy development, policy analysis and political advocacy.
- Track record of success in developing and executing a policy agenda that results in transformational change.
- Experience managing a variety of external teams.
- Excellent problem solver and critical thinker, who can synthesize information, ask insightful questions, think on your feet, and spot trends quickly.
- Strategic and creative visionary who can take a nebulous idea, translate it into a program design, and lead a team to turn it into reality.
- Creative thinker, joyful collaborator, self-starter, and detail-oriented communicator, with a positive approach, can-do attitude and a sense of humor.
- Confidence in a variety of public-facing roles--from state legislators, to congressional staffers, to White House personnel, to members of the US Senate.
- Experience with complex program management. From designing new initiatives to overseeing a spectrum of programs, the CPO will effectively manage projects with a variety of stakeholders, allocate resources across numerous disciplines, and calmly juggle competing priorities.
- Comfortable discussing topics in a variety of policy areas, including wealth building, social justice, and racial equity.
- Experience developing multi-sector partnerships that shift political power either through social justice grantmaking, brokering or allocating government funding streams, social impact investment, or hybrids thereof; interest in transforming philanthropy and leveraging financial resources to build community leadership and power.
- Commitment to working with diverse communities and finding shared goals amongst varying experiences and perspectives.
- Ability to identify and implement solutions independently in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, and a track record of taking responsibility when faced with challenges.
- Willingness and ability to exceed the “typical” job expectations on specific occasions (i.e., work late hours and/or weekends when project deadlines, events, or travel require it).
- Capable of mobilizing partnerships across the political spectrum to advance EdLoC’s agenda.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.
The CPO is a full-time remote position. Fully functioning home office required. Travel expected 20% of the time.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary for this role falls between $160,000 and $200,000, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications.
- Monthly stipends to support remote engagement.
- Competitive health care benefits, including vision and dental.
- Immediate 401K match of 50% up to 10% of salary.
- Company-paid life insurance.
- Flexible time off with a minimum of three weeks of vacation, plus all federal holidays (11 days).
Applicants must apply directly to EdLoC's job portal at this link: