The Commit Partnership
Director, EC-12 Education Policy
The Commit Partnership, Mesquite, Texas, United States, 75181
Overview
Director, EC-12 Education Policy – The Commit Partnership Helping Advance Strategic Public Policy to Expand Opportunity for Texas Students from Early Childhood through 12th Grade. The Commit Partnership, the largest regional educational backbone organization in the country, is seeking a passionate, strategic, policy-driven professional to serve as the Director of Early Childhood Education-12th Grade (EC-12) Policy. This role supports the Managing Director, Policy and State Coalitions, to improve educational outcomes across the early childhood through high school continuum by advancing strategic investments in policies that improve student outcomes, facilitating cross-section collaboration, and sharing the state’s educational landscape through thoughtful engagement. The Director will lead the EC-12 policy strategy, including legislative communication, engaging state agencies on rulemaking, and coordinating policy coalitions. This position requires at least 4 years of direct experience in public policy, advocacy or governmental relationships, preferably in Texas, with a focus on translating local and regional insights into statewide impact. Annual salary range: $110,000 - $139,000.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Policy Agenda Formation
Work with the internal policy team, programmatic partners, external stakeholders, and coalitions to develop, refine, and execute a state-level EC-12 policy agenda (regulatory and legislative) that improves student outcomes, closes achievement gaps, and increases workforce readiness.
Determine relevant rulemaking opportunities and monitor opportunities for regulatory or legislative engagement.
Develop a strategy to mobilize broad coalitions to support policy priorities, including interim charge approvals, hearings, rulemaking opportunities, and other opportunities as available.
Collaborate with Communications to develop and activate relevant communications strategies.
Relationship Management
Develop and maintain trusted relationships with legislative leaders, staff, and relevant agency staff and leadership.
Build strategic relationships with senior leaders from programmatic initiatives and statewide partners involved in similar policy priorities or stakeholders.
Establish, facilitate, and mobilize coalitions as needed.
Provide regular communication and updates so partners are aware of progress and can provide input.
Build consensus on policy recommendations to share with agencies/legislators.
Equip advocacy partners to influence and advise on EC-12 policies at the state level.
Communicate and enhance knowledge among the public about the policy agenda (e.g., presenting to Chambers, grassroots organizations).
Management of Relevant Team Members and Strategy
Manage junior members of the Policy & State Coalitions team.
Co-create goals, coach, and provide annual reviews and professional development.
Support hiring, onboarding, and training of new Policy staff.
Support strategic planning and goal-tracking for the Policy & State Coalitions team.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Understanding of the structure, operations, and challenges facing Texas public schools and early education centers operating with public dollars.
Ability to build strong, trusting relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to communicate complex ideas and strategies in a simple, motivating way.
Team player who works nimbly across the organization with humility and urgency.
Strong project management skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Education and/or Experience Required
7+ years of work experience preferred, with at least 4 years in an education policy and/or public policy role advocating to the state Legislature and/or relevant agencies.
Direct management experience and a defined management style that fosters professional growth, accountability, and an inclusive workplace.
Strong interpersonal communication skills, both written and oral, including group facilitation and public speaking.
BA/BS degree in a related field.
Language Skills
Ability to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate.
Ability to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring straightforward exchange of information on familiar matters.
Ability to describe in simple terms aspects of background, environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ability to read and write in Standard English.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
Ability to interact with persons of diverse backgrounds.
Ability to listen perceptively and convey awareness.
Ability to interact diplomatically with the public in a continuous public contact setting.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Ability to maintain composure under pressure and navigate differing opinions.
Work Environment The Director generally works in an office environment but may perform duties outside the typical office setting, including the Texas Capitol. The noise level is usually quiet to moderate. No adverse environmental conditions are anticipated.
Physical Activity & Requirements While performing responsibilities, the employee may talk and hear, sit for extended periods, and perform repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and fingers. This is a sedentary position, with occasional standing, walking, reaching, and lifting up to 10 pounds. Vision and hearing requirements include normal perception of sounds, reading, and computer use.
Job Requirements To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The listed requirements are representative of the knowledge, skills, education, training, and experience required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
About The Commit Partnership Our Mission: We believe that through our actions, Dallas County – which educates 10% of Texas and 1% of the nation – can be an inclusive and prosperous region where economic opportunity is shared equitably. Our goal is for 2040 to have half of all 25-34-year-olds in Dallas County earn a living wage. We work to increase living wage attainment by equitably increasing educational success aligned with high-demand jobs, from early education through college, career, and/or military readiness. We analyze data to lift up strategic initiatives that improve policies, practices, and funding to grow our community’s capacity to serve every student more effectively.
Our Story: Founded in 2012, Commit Partnership is the nation’s largest educational collective impact organization, with backbone staff and over 200 partners across Dallas County and Texas. We collaborate to solve systemic education challenges and advocate for excellent and equitable public education for all students, regardless of race, place, or socio-economic status, so they can earn a living wage. We work through ventures including Early Matters Dallas, North Texas Tutoring Corps, Dallas County Promise, Texas College Bridge, Dallas Thrives, Commit’s Policy Team, the Texas Impact Network, and several coalitions.
True North Traits guide our mission-driven environment: Systemic Impact, Judgment, Communication, Innovation, Equity and Inclusion, Joy, and Integrity. The Commit Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national or social origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other status protected by law. We do not sponsor visas.
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Director, EC-12 Education Policy – The Commit Partnership Helping Advance Strategic Public Policy to Expand Opportunity for Texas Students from Early Childhood through 12th Grade. The Commit Partnership, the largest regional educational backbone organization in the country, is seeking a passionate, strategic, policy-driven professional to serve as the Director of Early Childhood Education-12th Grade (EC-12) Policy. This role supports the Managing Director, Policy and State Coalitions, to improve educational outcomes across the early childhood through high school continuum by advancing strategic investments in policies that improve student outcomes, facilitating cross-section collaboration, and sharing the state’s educational landscape through thoughtful engagement. The Director will lead the EC-12 policy strategy, including legislative communication, engaging state agencies on rulemaking, and coordinating policy coalitions. This position requires at least 4 years of direct experience in public policy, advocacy or governmental relationships, preferably in Texas, with a focus on translating local and regional insights into statewide impact. Annual salary range: $110,000 - $139,000.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Policy Agenda Formation
Work with the internal policy team, programmatic partners, external stakeholders, and coalitions to develop, refine, and execute a state-level EC-12 policy agenda (regulatory and legislative) that improves student outcomes, closes achievement gaps, and increases workforce readiness.
Determine relevant rulemaking opportunities and monitor opportunities for regulatory or legislative engagement.
Develop a strategy to mobilize broad coalitions to support policy priorities, including interim charge approvals, hearings, rulemaking opportunities, and other opportunities as available.
Collaborate with Communications to develop and activate relevant communications strategies.
Relationship Management
Develop and maintain trusted relationships with legislative leaders, staff, and relevant agency staff and leadership.
Build strategic relationships with senior leaders from programmatic initiatives and statewide partners involved in similar policy priorities or stakeholders.
Establish, facilitate, and mobilize coalitions as needed.
Provide regular communication and updates so partners are aware of progress and can provide input.
Build consensus on policy recommendations to share with agencies/legislators.
Equip advocacy partners to influence and advise on EC-12 policies at the state level.
Communicate and enhance knowledge among the public about the policy agenda (e.g., presenting to Chambers, grassroots organizations).
Management of Relevant Team Members and Strategy
Manage junior members of the Policy & State Coalitions team.
Co-create goals, coach, and provide annual reviews and professional development.
Support hiring, onboarding, and training of new Policy staff.
Support strategic planning and goal-tracking for the Policy & State Coalitions team.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Understanding of the structure, operations, and challenges facing Texas public schools and early education centers operating with public dollars.
Ability to build strong, trusting relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to communicate complex ideas and strategies in a simple, motivating way.
Team player who works nimbly across the organization with humility and urgency.
Strong project management skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Education and/or Experience Required
7+ years of work experience preferred, with at least 4 years in an education policy and/or public policy role advocating to the state Legislature and/or relevant agencies.
Direct management experience and a defined management style that fosters professional growth, accountability, and an inclusive workplace.
Strong interpersonal communication skills, both written and oral, including group facilitation and public speaking.
BA/BS degree in a related field.
Language Skills
Ability to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate.
Ability to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring straightforward exchange of information on familiar matters.
Ability to describe in simple terms aspects of background, environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ability to read and write in Standard English.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
Ability to interact with persons of diverse backgrounds.
Ability to listen perceptively and convey awareness.
Ability to interact diplomatically with the public in a continuous public contact setting.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Ability to maintain composure under pressure and navigate differing opinions.
Work Environment The Director generally works in an office environment but may perform duties outside the typical office setting, including the Texas Capitol. The noise level is usually quiet to moderate. No adverse environmental conditions are anticipated.
Physical Activity & Requirements While performing responsibilities, the employee may talk and hear, sit for extended periods, and perform repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and fingers. This is a sedentary position, with occasional standing, walking, reaching, and lifting up to 10 pounds. Vision and hearing requirements include normal perception of sounds, reading, and computer use.
Job Requirements To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The listed requirements are representative of the knowledge, skills, education, training, and experience required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
About The Commit Partnership Our Mission: We believe that through our actions, Dallas County – which educates 10% of Texas and 1% of the nation – can be an inclusive and prosperous region where economic opportunity is shared equitably. Our goal is for 2040 to have half of all 25-34-year-olds in Dallas County earn a living wage. We work to increase living wage attainment by equitably increasing educational success aligned with high-demand jobs, from early education through college, career, and/or military readiness. We analyze data to lift up strategic initiatives that improve policies, practices, and funding to grow our community’s capacity to serve every student more effectively.
Our Story: Founded in 2012, Commit Partnership is the nation’s largest educational collective impact organization, with backbone staff and over 200 partners across Dallas County and Texas. We collaborate to solve systemic education challenges and advocate for excellent and equitable public education for all students, regardless of race, place, or socio-economic status, so they can earn a living wage. We work through ventures including Early Matters Dallas, North Texas Tutoring Corps, Dallas County Promise, Texas College Bridge, Dallas Thrives, Commit’s Policy Team, the Texas Impact Network, and several coalitions.
True North Traits guide our mission-driven environment: Systemic Impact, Judgment, Communication, Innovation, Equity and Inclusion, Joy, and Integrity. The Commit Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national or social origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other status protected by law. We do not sponsor visas.
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