Manager, K-12 State Policy – Implementation Strategy

Democrats for Education Reform

. Own and advance the organization’s state policy agenda .

Posted 10/10/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $85,000 - $105,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in education policy development and advocacy, with a strong ability to translate complex policy into actionable guidance for stakeholders. Proficient in qualitative research methods and project management to effectively coordinate state policy initiatives.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Education Policy ExperienceQualitative Research MethodsProject Management SkillsPolicy TranslationStakeholder Engagement

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Policy DevelopmentFramework DesignToolkit CreationLegislation MonitoringData Synthesis

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication SkillsIndependent WorkCollaboration

Certifications & Qualifications

Postgraduate Degree in Public PolicyPostgraduate Degree in Education

Industry Keywords

State Department of EducationLegislative AdvocacyEducation ReformStakeholder ConversationsPolicy Agenda

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own and advance the organization’s state policy agenda
Translate and design policy to advance the organization’s education reform agenda
Develop playbooks, toolkits, frameworks, and guidance documents for state legislators, agency staff, policymakers, and practitioners
Monitor and assess state legislation, regulations, and State Board of Education actions
Work with state legislators, legislative staff, state Department of Education officials, and allied education advocacy organizations
Partner with implementation and monitoring experts to translate policy frameworks into actionable guidance
Support state legislative offices and agency leaders navigating policy proposals
Design and conduct interviews, focus groups, and structured stakeholder conversations
Synthesize qualitative findings into actionable insights and policy products
Coordinate state strategy with programs, legislative advocacy, and federal policy teams
Represent the organization at conferences, coalition meetings, and meetings with state legislators and agency officials

Requirements

What you’ll need

5-7 years of experience in education policy
Experience inside a state Department of Education office is ideal; experience at a state legislature, think tank, or advocacy organization is welcome
Experience translating policy into practical guidance for policymakers, such as playbooks, frameworks, or toolkits
Experience with qualitative research methods, including designing interview protocols, conducting interviews or focus groups, and synthesizing findings
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent state policy workstreams independently
Federal policy exposure is a plus but not required
Postgraduate degree in public policy, education, or a related field is preferred but not required for candidates with a strong record of experience

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health, vision, and dental coverage
Flexible spending plan
Life insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
401K plan with a match
Paid family leave
Paid time off, including vacation, sick time, floating holidays, and all national holidays