POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION:

Education Senior Policy Advisor

OPEN:

Immediately

LOCATION: Washington, DC

CLOSING:

Until filled

CONTACT:

SALARY:

Commensurate with
experience

Darcy Eischens

BACKGROUND
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)the largest national Hispanic civil rights and
advocacy organization in the United Statesworks build a stronger America by creating
opportunities for Latinos. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based
organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 37 states, Puerto Rico,
and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy
analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areasassets/investments,
civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it
provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to
advance opportunities for individuals and families.
Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization
headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the
country. It has state and regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix,
and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.nclr.org.
SUMMARY
NCLR is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor in its Washington, DC, office. This position will work
as a member of the Education Policy Project, which is housed in NCLRs Office of Research,
Advocacy, and Legislation.
The centerpiece of NCLRs education policy work is the implementation of the Every Student
Succeeds Act (ESSA), the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Over
the next few years, NCLR will be heavily engaged in working on K12 education issues in
selected states and school districts, asserting NCLRs role as a leading civil rights voice for
Latino parents and kids, especially English learners.
In particular, the candidate will develop and share new knowledge and expertise on federal and
state education policy that impacts Latino kids. Further, the Senior Policy Advisor will provide
substantive support and guidance to the following: 1) a field campaign team working on statelevel implementation and advocacy on ESSA, 2) an organizational education working group
charged with providing technical assistance to the field and implementing education leadership

development programs, 3) NCLR leadership, and 4) education reform partners/stakeholders in

the civil rights and education reform movements such as the National Urban League and The
Education Trust.
The Senior Policy Advisor is responsible for providing highly skilled analysis of public policy
issues and trends in support of NCLRs ESSA policy goals. This position will be responsible for
identifying promising new reform ideas, working with colleagues to conduct analysis of data and
programs, designing and implementing research projects, convening policy experts and
practitioners, and developing and writing compelling policy papers and testimonies for a variety
of publications. This position will work with a diverse group of experts, researchers, and key
policymakers at the federal, state, and local level. In addition, this position will execute strategies
that effectively communicate ideas to policymakers, educators, the media, and other key
audiences. In addition, the Senior Policy Advisor will work with members of NCLRs Affiliate
Network to gain insight into new challenges and incorporate that information into public policy
ideas and proposals.
NCLR offers a collaborative, team-based environment that fosters a culture of ideas and debate.
We approach our work from multiple perspectives and methods, understanding both the specific
issues and the larger interrelated systems across the education field and beyond. The advisor will
work closely with other members of the policy team and coworkers with extensive expertise in
communications, editing/production, media, fundraising, special events, and marketing.
RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop and execute a project plan and agenda for evaluating and analyzing relevant
federal and state education policies that affect Latino students, such as subgroup
accountability and provisions impacting English learners.
Serve as NCLRs institutional expert on social policy solutions and community programs
aimed at improving the status of Latinos. Must have working knowledge of relevant laws,
regulations, state initiatives, and research that pertains to education policy.
Develop new knowledge and ideas aimed at reducing education achievement gaps for
Latino kids in schools.
Develop procedures and projects that test policy ideas in the field, coordinating closely
with NCLR Affiliates and other NCLR staff.
Conduct and publish policy analysis on education policies as they impact and relate to
Latino and immigrant communities.
Produce internal memoranda that make recommendations and advise NCLR officers
including the president and CEO and board memberson ESSA implementation.
Represent NCLR policy priorities before congressional staff, policymakers/experts, and
issue stakeholders, including providing congressional/regulatory or state-level testimony
as appropriate.
Highly skilled writing required, including publishing journal articles, conference papers,
reports, issue briefs, and statistical briefs.
Coordinate, develop, and participate in policy forums and other avenues that raise the
visibility of NCLR in the education arena, including conferences, membership on
relevant advisory committees or boards, and published materials.

Develop and lead policy coalitions/networks.

Coordinate work with other colleagues and departments, including legislative and
research staff, and community-based organizations.
Provide support/assistance to NCLR leadership.
Assist Project Director in reporting.
Ability to work with media as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS

Masters degree required and 10+ years of relevant experience.

Strong understanding of issues facing Latino and immigrant families in education.
Experience developing policy ideas or solutions aimed at improving the status of Latinos.
Experience creating project plans that promote, disseminate, or implement those ideas.
Experience communicating policy ideas through in public settings such as congressional
hearings, major conferences, or written materials such as reports or issue-briefs.
Strong written and oral communication skills. Must have experience publishing articles,
or other relevant and publicly available documents. A skilled public speaker required.
Some familiarity with data analysis and research methods.
Experience working with Hispanic community or community-based organizations is
required.
Ability to work as part of a team as well as execute projects independently. Also, ability
to take initiative, work effectively under tight deadlines, and coordinate multiple projects.
Experience working with relevant stakeholders and congressional committees,
champions, and players, and demonstrated ability to work with coalitions a plus.
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), Outlook, statistical
software, data sources, and Internet queries required.
Bilingual (English and Spanish) a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard
to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual
orientation, personal appearance, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political
affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.
SEND COVER LETTER AND RSUM TO:
National Council of La Raza
1126 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Attn: Darcy Eischens
Fax: (202) 776-1794
hrmail@nclr.org
No phone calls please!