Director of Advocacy

Organization Overview:

The Missouri Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) was formed in 2006 in partnership with charter public school parents, board members, and leaders to improve student achievement by increasing access to high-quality charter public education options. For more than a decade, MCPSA has worked to enact supportive public policies, raise public awareness, and encourage civic engagement to help provide an education system that serves all children, particularly those living in poverty in the urban core. Today, the Association represents 36 charter school organizations, which educate over 25,000 students, roughly 45% of the public- school population in Kansas City and St. Louis.

MCPSA,

• Successfully advocates for supportive public policies;
• Provides resources, professional development, and technical support for charter schools, their leaders, staff, board members and parents;
• Helps community groups with the new school development, application, sponsorship, approval and pre-opening work;
• Informs the sector and the general public about charter school-related issues and teaching parents how to advocate for their child and school.
• Helps and support to member charter schools protecting their autonomy and against unnecessary regulation.

Our Mission is clear, improving student achievement by increasing access to high quality charter public education options throughout Missouri. We want the choice of a public school to be determined by parents who understand their child’s unique needs, not by an arbitrary assignment defined by a zip code. MCPSA works to support existing charter schools, future schools, and all public-school stakeholders as they pursue excellence in teaching and learning, and when necessary, close schools that persistently underperform. For more information visit www.mocharterschools.org.

Position:

The Director of Advocacy will support the Association’s advocacy and engagement objectives (local and statewide) working collaboratively with our executive director, board of directors, members and contract lobbyist. This position reports directly to the Executive Director.

Primary responsibilities include:

Public Policy Planning and Development:

• Gather, organize, and analyze state policies that affect charter schools and write periodic policy analyses related to the Association’s state advocacy goals;
• Participate actively in setting the Association’s direction and focus in the area of education policy;
• Assist with implementation of the Association’s charter school policy agenda;
• Prepare methods of communicating the Association’s charter school policy agenda;
• Draft testimony and position papers on charter school policy issues;
• Organize and engage members, partner organizations, and policy makers in charter school policy efforts;
• Create and manage systems to track information about key issues and policymakers;
• Organize and lead Legislative Advisory Council meetings.

Network Development:

• Build and maintain relationships with members, partner organizations, coalitions, foundations and associations throughout the state to advance policy goals;
• Build and maintain relationships with local and state elected officials, their representatives and staff, as well as Governor’s Office and state agency staff;
• Build and maintain relationships with media representatives;
• Respond to requests for information from members, nonprofits, policymakers and stakeholders.

Education & Communications:

• Manage and produce web content, electronic policy updates, legislative alerts, position statements and research reports for members and other key stakeholders;
• Educate community, legislators and other policymakers regarding charter schools and charter school policy;
• Help design and implement state and local advocacy to advance the Association’s state advocacy goals including grass roots and grass tops advocacy strategies;
• Serve as a content expert on charter school issues;
• Provide parent and community advocacy training;
• Manage the Kansas City Charter School Parent Advocacy Council and St. Louis Charter School Parent Advocacy Council;
• Manage periodic community events raising awareness, support, and celebration of charter public schools.

Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate for this position will:

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred
• Have a passion to improve educational opportunities for kids, and a belief in choice and accountability as key elements of reform
• Possess knowledge of the State and National charter sector
• Have advocacy experience at the local and/or state level, particularly working in collaboration with state and local partners to design and advance advocacy goals
• Bring a strong familiarity with the state policy environments affecting charter schools and understanding of education reform policy, both locally and nationally
• Have experience working with diverse populations
• Have a track record of success working in dynamic, high performing organizations, with an ability to prioritize projects, work cross functionally, and advocate on behalf of a team internally and externally
• Display exceptional execution skills with evidence of achieving strong results while juggling multiple projects
• Hold excellent verbal, research, written, presentation, and analytical skills
• Be effective with relationship building skills, with the capacity to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and cultivate effective partnerships and alliances with a wide array of stakeholders
• Have the ability to thrive under pressure
• Have a willingness and the ability to travel and work non-traditional hours as needed

Location: Preference for the candidate to locate in the Kansas City, Missouri area

Apply: Please email a resume, cover letter, and 3 letters of reference to Douglas Thaman at dthaman@mocharterschools.org, subject line: “Director of Advocacy.”

Compensation: $70K – $80K / is competitive and commensurate with experience. MCPSA offers a strong benefits package.

The Missouri Charter Public School Association is an equal opportunity employer.