Posted on September 14, 2012

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Senior Vice-President, Government Affairs

The California Charter Schools Association is the membership and professional organization supporting the nearly 1000 charter schools in California serving over 410,000 students. The Association’s mission is to influence legislative and policy environments, leverage collective advocacy, and provide resources to support our members in developing and operating high quality, charter schools reflective of California’s student population.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

This is an exciting opportunity for a results-oriented leader with a passion for the charter school movement to affect change across the California education landscape. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Senior Vice President, Government Affairs will oversee a team of nine professionals and contract lobbyists to plan, direct and represent all aspects of the organization’s ambitious legislative and regulatory policy agenda.

Responsibilities Include:

Team Leadership

• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team, Board of Directors and Membership Council to develop shared priorities for legislative and regulatory advocacy work at both a state and federal level
• Coordinate the ongoing development of a comprehensive state and federal advocacy agenda for the Association and its constituents
• Partner with the Statewide Advocacy team to engage the Association’s members more broadly for input and ideas and to increase support for the Association’s advocacy agenda
• Align and integrate legislative and regulatory agenda with the legal advocacy, regional advocacy, academic accountability and broader communications efforts of the Association
• Continuously update and re-prioritize agenda to reflect both what is possible and what is important

External Relations and Government Affairs

• Leverage extensive knowledge of legislative process to increase Association’s effectiveness in the Statehouse, passing favorable changes in law and stopping potential threatening changes
• Manage relationship with the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education, securing decisions favorable to charter schools
• Forge strategic partnerships with advocacy organizations in Sacramento and across the state to leverage collective advocacy strength, with an emphasis on organizations that broaden the coalition of charter school advocacy partners
• Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with governor’s administration, legislative leaders, elected officials and representatives of regulatory agencies
• Identify shared priorities and partnership opportunities with California education reform group members
• Help manage relationships with foundations and funders supporting the advocacy efforts of the Association

Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Planning

• Position the Association as an organization of growing influence in the education reform system, leveraging its extensive growth and performance research
• Create a comprehensive legislative outreach calendar, including the hosting of events in Sacramento well-attended by policy makers; organize regular legislative visits for Association staff and members
• Coordinate with Statewide Advocacy Team and Families that Can parent group to ensure extensive informed engagement with legislators in district offices across the state
• Develop communications strategy to reach elected school officials with positive charter school press and messaging
• Partner with Association’s communications team more broadly to help drive policy agenda
• Increase the capacity of the organization to develop just-in-time communications to members and charter school supporters regarding issues of breaking importance, including building regular participation in Voter Voice campaigns among charter school supporters
• Represent the Association at local and national speaking engagements and media opportunities regarding state and federal advocacy matters
• Help to ensure that Board of Directors is engaged and informed about state and federal advocacy issues so that informed discussions and timely approvals may happen at the board level
• Build relevant policy competence so that the Government Affairs Team may capitalize upon advocacy opportunities as they emerge

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

• 10 years + of senior management experience in a major advocacy organization , governmental agency or elected office
• Track record of high impact in advocacy arena
• Extensive experience managing staff, consultants and budgets
• An analytical approach to complex situations and the ability to develop and execute an appropriate course of action against ambitious goals
• Deep understanding of California policy environment as it pertains to charter schools and public education more broadly
• Extensive experience working with and developing relationships within the California legislature, CDE and SBE
• Exceptional communication skills in all settings
• A keen ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with colleagues, board members and external partners
• Experience managing advocacy campaigns and deep knowledge of legal requirements associated with operating a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization affiliated with a 501(c)(3) public charity preferred
• Experience maintaining corporate governance and board management preferred
• Advanced degree preferred

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Extremely competitive. Includes flexibility in schedule, full benefits and ample paid time off.

Application Instructions

Apply online at www.on-ramps.com/jobs/771