Manager of Government Relations

About Learning Ally:

Learning Ally is a leading nonprofit education solutions organization that transforms the lives of struggling learners by delivering proven literacy solutions that help students reach their potential. Its mission is to radically change education, transforming the lives of children by providing reading interventions and solutions to help them succeed academically, build self-confidence, and thrive in school and beyond.

Today, Learning Ally reaches over 2,300,000 students, 615,000 educators, and 23,000 schools across the country and continues to expand its reach. With a continued commitment to supporting students who learn differently, Learning Ally has joined researchers and neuroscientists from renowned institutions, including UCSF and MIT, to better understand and address learning issues. You will find that our culture is one that is mission-driven, innovative, and committed to professional growth, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

65% of fourth graders read below proficiency and are 400% more likely to drop-out of high school. And, for “most at risk” students (students of color, low income, English Language Learners, and students with learning disabilities) the problem is even more acute.

Learning Ally seeks to break this cycle. With early student assessment, intervention and accommodation and professional development for educators, Learning Ally can identify and prevent learning issues by working with schools and educators to support new and struggling readers. Our solutions build a strong foundation for independent, engaged learners who are empowered to achieve socially, emotionally, and academically, regardless of background or learning difference.

Founded in 1948 as Recording for the Blind, to help soldiers who lost their sight in combat continue their education with audiobook products, Learning Ally has evolved to help individuals understand the unique ways they learn and match them to the solutions that enable personal achievement.

About the Job:

As a member of Learning Ally’s Government Relations team, you'll work to develop key partnerships with federal and state governments to improve literacy outcomes. Our objective is to build partnerships with Governors’ offices, Departments of Education, and state legislatures to secure funding to provide Learning Ally’s Whole Child Literacy solutions to all students in need. This role requires a combination of creativity, intellectual rigor, and organizational skills to manage various campaigns, projects, and initiatives. Through engagement with internal and external stakeholders, the Manager of Government Relations will provide project-management and logistical support to the team.

An ideal candidate is passionate about education and achieving equity for students through literacy. The Government Relations department leads Learning Ally’s engagement with educational stakeholders - including government officials, professors, businesses, and lawyers - in the formation and execution of public policy that benefits innovation in educational technology and teaching strategies. We accomplish this by doing the following: introducing legislation, applying for Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and engaging in the budget process to establish appropriations to provide Learning Ally’s literacy solutions to improve literacy outcomes.

As a member of our organization, you will help educate policymakers and key opinion leaders, advise internal teams on the political landscape, and work across Learning Ally to develop coherent, strategic plans to increase revenue and support Learning Ally’s public policy priorities that align with our whole child literacy framework. While we focus on challenges affecting students who struggle with reading, our scope is increasingly broad and encompasses the intersection of public policy, technology solutions, teacher training, educational strategies, and curriculum development.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in political science, public policy, education, or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 4+ years in a relevant field such as public policy or government relations, specifically in the areas of regulatory affairs, public affairs, education policy, or advocacy.
• Previous experience working on Capitol Hill, in the Executive Branch, or Government Relations sector.
• Previous project-management and supervisory experience (internally and externally).
• Candidate should possess strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Previous experience preparing proposals for government entities.
• Candidate must have strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Candidate must be able to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to work on a portfolio of projects.

Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience applying for grants and requests for proposals.
• Strong research and analytical background.
• Experience handling public policy challenges relating to educational technology, school curriculum, teaching strategies, or other services.
• Passionate about improving educational outcomes for students, particularly students who are traditionally underserved.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research and produce memos and proposals to support the Director and Vice President of Government Relations.
• Balance a combination of forward-looking strategic projects with multiple execution steps and consistent engagement.
• Manage engagement in key states to drive literacy outcomes.
• Manage relationships and engagement with Learning Ally consultants.
• Manage consultant contracts.
• Manage the grant and request for proposal process.
• Complete and maintain compliance documents in key states.
• Other administrative/executive duties: track progress, schedule meetings, manage follow-up, create slide decks, etc.
• Create written and visual materials advocating for our whole child literacy solution with the support of other Learning Ally teams
• Work with the marketing team to create and drive social media and web-based awareness campaigns.

Learning Ally is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.