Government Affairs Manager

Manager, Government Affairs

Teach For America

Washington, DC

TEAM: Government Affairs

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Government Affairs

LOCATION: Washington, DC

THE ROLE

The Government Affairs team seeks a manager to support the team as we represent and advocate for Teach For America’s priorities before Congress and the Administration. In this role, you will serve as a critical member of the Government Affairs team and will use your knowledge of Congress and the Executive Branch to help raise Teach For America’s profile, advance the organization’s federal priorities, and build champions among key decision makers in the federal government. You will also play an important role in supporting the Teach For America Capitol Hill Fellows Program by providing support in the application, selection and placement of Fellows, as well as on-going professional development throughout the Fellowship cycle.

THE ORGANIZATION

There are more than 16 million children growing up in poverty in the U.S., and less than 10 percent of them will graduate from college. These statistics are not a reflection of our children’s potential; we know that children growing up in poverty can and do achieve at the highest levels. Rather, these statistics reflect the systemic lack of access and opportunity for children in low-income communities.

Teach For America’s (TFA) mission is to find, develop, and support a diverse network of leaders committed to expanding opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that shapes the broader systems in which schools operate. We are seeking individuals who align with our mission, core values and commitment to Diversity Equity & Inclusiveness and are ready to join us in this global movement.

THE PERSON

You have at least two years of experience in public policy; working in Congress or in a federal agency. You have a background or strong interest in education policy and a passion for Teach For America’s vision and mission. You have demonstrated skill in developing new tactics for achieving an organization’s priorities. You are excited to advocate for and promote policies that lead to educational excellence and equity. You possess good judgement, are a master of time management and attention to detail and consistently look for ways to do things more efficiently and effectively. You are eager to learn and expand your existing skill set and enjoy working in a highly collaborative environment. Finally, you have a sense of humor combined with a spirit of flexibility and a sense of possibility.

Government Affairs (estimated 70%). Working closely with the Vice President and Director of Government Affairs to:

Execute a strategy that ensures Members of Congress understand and value Teach For America’s mission and impact in their communities and nationally

Help secure bipartisan support in Congress for programs, policies, and federal funding streams that support Teach For America’s mission across the country

Help cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance Teach For America’s mission

Collaborate in the drafting and review of advocacy materials, memos, hearing questions, fact sheets and other materials for internal and external use

Manage the reporting of lobbying disclosures

Attend Congressional briefings, hearings and other external events and report back on key observations and contacts made

Assist in the planning, organization, and execution of legislative summits and advocacy days for the CEO, members of the National Community Alliances team, and in partnership with other organizations

Develop and execute an engagement plan for Teach For America alumni who work in the federal government in the D.C. region.

Capitol Hill Fellows Program (estimated 30%)

Support the Teach For America Capitol Hill Fellows Program in partnership with VP, Policy and Associate, Public Partnerships

Develop and execute recruitment strategy for next cohort of Fellows

Support all stages of application process for next cohort of Fellows

Support planning for professional development and career support for current cohort of Capitol Hill Fellows through their year-long fellowship in Washington, D.C. including attending Fellow program events and advising on post-Fellowship opportunities.

Qualifications:

THE MUST HAVES

Skills:

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal and written communications skills

Excellent strategic and critical thinking skills

Highly motivated and able to excel in an entrepreneurial environment

Ability to partner with external and internal stakeholders

Ability to develop and cultivate relationships and networks in order to achieve results

Ability to effectively organize, plan and execute projects

Ability to work efficiently and accurately in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, OneNote)

Commitment to issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in the workplace

A deep belief in Teach For America’s vision, mission and theory of change

Prior Experience:

2 years of public policy and/or federal legislative experience

Experience in or knowledge of education policy; OR

Previous experience in a government affairs role related to education policy.

Work Demands:

Occasional evening or weekend work required to support special events and projects.

THE TEAM

The mission of the Government Affairs team is to support Teach For America (TFA) through the pursuit of public policy outcomes and funding that benefit the organization as it pursues its mission to ensure that every child receives an excellent education. To do so, we represent TFA before the legislative & executive branches of government. We cultivate champions among federal elected & appointed officials, and build & work within coalitions that help propel TFA’s work forward.

THE PERKS

By joining staff, you join a network of individuals committed to pursuing equity for all students and developing themselves as professionals in the process. We as an organization value the longevity of our employees and offer a full benefit plan that has proven to be pretty competitive. The salary for this position is also competitive and depends on your prior work experience. Please be advised, you will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.

WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Teach For America encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to this effort.

Teach For America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

This job description reflects Teach For America's assignment of essential functions and qualifications of the role. Nothing in this herein restricts management's right to assign, reassign or eliminate duties and responsibilities to this role at any time.

NEXT STEPS

Interested in this position? Apply now by submitting a resume and cover letter by August 5th. ! Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the link to the online application. If you still have questions regarding the role, feel free to contact our recruitment team at staffing@teachforamerica.org or visit www.teachforamerica.org/about-us/careers.