Assistant Director of Public Policy

Trying Together; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Trying Together seeks an Assistant Director of Public Policy to lead the policy department's day-to-day operations, supervise the public policy team, and coordinate grant deliverables, tracking, and workflows. The role drives advocacy aligned with coalition strategies and informs strategic decisions through monitoring legislative trends.

The ideal candidate will support equity and inclusion, collaborate with early childhood professionals, and participate in writing policy memos, white papers,

Qualifications

• Experience in policy advocacy and program leadership for early childhood or education.
• Strong collaboration with cross-functional teams and coalitions.
• Track record of managing grants, deliverables, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the policy department's day-to-day operations and supervise the public policy team.
• In partnership with coalitions, drive advocacy activities and promote the policy agenda.
• Develop and manage grant deliverables, milestones, and reporting workflows; monitor legislative trends.

Job description

The Assistant Director of Public Policy serves as a key operational leader within the client's policy department, supporting efforts to identify policy opportunities and drive advocacy actions aimed at improving early care and education experiences for children, families, and the early childhood workforce. This role provides day-to-day operational leadership, functional supervision for the public policy team, and guides the management of grant deliverables, tracking, and workflows. The Assistant Director also acts as the departmental lead in the absence of the Director of Public Policy, ensuring continuity and effective execution of departmental objectives.

Core responsibilities include driving the execution of grant-supported advocacy activities in alignment with coalition strategies and the public policy agenda, guiding the development and promotion of the policy agenda, and strengthening internal processes and systems to support the work of the policy team. The Assistant Director is expected to establish and oversee workflows for tracking activities and outcomes, supervise the management of grant deliverables and project milestones, and connect routine tracking of internal deliverables with monitoring legislative trends to inform strategic decisions. Collaboration with the policy team is essential, including organizing meetings with early childhood professionals, program visits, and media events with policymakers.

This position will also engage in coalition committees and working groups to build strategic alignment, monitor policy developments, and support collaborative advocacy efforts. The Assistant Director will efficiently track legislation relevant to the policy agenda and coalition priorities, and lead or contribute to the writing of reports, issue briefs, policy memos, white papers, and position statements. The ideal candidate will support the client's commitment to equity, inclusion, and advocacy for high-quality early care and education, working alongside communities to elevate the needs of young children, families, and educators.