Deputy Director Public Policy

Talent Road LLC; Bala Cynwyd (PA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401K with 5% match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Talent Road LLC is seeking a Deputy Director of Public Policy, Legislative Engagement to advance state and national policy on Decision Education. You will coordinate legislative engagement, craft policy materials, and lead coalitions with policymakers, districts, and partner organizations.

The role reports to the Director of Public Policy within the Public Policy Department and requires strong collaboration across teams to shape national narratives on Decision Education in K‑12 policy.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience leading legislative advocacy in education.
• Deep expertise in state education governance and K-12 financing structures.
• Experience managing cross‑sector policy campaigns and lobbying initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead lobbying strategies with governors' offices and state education bodies.
• Draft legislative memoranda, policy briefs, and testimonies for policymakers.
• Manage relationships with retained lobbying firms in key states.
• Coordinate policy outreach and stakeholder activities to advance decisions education.
• Track engagement efforts and ensure collaboration across the Public Policy team.

Skills

CRM experience

Policy drafting

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Salesforce

Wrike

Job description

Talent Road's client is a national nonprofit and field builder with the mission of improving lives by empowering students with essential skills and dispositions for making better decisions. Founded in 2014 and backed by experts in decision sciences, business, and education-including several Nobel laureates-our client believes that better decisions lead to better lives and a better society.

They partner with teachers, academic and business leaders, families, and community members to raise awareness and lead the growing call to have Decision Education taught in schools nationwide.

They are committed to an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative culture. Their diverse team comprises educators, researchers, subject matter experts, and other professionals dedicated to the mission.

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Deputy Director of Public Policy, Legislative Engagement is a senior role responsible for advancing the state and national policy agenda by coordinating legislative engagement, managing policy‑aligned outreach, and assisting with coalition and stakeholder activities that advance Decision Education. This position focuses on legislative strategy, drafting policy documents, cultivating relationships through meetings and events, state‑level lobbying and advocacy, and ensuring effective communication with policymakers, external partners, and internal teams.

The Deputy Director of Public Policy, Legislative Engagement will report to the Director of Public Policy within the Public Policy Department, which is responsible for advancing state and national policy priorities to support the adoption and expansion of Decision Education.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Legislative Engagement

• Lead implementation of the Alliance's direct and indirect lobbying strategies in partnership with the Director of Public Policy, cultivating relationships with governors' offices, state departments of education, state boards of education, and state legislative bodies, as well as with relevant think tanks, coalitions, advocacy organizations, and trade associations.
• Proactively monitor, analyze, and influence key policymaker activity and legislation at the state and regional levels.
• Draft legislative memoranda, policy memoranda, and legislator education and communication materials. Translate complex federal and state education bills, administrative rules, and public budget allocations into actionable policy briefs, testimonies, and memos.
• Engage current and past Policymaker Fellows in the design and implementation of legislation, regulations, and pilot programs in collaboration with the Senior Manager, Public Policy.
• Manage relationships and contracts with retained lobbying firms in key states.

Strategic Planning and Management

• Build regional policy, advocacy, and lobbying plans in conjunction with the Director of Public Policy, contracted lobbyists, and regional partners.
• Support the development and monitoring of department‑level Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) related to policy development and adoption.
• Collaborate with the communications team, and other teams to design research briefings and public‑facing toolkits that shape the national narrative around the importance of Decision Education in K‑12 education policy.
• Support senior‑level relationship management with key strategic policy leaders, including preparation, alignment, and follow‑up for high‑value engagements.
• Track staff and stakeholder engagement efforts in Salesforce, Wrike, and other project management tools.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure public policy activities are aligned, supported, and communicated effectively.
• Design and facilitate necessary legislative training and professional development for staff and volunteers who engage in public policy opportunities and engagements.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• At least 8 years of progressive experience leading legislative advocacy, public policy formulation, and lobbying initiatives, with a clear focus on the education sector.
• Deep expertise in legislative processes, state‑level education governance, and public K‑12 financing structures.
• Experience managing complex cross‑sector initiatives, public policy campaigns, and education policy lobbying initiatives.
• Experience using a CRM system.

ADDITIONAL INFORMTION:

• Compensation: $110,000 - $140,000 annually
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (100% employer paid)
• Life Insurance (100% employer paid)
• Long Term Disability Insurance (100% employer paid)
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401K Retirement Plan with up to a 5% match
• Flexible Spending Account
• Up to 20 Days of Paid Time Off in your first year (prorated based on your start date)
• Office location: Bala Cynwyd, PA
• This position is open to both local and remote candidates. Local team members are expected to follow a hybrid schedule, working onsite at our headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, PA, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with remote work permitted on other business days.
• Fully remote employees are expected to maintain a productive home‑based work environment and remain actively engaged in team operations during East Coast hours. Additionally, the role requires 30-50 percent travel, including stakeholder and legislative engagements, travel to state capitals, national conferences, and to internal and all‑staff meetings at organization headquarters.