Director, State Education Affairs

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Fort Washington (MD); On-site; USD 123,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is seeking a Director of State Education Affairs to advance ASHA’s Public Policy priorities at the state level. The role focuses on education policy affecting audiologists and speech-language pathologists, providing strategic guidance and advocacy support to state associations and regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities include developing advocacy strategies, preparing policy resources, and coordinating cross-team efforts to align education

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in state advocacy or education/public policy.
• Advanced degree in a related field is required.
• Experience with state associations, education-focused advocacy groups, and regulatory entities preferred.
• Knowledge of education policy affecting audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

Responsibilities

• Monitor state-level legislative and regulatory developments and provide strategic recommendations.
• Develop and execute state/local advocacy strategies to advance education policies benefiting audiologists and SLPs.
• Prepare policy resources: analyses, briefs, letters, testimony, and model legislative language.
• Provide expert consultation and guidance to ASHA members, state associations, and officials.
• Lead and support education-focused advocacy member groups and volunteers.
• Coordinate resources to strengthen state association capacity on school-based policy.

Skills

Advocacy

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Written and verbal communication

Education

Advanced degree in political science, government, public policy, education policy, or related field

Experience with state associations/regulatory entities

Job description

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.

Cluster/Team: Government Affairs and Public Policy Cluster/State Affairs Team

Salary Range (Non-Negotiable): $123,415 - $137,128

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Description

The Director, State Education Affairs advances ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda by identifying, developing, executing, and evaluating state and local advocacy strategies focused on education-related policy priorities affecting audiologists, speech-language pathologists, students, and the individuals they serve. The role provides strategic guidance, technical assistance, and advocacy support to state associations, ASHA members, state education leaders, regulatory entities, and other stakeholders on education issues including caseload/workload, salary supplements, education-focused advocacy member groups, special education/IEP policy, school choice, and teacher/educator licensing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze state-level legislative, regulatory, and policy developments affecting education priorities within ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda, and provide strategic recommendations to ASHA staff, state association leadership, and relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and execute state and local advocacy strategies that advance education policies that benefit audiologists and speech-language pathologists, including coordinated advocacy campaigns and mobilization of internal and external resources.
• Prepare and facilitate policy-related resources, including analyses, issue briefs, letters, testimony, model legislative language, regulatory comments, and related advocacy tools for education-focused state policy issues.
• Provide expert consultation, technical assistance, and strategic advocacy guidance to ASHA members, state associations, regulatory agencies, state elected and appointed officials, government agencies, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead, train, and support education-focused advocacy member groups and volunteer.
• Coordinate resources and activities that strengthen state association capacity on school-based and education policy issues.
• Maintain and contribute to education-related state affairs resources, web content, trackers, and member-facing tools as directed, ensuring information supports state association advocacy and member needs.
• Collaborate within the GAPP cluster, other ASHA teams, volunteers, coalitions, and external partners to identify trends, coordinate responses, and align education advocacy with ASHA policies, priorities, and the Public Policy Agenda.

Qualifications

Knowledge and skills typically acquired through:

• At least 5 years of experience in state advocacy, education policy, health care policy, public policy, or association advocacy; nonprofit association experience preferred.
• Advanced degree in political science, government, public policy, education policy, communication sciences and disorders, or a related field.
• Experience working with state-based associations, education-focused advocacy member groups, state agencies, state elected or appointed officials, and/or regulatory entities.
• Knowledge of state legislative and regulatory processes and the ability to translate policy developments into actionable advocacy strategies.
• Working knowledge of education policy issues affecting audiologists, speech-language pathologists, school-based services, and individuals with communication disorders.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality analyses, issue briefs, letters, testimony, regulatory comments, model legislative language, and related policy resources.
• Strong collaborative and facilitative leadership skills, including the ability to train, convene, and support advocacy leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills for internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, organize, and execute multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Sound judgment, problem-solving ability, and a creative approach to advocacy strategy and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to build consensus when opposing viewpoints are presented and to function effectively at all levels of staff, independently and within a team environment.

EOE/minorities, women, persons with disabilities, veterans with disabilities and Vietnam veterans are encouraged to apply.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 247,000 members, certificate holders, and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850
Members: 800-498-2071
Non-Member: 800-638-8255