Director of Research & Policy

START DATE:

September 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

The priority deadline for applications is August 5th. Anything received after that date will be kept on file and considered if the position is not filled.

REPORTS TO:

Vice President of Policy & Advocacy

SUPERVISES:

The Manager of Policy & Advocacy

LOCATION:

The Partnership team works in a hybrid capacity. This position is expected to be in the community 40-80% of the time (2-4 days/week), with occasional visits to the Partnership office in Downtown LA.

Launched in 2007, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools’ mission is to transform schools to revolutionize school systems, empowering all students with a high-quality education. The Partnership is a non-profit, in-district partner to LA Unified, not a charter network. As an independent nonprofit organization, the Partnership serves 13,550 students across 20 LA Unified schools in Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. The Partnership works within the LA Unified School District context, which includes honoring all collective bargaining agreements for its teachers and school staff. To learn more about the Partnership, our mission, and how we approach our goals, please visit our website.

The Partnership is seeking a strategic, relational, and high-capacity Director of Research & Policy. The Director of Research & Policy is responsible for leading the Partnership’s work of influencing the broader education system beyond our 20 network schools, with a particular focus on research-based policies and practices for school transformation. The Director of Research & Policy will serve as a key thought partner to senior leaders within the organization, providing counsel and direct support in managing policy and advocacy initiatives, and will serve as a leader on the Policy & Advocacy team. This is a full-time, year-round position.

The Partnership is committed to continuously building an anti-racist culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classrooms and in our home office. The Director of Research & Policy will be someone who is committed to implementing these values in creative ways when executing day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. This is a full-time, year-round position.

Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership & Research Management (40%)

• Develop and implement a comprehensive research and data analysis strategy aligned with the policy team’s campaign and issue strategies
• Oversee the design and execution of high-quality research projects, including qualitative and quantitative research reports, policy briefs, and other publications
• Ensure that research methodologies are rigorous, participatory, and appropriate for the objectives of each project
• Analyze research findings and translate them into clear and actionable insights and policy recommendations
• Collaborate with LAUSD and the Committee for External Research Review to enable approval of the policy team publications by the district

Policy & Advocacy Strategy Support (30%)

• Collaborate with VP of Policy & Advocacy and issue committees to integrate research and advocacy efforts into the Partnership’s overall policy, campaign, and base-building strategies
• Provide leadership and strategic direction in campaign and issue areas, bringing together cross-functional groups including staff, partners, parents, educators, and other stakeholders to guide strategy and amplify the Partnership’s system-wide change work
• Build relationships with grasstop and grassroot leaders, policy organizations, advocacy partners, key LAUSD offices, and education coalitions to advance the Partnership’s education equity agenda and co-develop research projects and advocacy initiatives
• Collaborate with the Communications Team to effectively disseminate research findings and advocacy messages through media engagements, social media, and other platforms
• Support the development and implementation of systems for monitoring and evaluating the impact of research and advocacy efforts

Supervision Coaching, Training, & Support (30%)

• Provide management, coaching, and leadership development and capacity for the Manager of Policy & Advocacy 
• Develop and implement a learning agenda in the policy team, integrating campaign priorities with instructional and in-school best practices
• Collaborate across Partnership teams and individuals to collectively execute policy and advocacy initiatives
• Model Partnership competencies and values for direct report

A successful first year in this role will look like:

• Build relationships with school-site leaders, teachers, and key Partnership school-site teams (e.g. Attendance teams, Family Action Teams)
• Build relationships and collaborate with Partnership staff and external partners to help inform and strengthen our policy and advocacy strategies. 
• Collaborate with the VP of Policy & Advocacy and the Policy Team to develop and implement a scope and sequence for research strategy
• Lead the development of high-quality and impactful policy analysis, producing a minimum of 6 publications, memos, spotlights, and other shareable materials
• Collaborate with the Policy Team in executing policy strategies, engaging key stakeholders, and planning and implementing at least 4 influence events (e.g. webinars and convenings)

• Minimum 7 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative research, public policy, or advocacy roles with a proven track record of leading successful initiatives
• Experience leading and managing multiple complex projects with cross-functional teams
• Experience creating high-impact research and analysis publications contributing to successful advocacy campaigns
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex ideas simply and succinctly
• Ability to work collaboratively with other experienced professionals, colleagues, Board members, external partners, and colleagues of various functions and expertise
• Educational degree or certification in a subject area related to policy and advocacy is preferred
• Ability to travel between school sites and Partnership Home Office
• Spanish language fluency (spoken and written), preferred
• The ability to travel between school sites and Partnership home office
• Spanish language fluency (spoken and written), preferred
• Working understanding of K-12 public education sector, preferred
• A deep belief in the power of our communities, as well as the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values
• A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all team members
• A willingness to learn, grow, and model the Partnership competencies: Anti-racism, root cause analysis, long-term thinking, teaming and collaboration, psychological safety, and learning and growth

The starting salary range for external candidates is $126,175-$135,188. The Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our compensation practices. Our goal is to ensure that salaries are fair for all staff members who hold many intersectional identities, and we set salaries based on a robust compensation model grounded in consistency and transparency. The exact salary for this position is dependent on the relevant skills and experiences that the candidate brings to the role.

The Partnership also offers a robust benefits package including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents; a 403(b) retirement program with employee match and vesting; parental and sabbatical leaves; a professional development allowance; and generous paid time off. Details can be found here.

Please prepare your resume and a cover letter tailored to this position. You will submit your documents and application via this link.
 

Research shows that women and individuals from systemically marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications. While this job description outlines the major responsibilities and requirements to be successful in this role, the Partnership is committed to considering all applicants who are passionate about our mission and can see themselves excelling in this role – including those with diverse and non-traditional work experience.

For technical assistance or support for applying with a disability, please contact the Home Office Talent Team.

Partnership for LA Schools is a contractor with the Los Angeles Unified School District and has implemented a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy. All new employees are required to be fully vaccinated a week before their start date unless they are approved for an accommodation due to a medical reason or because of a sincerely held religious belief. 

Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to – and actively pursues – diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The Partnership prohibits discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race such as hairstyle), creed, color, religion, registered domestic partner status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, age, military and veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy or childbirth, physical disability or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. The Partnership also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, training, transfer, wages, benefits, termination, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.