Director of Programs and Policy

Activate Mo’s Mission:

Activate Missouri is committed to ensuring that our communities hold authentic power to transform public education. By activating a statewide coalition of informed parents, students, and educators, we equip them to advocate for children as leaders and change agents in educational equity.

The Director of Programs & Policy plays a critical role in bringing this mission to life—strengthening and scaling programs that center community voice while ensuring those experiences shape statewide policy and legislative action. Through strategic program leadership, policy development, and direct lobbying in Jefferson City, this position ensures that what families experience on the ground directly informs the systems, laws, and structures that shape their children’s futures.

“Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, but furthest from resources and power.” — Glenn E. Martin

Activate Missouri exists to close that gap. By intentionally shifting resources, access, and influence toward the families, students, and educators most impacted by inequitable systems, we help ensure they have not only the seat at the table—but the power to shape the agenda. The Director of Programs & Policy advances this commitment by elevating community insights into programs, policies, and legislation that reflect the realities and aspirations of Missouri’s families.

By collaborating with community schools, policymakers, and partner organizations across Missouri, this role helps train and elevate community leaders—deepening their understanding of governance, power, political dynamics, and systemic barriers. In doing so, Activate Missouri builds an ecosystem where families and educators not only participate in decision-making but drive it, creating a more just and high-quality public education system for every child.

Role Overview:

The Director of Programs & Policy is an executive-level leader responsible for unifying and driving ActivateMO’s statewide programming, policy strategy, and legislative impact. This role merges two mission-critical functions:

• Leading and strengthening youth and parent programs statewide.
• Shaping and advancing policy that reflects community experience, including direct lobbying (25%) in Jefferson City during the legislative session.

This leader ensures that ActivateMO’s programs are values-aligned, consistently delivered, and grounded in community priorities while translating those priorities into legislative strategies, statewide campaigns, and systems-level influence. They will supervise organizers, manage key partnerships, steward policy development, and serve as a strategic voice for the organization.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Program Leadership, Design & Execution

• Supervise regional organizers and the Program Coordinator.
• Lead coaching, development, and performance alignment for program staff.
• Refine, codify, and scale parent and youth program models.
• Facilitate internal learning cycles that improve program quality.
• Manage partnerships with schools, tutoring vendors, and community organizations.
• Support program expansion into key Missouri geographies.
• Oversee MOUs, implementation calendars, and accountability tools.

2. Policy Strategy & Legislative Engagement

• Monitor state and national education policy trends with emphasis on Missouri.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate ActivateMO’s policy positions.
• Draft policy materials, talking points, testimonies, and public-facing briefs.
• Build relationships with legislators, state agencies, and advocacy partners.
• Lead advocacy campaigns that elevate parent and student voice around legislation.
• Ensure policy work reflects insights gathered from program implementation.

3. Lobbying & Government Affairs (25% during legislative session)

• Serve as ActivateMO’s registered lobbyist or co-lobbyist in Jefferson City.
• Attend hearings, meetings, and legislative events on behalf of ActivateMO.
• Inform legislators about the needs of Missouri families, especially in rural, suburban, and urban communities.
• Maintain strong bipartisan relationships to advance the organization’s legislative agenda.
• Track bill progress, committee schedules, and emerging opportunities to influence policy.
• Ensure compliance with lobbying regulations and reporting requirements.

4. Impact, Learning, & Storytelling

• Translate program data and insights into powerful impact narratives for policymakers, funders, and the public.
• Partner with evaluation and communications contractors to produce case studies, toolkits, and policy materials.
• Align data systems and storytelling with the organizational theory of change.
• Guide internal reflection on program and policy coherence.

5. Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve on the Executive Team and contribute to organizational strategy.
• Collaborate closely with the Chief of Staff on operations, measurement, and grants.
• Partner with the CEO on public positioning, funder engagement, and high-level policy strategy.
• Ensure strong alignment between community realities, program implementation, and policy advocacy.

Core Competencies:

• Strong staff coaching & team leadership
• Expertise in K–12 education policy and Missouri legislative processes
• Advocacy campaign development and lobbying experience
• Program design, implementation, and scaling
• Partnership building and cross-functional collaboration
• Strategic communication, storytelling, and political judgment
• Deep commitment to equity, family voice, and community-rooted leadership

Team Competencies:

• Relationship Builder: Builds deep, public, action-oriented relationships that move people into leadership and action.
• Equity Analysis: Understands systemic inequities affecting rural communities and identifies strategies for collective problem-solving.
• Leadership Development: Coaches and trains parents and students in organizing skills and issues affecting rural schools.
• Results-Driven: Passionate about improving educational outcomes and achieving measurable impact.
• Organized & Communicative: Clearly communicates plans, priorities, and goals; manages time and responsibilities effectively.
• Innovative & Resilient: Resourceful when facing challenges and willing to adapt, learn, and improve continuously.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary: $110,000 annually
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Potential for future salary growth as the statewide organizing team expands

Call (314) 246-0415 for more information on how to apply.