Public Affairs Director (Lobbying and Advocacy)

As the Public Affairs Director at Bezos Academy, you will design the plan and drive the execution of our policy advocacy and lobbying efforts to increase access to preschool for children living in under-resourced and low-income communities nationwide. You will build our public affairs function from scratch, serving as the organizational leader for our engagement strategy for policymakers and elected officials in local, state, and federal government. You will report to the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, joining the team that drives Bezos Academy’s national growth strategy.

You bring expertise influencing policy decisions, ideally around childcare or education, and especially in state government. You have had prior success influencing legislation as a registered lobbyist as well as managing consultants who lobby on your behalf. You are an effective relationship builder who has a track record of collaborating with industry associations and industry groups. You have previously worked for, or partnered with, a fast-growing, ambitious, mission-driven organization, and the scrappy energy of a start-up environment is what fuels you.

Grounded in our leadership principles, the strategies you create and deliver will enable us to scale our mission. You demonstrate exceptionally strong leadership skills, an ability to develop trusting and authentic partnerships across lines of difference, at all levels, and you know how to lead a rapidly growing and diverse organization through challenge and change. You expertly use information and relationships as well as direct experience to generate insights, while ensuring policy advocacy and lobbying efforts drive successful outcomes.

Your critical contributions will help us achieve our vision of expanding preschool education for children across the country, creating ripples of impact for generations to come.

LOCATION

Flexible in the United States; Seattle, WA preferred.
Relocation support is available for this role for those willing to move to Seattle, WA.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, exempt (salaried) position.
The full salary range for this position, across all United States geographies, is $172,000 – $367,000 per year. The upper portion of the salary range is typically reserved for existing employees who demonstrate strong performance over time. Starting salary will vary by location, qualifications, and prior experience; during the interview process, candidates will learn the starting salary range applicable for their location.
This role includes 15 paid days of vacation, 4 days of paid personal time off, 7 paid days of sick (care) time, 9 paid holidays, 5 paid days off for an organization-wide winter break, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor, Master’s degree in public policy, or another relevant advanced degree (or an additional three years of relevant experience in lieu of a graduate degree)
• Ten or more years of relevant experience, including at least five years of experience building and leading an organization’s policy advocacy work directed at state government
• Demonstrated success as a lobbyist and managing lobbying consultants to influence legislation
• Experience informing state regulations
• Exceptional ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing across all lines of difference and with audiences with divergent interest
• Track record of successfully influencing organizational decision-making at all levels, including senior leaders
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing new policy advocacy strategies and programs for an organization in an early-stage (start-up) or experiencing rapid growth
• Direct experience influencing early childhood education or childcare policy
• Prior work on federal policy advocacy
• Experience working in the nonprofit or education sectors
• Experience driving public affairs for a high-profile individual or brand

Bezos Academy participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employee Form I-9 Information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. Bezos Academy only uses E-Verify once a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. If E-Verify cannot confirm that an employee is authorized to work, Bezos Academy will give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so the employee can begin to resolve the issue before any adverse employment action is taken. For more information about your right to work, please see the Notice of Right to Work.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you are in need of an accommodation to participate in the application process, please reach out to [email protected]. We will work with you to ensure you have a fair opportunity to apply for our open positions.

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