Public Affairs Director (Lobbying and Advocacy)

Public Affairs Director – Bezos Academy

Description

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, especially in state government. You have had prior success influencing legislation as a registered lobbyist and managing consultants who lobby on your behalf. You are an effective relationship builder with a track record of collaborating with industry associations and 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 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 challenges 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(s)

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

Compensation and 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.
  • 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.
  • Employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care.
  • Additional benefits as listed here.

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 across all lines of difference and with audiences with divergent interests.
• Proven ability to influence 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 early-stage (start-up) or rapidly growing organization.
• Direct experience influencing early childhood education or childcare policy.
• Prior work on federal policy advocacy.
• Experience in the nonprofit or education sectors.
• Experience driving public affairs for a high-profile individual or brand.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the execution of a long-term policy advocacy strategy for Bezos Academy.
• Promote Bezos Academy’s policy priorities through advocacy and lobbying at both state and federal levels.
• Create a public affairs relationship management program.
• Identify and manage consultants for lobbying purposes, as needed.
• Collaborate with the legal and finance team to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and organizational requirements.
• Design mechanisms to keep Bezos Academy leaders informed about political or policy developments.
• Work with marketing, external communications, and partnerships teams to strengthen public sector relationships.
• Provide insights to inform growth strategy and expansion planning.
• Advise the Bezos Academy executive team on policy issues and significant public sector engagements.
• Serve as lead staffer for Bezos Academy’s president in high-stakes policymaker meetings.

Desired, Demonstrable Qualities

• Positive, child-centered mentality.
• Ownership philosophy.
• Ability to invent new solutions while simplifying processes.
• Strong judgment and instincts.
• Lifelong desire to learn.
• Talent for hiring and developing high-performing individuals.
• Unreasonably high standards.
• Ability to think big and identify unseen opportunities.
• Bias for action.
• Focus on initiatives that help children.
• Capacity to operate at all levels.
• Fearless pursuit of doing what is right for children.
• Character, competence, integrity, and actions that build trust.
• High energy and passion for delivering results.
• Ability to execute uncharted goals.
• Openness to change and adaptability to new information or data.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Focus & Deliverables (First 12 Months)

• Write Bezos Academy’s policy advocacy strategic plan.
• Create mechanisms for managing and tracking key public affairs relationships.
• Establish and/or strengthen relationships with leading early childhood, childcare, and Montessori advocacy groups.
• Review the partnerships team’s public sector approach to identify improvements.
• Develop relevant success metrics.

Click here to submit your resume and cover letter for consideration.

Bezos Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.