Fast Facts

The Policy Partner at AVID will shape and influence public policy to support equitable, student-centered education while leveraging connections with policymakers and synthesizing insights from best practices.

Responsibilities: Design and implement AVID’s policy learning strategy, craft policy recommendations, cultivate connections with policy figures, and monitor legislative developments.

Skills: Requires a strong understanding of K-12 policies, policy analysis experience, and the ability to engage with high-level education and political figures.

Qualifications: Preferred experience in educational policy circles, strategic engagement skills, and a critical thinking approach to policy implications.

Location: This position is fully remote, based in any U.S. time zone with the option for hybrid work in San Diego.

Compensation: $135897 - $173269 / Annually

WHAT IS AVID?

We’re a nationally recognized nonprofit that partners with 8,000 schools across the country to shift to a more equitable, student-centered approach, closing the opportunity gap so that ALL students are prepared for college, career, and life. And the results? Well, they speak for themselves.

AVID provides 2.5 million students annually with the tools they need to think critically, collaborate, and set high expectations to confidently conquer the challenges that await them. We accomplish this work by training over 85,000 educators every year through in-person and virtual professional learning opportunities.

WHAT IS THE JOB?

The Policy Partner will work to shape and influence public policy to align with organizational goals and community needs. This role will share critical insights on policy elements and advise on implications. This outward-facing position will focus on establishing connections, gaining knowledge with and from policy-centric individuals, and exerting influence. Additionally, the role involves synthesizing learningsfrom AVID Center and communicating them to policymakers, ensuring a coherent flow of information from grassroots innovation to policy formulation.

WHY WORK WITH US?

• Competitive Salary: We've done our research and pay generously to attract the best to join our team. That's why we offer all employees the midpoint right from the start. There are no negotiations and no hassle, and you can be confident that you are being valued and offered an equitable salary. See below for our offer rates based on your geography.
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• Taking Care of You Allowance: All AVID employees (that’s right, ALL employees) receive an extra $10,000 annually to support them in the most meaningful ways: housing costs, transportation, family expenses— whatever your needs may be.
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• Retirement Planning: AVID Center provides a 10% salary contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan, beginning after 90 days of full-time employment.
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• Flexibility in Work Location: This position may work 100% remote in any of the four times zones in the continental U.S., with an option for hybrid work at our San Diego campus.
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• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): This position is eligible for 22 days of PTO per year, with 12 paid holidays plus a winter break in between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
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• Continued education opportunities: All full-time employees with at least 1 year of continuous AVID Center service are eligible for $5,250 per calendar year in tuition reimbursement for qualifying coursework or certification.
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• Company-Provided Equipment: Our home office set-up includes a laptop, dock, and extra monitor, with other amenities available on request.
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• Health and Welfare Plans to Support Every Aspect of Your Well-Being: AVID Center offers several benefits plans through our provider, Cigna, and greatly subsidizes the cost of these plans
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• Connect in Person: A yearly All-Staff gathering will allow you to connect in person with the entire AVID team.

Pay rates for this position:

We bring in all employees at the midpoint of the salary range for your role. Knowing that not all cities share the same cost of labor, we make offers using a tiered approach based on your geographical location. While the majority reside in Zone 1 or Zone 2 areas, we acknowledge variations, even within counties, ensuring fair compensation for all based on their specific location's cost of labor.

For the Policy Partner position, here is what we will offer:

Zone 1 (areas characterized by lower labor costs [e.g., Charleston, WV, Cleveland, OH, Phoenix, AZ, Omaha, NE, etc.]): $135,897 annually

Zone 2 (areas with moderate labor costs [e.g., Syracuse, NY, Ann Arbor, MI, Denver, CO, San Diego, CA, etc.]): $146,090 annually

Zone 3 (areas known for high labor costs [e.g., Washington, D.C., Trenton, NJ, Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, etc.]): $156,282 annually

Zone 4 (areas with the highest labor costs [e.g., Bridgeport, CT, New York City, NY, San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, etc.]): $173,269 annually

*The specific cities listed above are examples of cities that fall within the respective salary zone. This is not an exhaustive list of cities.

WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS ROLE?

• Design, lead, and implement AVID’s overall policy learning and engagement strategy.
• Support AVID Center staff by imparting policy knowledge that contributes to the refinement of AVID’s strategy, project planning, and leveraging of public funds.
• Craft and regularly refine AVID’s comprehensive policy agenda, which represents our latest perspective on policy’s impact on college and career readiness and outlines our collaborative approach to shaping it effectively.
• Support AVID Center staff by imparting policy knowledge that contributes to the refinement of AVID’s strategy, project planning, and leveraging of public funds.
• Cultivate and enhance connections with key policy figures at the national level and within select states.
• Monitor policies as they are developed and move through legislative sessions, advising AVID leadership on policy implications.
• Develop clear and concise policy recommendations backed by rigorous analysis and present findings to decision-makers in a compelling manner.
• Generate, systematize, and disseminate knowledge through various mediums such as reports, opinion pieces, blog entries, and interactive platforms like webinars, panel discussions, and coalition participation.
• Interact with donors to secure their backing for our policy initiatives.
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WHO ARE YOU?

• You are a student advocate at your core and have a deep-rooted interest and comprehensive understanding of K–12 policies related to funding, assessment and accountability, and the importance of college and career readiness.
• You are an influencer and know how to strategically engage with high-level figures in the education and political landscapes.
• You are a critical thinker and can assess policy implications and propose practical solutions.
• You are systems-oriented and have proven experience in policy analysis, with a strong understanding of government processes and policy development
• You are a networker with well-established experience and connections within state and federal educational policy circles.
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*Allowable Substitutions: Any combination of experience, training, or credential certification endorsement that provides the incumbent/applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work, as determined by AVID Center. Qualifying work experience, as identified by the VP, People Operations, may substitute for the education requirement.

AVID Center is committed to complying with federal, state, and local laws on employee vaccinations, and candidates and employees should be aware that the full vaccination against COVID-19 may be required in the future. Due to some district requirements, AVID Center may not assign employees to an in-person event in schools or districts unless they are fully up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations. AVID Center is an equal opportunity employer and will provide reasonable accommodation to those unable to be vaccinated where it is not an undue hardship to the company to do so as provided under federal, state, and local law.

AVID Center prides itself on the diversity of our workplace and continuously seeks to recruit individuals who will enhance this diversity and, ultimately, the effectiveness of our organization. To demonstrate this commitment, we encourage all who are truly excited about this role to apply, even if they don’t meet every requirement. We believe that people who are passionate about what they do can succeed in this role or in other roles within our organization.