Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Education

ABOUT US

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our community stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

SUMMARY

The Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Education, is housed in the Office of Policy and Advocacy and based in Washington, DC. This position reports to the Policy Advisor, Early Childhood Education. The Policy Analyst will help drive a policy agenda that works to eliminate barriers to early childhood education and development and focuses on issues related to Latino children PN-8 and dual language learners. By supporting UnidosUS advocacy efforts and strategy, they will be responsible for identifying promising ideas to ensure that our nation’s early childhood education system is truly equitable for Latinos. From access and quality to practice and policy, they will be responsible for developing and implementing a bold set of targeted recommendations for policymakers to advance Latino early childhood education success at the federal and state level.

Success in this role requires being a creative, critical and analytic thinker; having strong people skills; solid writing and communications skills; and a shared commitment to advancing equity on behalf of the Latino community. They must be collaborative and work with colleagues in multiple internal disciplines and across the organization. 

The position is hybrid, and will be based in Washington, DC.

Salary: $66,900-$70,400

Essential Functions:

• Support implementation of the Latino Infant Initiative policy agenda.
• Analyze relevant early childhood education policy proposals and develop policy positions.
• Analyze emerging public policy issues and trends in early childhood education and communicate their impact on the Latino community.
• Produce policy resources, including factsheets, issue briefs, white papers, reports, testimony, and presentations using primary and secondary research sources.
• Serve as an UnidosUS expert on early childhood education policy, with a focus on policy solutions related to dual language learners and the reauthorization of the Head Start Act.
• Represent UnidosUS in high-visibility forums, conferences, and meetings, including meetings with congressional staff, policymakers, issue experts, and stakeholders.
• Lead and participate in coalitions of experts and advocates on early childhood education, and provide consistent, timely updates to organizational networks and partners.
• Provide strategic recommendations, as appropriate, to UnidosUS leadership on issues related to early childhood education at the federal level and in states such as Arizona, California, Florida, Texas and New Mexico.
• Conduct communications activities that build support for UnidosUS’s education priorities (e.g. blogs, media interviews).
• Organize and execute policy forums, roundtables, webinars, and other events to inform and elevate UnidosUS’s early education policy work.
• Support funder process to ensure the growth and sustainability of the early childhood education portfolio, including contributing to concept papers, proposals, and reports.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree.
• One (1) to four (4) years of relevant experience on education issues.
• Strong ability to evaluate policy options, forecast outcomes, and provide evidence-based recommendations.
• Extensive and strong writing ability, including developing and writing articles, studies, reports, regulatory comments, or other publicly available documents.
• Ability to communicate findings and recommendations in public settings such as coalition meetings, policy briefings, major conferences, and with the media.
• Outstanding project management skills suited to a dynamic work environment with multiple ongoing responsibilities, tight deadlines, and expectations for high-quality work.
• Flexibility for occasional travel.
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Latino community.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience conducting quantitative analysis and familiarity using Census data or other data sets.
• Experience with research and analysis.
• Experience working in Congress or federal administration.
• Experience in public speaking.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) ability.

Skills and Abilities

• Steadfast commitment to UnidosUS mission, vision, and values: Excellence, Accountability, Respeto.
• Commitment to U.S. Latino community, Latino non-profit organizations, and the Latino market.
• Knowledge of education policy issues, including those related to early childhood education at the federal level and state level.
• Displayed commitment to social justice and UnidosUS’s mission.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Competencies

• Analytical--Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs workflows and procedures.
• Project Management--Develops project plans; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and budget; manages project team activities.
• Oral Communication--Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
• Written Communication--Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Strategic Thinking--Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths and weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Planning/Organizing--Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Accurately complete detailed forms and reports.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously
• Perform some repetitive motion activities
• Sit for long periods of time
• Frequently/Continually required to talk or hear
• Occasionally required to lift/push light weights up to 25 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required for this job include [close vision, distance vision, peripheral, depth, and ability to adjust or focus]
• The noise level in the work environment usually is quiet to moderately loud
• Travel in the U.S. and onsite presence for media events and activities
• Occasional evening/weekend events, with advance notice

COVID-19 Considerations: 

• All employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID - 19. 

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employment with UnidosUS is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screen.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.