Job Description
Deputy Director of Policy
The Hunt Institute’s mission is to provide unbiased research, technical expertise, and learning opportunities that equip and empower educators and policymakers to drive equitable reforms and become audacious champions for education. Since its establishment in 2001, The Hunt Institute has emerged as a recognized and credible leader in the movement to transform American public education and a go-to source for reliable, objective, and timely information. The Institute works at the intersection of education policy and politics, supporting state and national officials and empowering them to transform education. The Institute’s mandate is to inspire and equip elected officials and senior policymakers to make informed decisions that improve the lives of all children, with its primary audience consisting of governors, legislators, and other elected and state-level policymakers.
Position
The Hunt Institute is seeking a Deputy Director of Policy that will support the oversight of cross-functional efforts to advance The Hunt Institute’s mission of transforming public education through informed policy and strategic partnerships. This role is designed to bridge high-level strategy with on-the-ground execution, ensuring that the Institute's initiatives align with state policy priorities while fostering collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders. The Deputy Director will report to the Managing Director. The position is based out of The Hunt Institute’s office in Cary, North Carolina.
The Deputy Director of Policy will assist in driving The Hunt Institute’s efforts to streamline communication and support across content and program teams, enhance strategic initiatives, and expand engagement with state policymakers and stakeholders. This role will assist in the development and growth of the Policy Team, which supports cross-functional workflows from content creation to legislative engagement and program coordination. The Deputy Director will work closely with Directors to ensure initiatives align with The Hunt Institute’s mission to empower policymakers in transforming public education.
Responsibilities
Position
The Hunt Institute is seeking a Deputy Director of Policy that will support the oversight of cross-functional efforts to advance The Hunt Institute’s mission of transforming public education through informed policy and strategic partnerships. This role is designed to bridge high-level strategy with on-the-ground execution, ensuring that the Institute's initiatives align with state policy priorities while fostering collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders. The Deputy Director will report to the Managing Director. The position is based out of The Hunt Institute’s office in Cary, North Carolina.
The Deputy Director of Policy will assist in driving The Hunt Institute’s efforts to streamline communication and support across content and program teams, enhance strategic initiatives, and expand engagement with state policymakers and stakeholders. This role will assist in the development and growth of the Policy Team, which supports cross-functional workflows from content creation to legislative engagement and program coordination. The Deputy Director will work closely with Directors to ensure initiatives align with The Hunt Institute’s mission to empower policymakers in transforming public education.
Responsibilities
- Support the implementation of operational strategies, support with key partnerships, and drive efforts to ensure seamless operations and foster growth across the organization’s programmatic and policy efforts.
- Assist in the formalization, growth, and optimization of the Policy Flex Team, ensuring the team effectively collaborates with internal departments to support content creation, legislative engagement, and event logistics.
- Support Directors of Content and Program teams as needed in building and maintaining strong relationships with elected officials and partners.
- Work across teams to develop and implement operational strategies that enhance efficiency, foster collaboration across the Institute’s state engagement, national programs, and content teams, and align with organizational goals.
- Work alongside all teams to support the timely and successful delivery of grant deliverables, as well as building future programming and connecting opportunities to fund work through grants and corporate sponsorships.
- Cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships with policymakers, education leaders, advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders to identify new opportunities for collaboration that amplify the Institute’s influence and expand its network of thought leaders and decision-makers.
- Monitor policy landscapes and align The Hunt Institute’s content and engagement strategies with current state and federal policy developments.
- Facilitate collaboration between internal teams, ensuring priorities are met and deadlines achieved. Act as a liaison to ensure seamless coordination between the Policy Team and other departments, delivering high-quality policy briefs and event support.
- Work with the Managing Director and Directors of Content and Program teams to identify and implement innovative processes that optimize the Policy Team’s ability to support content production, legislative engagement, and event execution. Ensure best practices are adopted across teams to drive efficiency and impact.
- Oversee the planning and execution of high-profile events, including State Legislators Retreats and policy briefings. Collaborate with content teams to ensure timely, relevant, and impactful materials are produced.
- Track key performance indicators and adjust strategies based on outcomes for the Policy Team.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Commitment to The Hunt Institute’s mission and vision, alongside a passion for challenging entrenched systems of educational inequity and bettering public education for all children.
- Exceptional project management skills with a proven track record of moving complex projects from big ideas through to implementation.
- Experience successfully executing large events.
- Ability to engage diverse audiences, including senior-level elected officials, both as a discussion moderator and in one-on-one conversation.
- Ability and willingness to both identify obstacles and build systems and structures to overcome them.
- A strong work ethic, with a results-oriented philosophy and personal qualities of trustworthiness, openness, accessibility, kindness, flexibility, and a sense of humor.
- Ability to handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
- Ability to pay attention to accuracy and detail while thinking broadly.
- Bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
- Minimum of five years demonstrated program management experience and leadership.
- Ability to travel (anticipated 25%).
Ideal candidates will also demonstrate:
- Knowledge of state and national P-16 education policy.
- Resourcefulness and good judgment.
- Experience working with and/or for elected officials.
- Leadership by example.
- The value of diversity of thought, backgrounds, and perspectives.
- Integrity/ethics beyond reproach.
- Constant seeking to apply best practices.
- Willingness to work collaboratively and consider new ideas.
- Commitment to The Hunt Institute’s mission, vision, financial stability, and success.
Work Schedule
This position is based out of 4000/5000 Centregreen Way, Suites 301/150, Cary, NC, 27513. The current hybrid schedule is three days in the office each week, and two days’ work from your home office within 45 minutes of our Cary, NC office. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required. Office hours: 8:30am-5:00pm.
Benefits and Compensation
The Hunt Institute offers competitive compensation and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental and vision and a 401(k) plan with an employer matching contribution policy.
We feel passionately about equal pay for equal work, and transparency in compensation is one vehicle to achieve that. The salary recruitment range for this position is: $93,647.20- $103,011.92
Equal Employment Opportunity
At The Hunt Institute, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status designated by federal, state, or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference check and background investigation.
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