Senior Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Education

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UnidosUS is seeking a Senior Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Education, for its Latino Infant Initiative (LII) Education Policy Project in Washington, DC.

The LII is a collaborative effort between UnidosUS and Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors (AP/OD). The Senior Policy Analyst will collaborate with staff from AP/OD to develop and sustain a national advocacy network on behalf of Latino infants, driving a policy agenda that works to eliminate barriers to early childhood education and development and focused on issues related to Latino children PN-3 and dual language learners.

The Senior Policy Analyst will be responsible for identifying promising ideas to close equity gaps to ensure that our nation’s early childhood education system is truly equitable for Latinos by driving UnidosUS advocacy efforts and strategy. From accessibility and quality to practice and policy and will be responsible for developing a bold set of targeted recommendations for federal and state policymakers to advance Latino early childhood education success.

Success in this role requires being a creative, critical thinker; having strong people skills; solid writing and communications skills in both Spanish and English; and a shared commitment to advancing equity on behalf of vulnerable Latinos. The ideal candidate must be collaborative and can work with colleagues in multiple internal disciplines and across the organization.  This position is housed in the Office of Policy and Advocacy and will report to the Director of Early Childhood Education Initiatives.  This position is hybrid working from our Washington, D.C. headquarters.  Occasional travel is required.

Essential Functions

  • Develop and execute a project plan for a national advocacy network for Latino infants (PN-3) and their families.
  • Develop and implement a policy agenda for early childhood education.
  • 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.
  • Collaborate internally with other policy teams to elevate intersectional policy work.
  • Represent UnidosUS in high-visibility forums, conferences, and meetings, including meetings with congressional staff, policymakers, issue experts, stakeholders, and the media.
  • Lead and participate in coalitions of experts and advocates on early childhood education.
  • Provide strategic recommendations, as appropriate, to UnidosUS leadership on issues related to early childhood education.
  • Conduct communications activities that build support for UnidosUS’s education priorities; and provide consistent, timely updates to organizational networks and partners.
  • Organize and execute policy forums, roundtables, and events to inform and elevate UnidosUS’s education policy work.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree with five (5) – seven (7) years of policy analysis experience in early childhood education is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
  • In-depth knowledge of policy analysis, with a demonstrated ability to analyze and develop new policy ideas, required.
  • Bilingual and able to read, write and speak Spanish fluently.
  • Extensive and strong writing ability, including writing and developing writing articles, studies, reports, or other publicly available documents.
  • Knowledge of early childhood education policy issues, including those related to dual language learners.
  • Experience communicating policy ideas in public settings such as coalition meetings, congressional briefings, major conferences, and with the media.
  • Experience conducting quantitative analysis and familiarity using Census data or other data sets preferred.
  • Outstanding project management skills suited to a dynamic work environment with multiple ongoing responsibilities, tight deadlines, and expectations for high-quality work.
  • Displayed commitment to social justice and UnidosUS’s mission.
  • Flexibility for occasional travel.

About UnidosUS

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 unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Employment with UnidosUS is contingent upon 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.