Senior Policy Analyst - Center on Education and Labor (CELNA)

New America is seeking a Senior Policy Analyst to support our work advancing high-quality pathways for youth to transition from high school into postsecondary opportunities and on to good jobs and careers. This position will be located within New America’s Center on Education and Labor (CELNA) and will work  on a range of projects focused on college and career pathways topics, including dual enrollment, career and technical education, funding, and work-based learning, including youth apprenticeship.

 CELNA is dedicated to restoring the link between education and economic mobility through policies that strengthen the key social institutions necessary to connect them. The Center’s work spans the policy domains of education, labor, workforce and economic development and seeks to connect them in ways that expand opportunity and reduce inequality. CELNA works in close partnership with other teams in the Education Policy Program including Higher Education, PreK-12, Early Education.

The Senior Policy Analyst will play a key role in supporting these collaborations as well as New America’s participation in the Launch Pathways Initiative, among other projects.

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, entrepreneurial, and self-directed. They will be able to form, articulate and advance new ideas that connect and build upon a diverse portfolio of current and future national projects being led by New America. The analyst should possess some experience in relevant policy areas, and a belief in evidence-based analysis, removed from partisan or ideological frameworks. Candidate is expected to be located full-time in Washington, DC.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and support research, analysis and reporting projects focused on program and policy issues at the intersection of high school, post-secondary education, and workforce and skills development.
• Draft, publish, and occasionally edit blog posts, policy briefs, op-eds, reports, and profiles of leaders in the field.
• Develop and manage relationships with leading practitioners, strategic partners, and external experts.
• Develop tools, resources, and other products to support program and policy development and systems change efforts at the local, state, and federal level.
• Lead and support the design, planning, and execution of events, including webinars, workshops, and summits to facilitate learning across practitioners, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent New America at external events, including occasional panels, conferences, and symposia.
• Support the Director with grant writing, reporting, and the development of new project concepts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 Qualifications:

• Commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
• Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely for public audiences.
• Experience managing projects and supporting program implementation and/or systems-change initiatives in partnership with federal, state and/or city governments.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work across teams and to prioritize multiple streams of work to meet internal and external deadlines
• Creativity to identify ideas and opportunities for projects that respond to changing conditions, needs, and priorities amongst practitioners, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
• Excellent work ethic matched by openness to feedback and collaboration.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience related to education, workforce development, or economic development policy or implementation efforts. 

Location: This is a hybrid position. The Senior Policy Analyst will be expected to join the team in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Compensation and Benefits: This position is a full-time role with benefits. The annual salary range starts at $90,000.  New America offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes health care, dental, and vision coverage; a generous retirement plan; paid time off; observes all federal holidays; and an office-wide closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This position is a member of the bargaining unit.

Application Process: Please submit your resume and a cover letter that explains why your experience and skills make you a strong candidate for this position. Links to writing samples or portfolios of past work are encouraged.

No phone calls or emails will be answered

Operating status and Vaccine Policy:  New America has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, New America staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. New America will require all staff to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to be in the DC office. We consider requests for medical or religious accommodations.

Work Environment: The work environment is in an indoor office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets

New America is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of the organization thereby creating a culture that allows us to better serve our clientele, our employees, and our communities. We value and encourage the contributions of our employees and strive to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential and drive outstanding results. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination. This is a bargaining unit position. This is a bargaining unit position.

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