Director of Advocacy

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead DREAM's advocacy strategy efforts to inspire, organize, and mobilize a growing and diverse base of community supporters and family advocates in service of organizational goals;
• Establish annual and multi-year advocacy goals and corresponding KPIs in service of DREAM’s mission, ensuring alignment across all levels of the organization;
• Create and maintain the infrastructure, project management, and tracking tools for DREAM’s advocacy function, including but not limited to managing a civic engagement database;
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify, plan, and execute local and state actions for DREAM staff, alumni (“Legends”), families, and students to develop their advocacy skills;
• Manage relationships with partner advocacy organizations, elected officials, and key stakeholders in education policy;
• Create and implement training programs for DREAM staff, alumni (“Legends”), families, and students to develop their advocacy skills;
• Supervise the Manager of Community Engagement and Government Affairs to ensure alignment with advocacy strategy;
• Participate in travel related to advocacy for DREAM around New York state and beyond;
• Monitor and analyze education policy developments at local, state, and national levels;
• In collaboration with DREAM’s communications team, drive production of advocacy-related communications and outreach materials; and
• Represent DREAM at external events and in coalitions focused on education policy and advocacy.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; Bachelor's degree highly preferred;
• Minimum of five years of experience in advocacy, community organizing, or education policy, required;
• Demonstrated track record developing and executing multi-year organizing and advocacy strategies or campaigns, required;
• Experience working in PK-12 schools serving diverse and low-income communities;
• Strong understanding of education policy issues at local, state, and national levels;
• Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred;
• Ability to think critically and maintain a detail-orientation when accomplishing all tasks;
• Exemplary interpersonal skills for a wide variety of stakeholders from families to external partners;
• A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the belief that all students can succeed, and a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and community.

Working Expectations

• 5 days a week in person with some remote flexibility.
• Ability to travel across DREAM locations, in addition to some local, state, and national travel on behalf of DREAM.

Benefits and Paid Time Off

• We offer comprehensive benefits including:
• Flexible Medical Health Plans,  subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave; 
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment;
• Referral bonuses;
• All full-time Network Support Team employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays;
• Benefits are subject to change.

Compensation

• DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $115,000 to $125,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.