Director, Policy

Great Minds, a rapidly growing Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) that develops high-quality knowledge-building instructional materials for grades PK–12, seeks a Director, Policy to join our dynamic Success team.

Company Profile
Great Minds brings teachers and scholars together to craft exemplary instructional materials that inspire joy in teaching and learning. Our curricula, Wit & Wisdom®; Geodes; Eureka Math™; and PhD Science™ all support teachers as they take students beyond rote learning to provide a deeper, more complete understanding of the humanities, mathematics, and sciences. Founded in 2007, Great Minds now employs more than 1,100 people.

For additional information please visit: www.greatminds.org

Our Market Position
Great Minds’ Eureka Math™ is the most widely used curriculum in the history of American education. It enjoys an unrivaled 40+ net promoter score. Eureka Math™ and its sister products, Wit & Wisdom® and PhD Science™, embrace much higher expectations for all students and all teachers. In a market dominated by scripted, procedural materials that drive expectations down, Great Minds produces curricula that celebrate knowledge, respect the craft of teaching, and acknowledge the true capabilities of students.

Role Overview
The Director, Policy is responsible for informing and shaping public policy-making across the country, bringing to light Great Minds’ lessons learned over a decade of developing high-quality instructional materials. The Director is further responsible for developing state-specific strategies in navigating legislative and regulatory actions, as well as informing business units across Great Minds of opportunities and challenges presented by policy actions across the nation. Working under the chief success officer, the director will serve as the company’s leader on matters of public policy and government affairs.

Specific Responsibilities
The director will lead a lean policy organization capable of building external relationships, developing strategy, conducting research, and communicating internally. Responsibilities include the following

• Establishing policy priorities in states essential to Great Minds’ mission, informing policy-making as appropriate, and reacting to policy as needed;
• Researching recent and current legislation and regulatory actions to inform company strategy and business units across Great Minds;
• Traveling for relationship-building opportunities with governmental leaders and other outside partners;
• Facilitating cross-functional groups internally as appropriate
• Manage a team of one research analyst

Great Minds policy team members work in Washington, in Richmond, or remotely. The director of policy should anticipate routine travel to conferences or stakeholder meetings.

Requirements

• 7+ years’ experience with a track record of outstanding leadership within federal, state, or local government agencies, including successes in policy making, policy influence, or policy implementation
• 5+ years of management experience
• A track record of building influential relationships with K12 policy decision makers.
• Experience drafting, analyzing, and advocating in agencies or other governmental bodies
• A history of leading projects and implementations across teams, within complex organizations
• An academic background in the law, public policy, or political science is not required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion for and commitment to the importance of high-quality, knowledge-rich curriculum
• Commitment to high standards, instructional quality, and continuous improvement for oneself and others
• Receptivity to feedback with a focus on reflective practice
• Highly collaborative with the ability to consistently exhibit diplomacy, tact, and integrity
• Appreciation for the challenges and victories faced every day by educators
• Empathy, curiosity, and the desire to continually grow as a learner
• Deep belief that every child is capable of greatness
• Experience and knowledge of K-12 education with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field

Great Minds Leadership

• Cultivate and maintain a strong and supportive Great Minds culture in all work environments, with an emphasis on trust, collegiality, curiosity, and quality
• Bring experience, innovation, and critical thinking skills to the role while modeling habits of sharing candidly, listening actively, and supporting decisions made by the team
• Support the professional growth and development of Great Minds employees
• Communicate across multiple Great Minds teams (Implementation Services, Operations and Analytics, Services Development and Design, and Research and Policy)
• Provide timely communications to the Success leadership team to address priorities, challenges, feedback, and other matters relevant to Great Minds and its mission
• Superior skills in communicating ideas through verbal descriptions, presentations, and written documentation, conveying an understanding of both the big ideas and the critical, differentiating details

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree

Status

• Full-time

Location

• Great Minds research team members work in Washington, Richmond, or remotely.
• Future travel (~20%) may be required , including conferences or study sites

Reports to

Chief Success Officer

New employees will be required to successfully complete a background check.

The expected base salary range for this position is $129,000.00-$175,000.00. The offered salary, benefits and other incentives are dependent on numerous factors including, but not limited to location, work experience, skills and internal equity considerations.

Great Minds is an equal opportunity employer. We will extend equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Our policy reflects and affirms the organization’s commitment to the principles of fair employment and the elimination of all discriminatory practices.

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