Job Description
Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change and bipartisan policy reforms, AV works to improve the lives of American families, strengthen communities, and promote economic opportunity.
Position Overview
AV’s Education team advances policies that promote quality, value, and accountability for student outcomes across both traditional higher education and other career pathways from high school to the workforce. That means elevating high-performing programs and high-value pathways, directing taxpayer money toward evidence-based solutions, protecting students and workers from ineffective programs, and focusing the education and workforce systems on results (e.g., strong earnings and advancement) over inputs (e.g., enrollment).
Arnold Ventures’ Career Pathways portfolio aims to ensure every learner can access fulfilling paths to economic mobility, including those who may not pursue a traditional college degree. We work to strengthen evidence and policies related to secondary and postsecondary career and technical education, apprenticeships and other employer-connected training models, and the publicly funded workforce system.
AV seeks a director to grow its state policy and grantmaking capacity and advance its policy priorities on career and technical education and workforce issues. States play a central role in career pathways policymaking, funding, implementation, and systems-building. To that end, the Director will deepen and expand our emerging state strategy; manage a portfolio of state-focused grants; lead state policy development efforts internally; and partner with state-based grantees, experts, policymakers, and the AV advocacy team to drive lasting policy change in states. The Director will report to the Vice President, Career Pathways and will be based in AV’s Washington, DC office.
Core Responsibilities
• Work with AV’s Vice President, Career Pathways and other members of the Education team to identify strategy-aligned opportunities for state policy reform
• Continuously refine a strategy to advance our key career pathways priorities in targeted states by translating research and policy windows into concrete policy options
• Develop and manage the portfolio of state career pathways grants aligned with AV’s strategy
• As appropriate, research, analyze, and draft white papers, model policies, fact sheets, and other public-facing materials to support policy and advocacy efforts
• Develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders, grantees, and partners in states
• Provide technical assistance to policymakers on areas of AV policy interest
• Represent AV at conferences, on panels, and with state media
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• At least 8 years of relevant work experience
• Successful track record in bipartisan policy development and advocacy, including experience working in or with state government
• Experience building and managing coalitions and strategic relationships with diverse groups and interests
• Creativity and rigor in solving complex problems
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to craft concrete policy solutions and communicate those solutions both to content experts and to diverse, nontechnical audiences
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Exceptional strategy development, project management, and organizational skills
• Strong leadership, colleagueship, and relationship-building skills
The salary range for this position will be $150,000-$200,000.
Benefits Overview
AV is committed to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our current benefits package includes 100% paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 20 days of paid time off, 16 paid holidays (including a winter break from December 24 to January 1), a hybrid policy that includes four days in office and one flexible day for remote work, and a summer schedule with alternating Fridays off beginning on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day; paid parental leave; a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match, profit-share contribution, and immediate vesting; pre-tax transit benefits; a professional development stipend; a charitable giving stipend; and an employee assistance program. In addition, a relocation bonus is available for candidates who will move to one of AV’s three office locations for a position.
Our Culture and Core Values
Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help AV achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of Arnold Ventures’ work culture.
• We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity
• We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback
• We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects
• We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals
AV’s values reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the AV team to make a difference.
• Respect for Ourselves & Others
• Audacious Action
• Collaborative Engagement
• Depth of Thought
• Clear Communication
AV is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive workplace. We are seeking applicants from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences and perspectives. Candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/ veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.