Senior Associate or Associate Director

The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) is a national nonprofit policy and advocacy organization that envisions a world where data policy is used to drive systemic change, economic mobility, and student success. DQC is leading the effort to bring every part of the education and workforce community together to empower educators, families, and policymakers with quality information to make decisions that ensure individuals excel. To realize this vision, DQC works toward three goals:

1. Increase public understanding of the value of data in supporting the student journey through the P–20W pipeline (early education, K–12, postsecondary, and workforce).

2. Build the capacity of policy and education leaders to develop trust with communities to ensure data is used effectively.

3. Ensure that state leaders use the policy levers available to them across P–20W to make data work for students and communities.

If you want to work with one of the country’s leading education and workforce advocacy organizations that shares your passion for helping students achieve their best throughout education and into career, DQC is the place for you. We believe deeply in using data as the vehicle for improving education and workforce outcomes and we need passionate individuals to champion our mission. Join our team today!

Position Summary

The person in this role should bring experience navigating the way states work, including the ecosystem of governors’ offices, state agencies, legislatures, and external partners like state advocacy organizations and associations. The ideal candidate will be able to draw on experience working across the P–20W policy spectrum in states and connect that state policy expertise to DQC’s mission as we work to advance our policy agenda. The Senior Associate/Associate Director will join a team of national data policy experts and over time, will be a key voice in our relationships with state leaders and advocacy organizations. This position must draw on DQC’s values of listening and applying what we learn to our work and staying grounded in what is happening now in states, districts, schools, and classrooms, while always looking ahead.

DQC is hiring one person to fill this role. We encourage people who see themselves at either the Senior Associate or Associate Director level to apply and we will structure the interview process to be in line with the roles and responsibilities at each level.

Who You Are

• Passionate: you are excited about the policy landscape that informs people’s pathways from education into career and the political and communications strategies it takes to make those policies happen.

• Communicator: you develop and convey ideas and positions to diverse groups (e.g., state leaders, advocates, partners, the federal government) and internally with peers.

• Collaborator: you work with DQC staff at all levels, including senior leadership, to design and execute high-quality work that contributes to DQC’s expanding knowledge of state policies and practices that make data work for people.

• Innovator: you help DQC think of new ways to approach and execute our work.

• Relationship Builder: you seek out and nurture relationships with key partners and state policymakers.

• Convener: you know the power of bringing people together effectively and consistently to ensure diverse perspectives and experiences are sought out and represented.

• Adapter: you demonstrate flexibility and can take projects from ambiguous ideas to impactful results.

• Problem Solver: you see opportunities in the field and can use your knowledge of state policy, politics, and practice to elevate ways to overcome barriers and challenges.

Education and Other Experience:

• DQC values both education and work experiences that demonstrate the ability to lead within the organization.

• Experience working with state advocacy organizations and/or state policymakers (legislators, governor’s office, agency staff) to advance policy goals is required.

• Successful DQC Senior Associates have a minimum of eight years of experience, which can include a combination of postsecondary education and full‐time, professional work experience. (For example, eight years of experience may mean that you have completed a bachelor’s degree and worked for four years in related organizations, though that is not the only way to have gained the needed experience.) For a Senior Associate, at least two years of professional work experience must be directly related to this role.

• Successful DQC Associate Directors have a minimum of 11 years of experience, which can include a combination of postsecondary education and full‐time, professional work experience. (For example, 11 years of experience may mean that you have completed a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and worked for five years in related organizations, though that is not the only way to have gained the needed experience.) For an Associate Director, at least five years of your work experience must be directly related to this role.

What You’ll Do

• Proactively and effectively meet the needs of state policymakers and advocates on a diverse range of topics, including data access and use, governance policies, privacy, and more.

• Translate DQC expertise, including our knowledge of state data legislation, into insights and strategies for state and national partners, funders, and the broader field.

• Proactively get smart on DQC’s agenda and emerging issues relevant to data collection, access, and use. A focus on AI technologies will be one of these topics in the near term.

• Oversee the development and execution of advocacy tools, convenings, and content-driven resources to inform partners and the field.

• Act as an effective manager of projects, resources, and time. The ideal candidate is effective at independently building processes for managing work while staying nimble.

• Create and deliver engaging presentations to policymakers, practitioners, funders, and non-profit partners to further DQC’s agenda.

• Design and facilitate conversations and action-oriented meetings that foster collaboration among diverse groups and further the organization’s mission.

• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant national policy, research, and advocacy organizations, including seeking strategic opportunities for collaboration and partnership to leverage partners’ expertise and disseminate DQC’s tools, resources, and publications.

• Stay informed about and keep DQC staff apprised of developments, opportunities, and challenges in the field related to the effective use of data to support student success and adjust DQC strategy accordingly.

• Coordinate across the organization to manage current and future advocacy tools and to share knowledge.

• Work with other associate directors, directors, and vice presidents to ensure that the priorities of the organization on track, and that the organization has needed talent and capacity.

• A candidate hired at the Associate Director level will have greater accountability in managing projects.

Compensation, Benefits, and Hybrid/Flexible Work Environment

• DQC’s staff is headquartered in Washington, DC. We will give preference to applicants for the Associate Director role who reside in the DC area but are open to qualified candidates who reside outside of DC. Applicants for the Senior Associate role must live in DC or be willing to relocate.

• Starting salary range for Senior Associate is $70,000–$85,000 and for Associate Director is $85,000–$105,000, commensurate with qualifications. Your starting salary will be based on the experience you bring that is directly related to this role.

• We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance; leave; 401k/matching; and professional development that recognizes the importance of work-life balance and is grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• We provide a hybrid work environment, which means that DC-based employees should plan to be in the office a minimum number of days per week; however, the expectation is that staff should not be working in the office 100% of the time. We are flexible on working hours and genuinely care about the quality of your work more than the time of day you do it. We ask staff to be available for team meetings and collaboration via technology platforms.

How to apply

• Please send resume, cover letter, and list of three references (with email addresses) to employment@dataqualitycampaign.org.

• Please indicate “Senior Associate/Associate Director, State Policy and Advocacy” in the subject line.

• In your cover letter, explain how your education and work experiences demonstrate your ability to support the organization. Specific examples (especially those above and beyond what is included on your resume) are encouraged. Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.

• Priority will be given to applications received by March 6, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The Data Quality Campaign is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam era or special disabled veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, disability accommodations will be provided, as needed.

DQC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please email employment@dataqualitycampaign.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.