Director of Government Affairs

Director Of Government Affairs

Founded in 2001, the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization representing charter public schools across the Commonwealth. Collectively, Massachusetts charter public schools are widely recognized as one of the highest performing charter sectors in the country. MCPSA has an extensive history of supporting and advocating for charter public schools, with the mission of creating and protecting the conditions that will enable the charter sector to thrive, contributing toward the common goal of all children having access to high-quality schools. MCPSA is committed to supporting and advancing high-quality public education options that ensure access, opportunity, and belonging for all young people. MCPSA also has a sister 501(c)4 nonprofit sister organization, Advocates for Massachusetts Charter Public Schools (AMCPS), and the two organizations work together in complementary ways to increase political support for charter public schools across the Commonwealth.

The Director of Government Affairs will play an integral role within MCPSA's Public Affairs department and is responsible for the development and execution of legislative strategy to advance MCPSA's policy agenda. The Director of Government Affairs will work in close partnership with the team's other Director of Government Affairs to develop and execute legislative strategy to advance MCPSA's policy agenda. The Director of Government Affairs will manage relationships with key decision makers in various levels of state government as well as candidates for elected office, through political activities coordinated by AMCPS. In addition, the Director of Government Affairs will motivate and train MCPSA member schools to be effective advocacy partners, all toward the goal of strengthening bipartisan support for charter public schools in Massachusetts and achieving both offensive and defensive advocacy priorities. The Director of Government Affairs reports to the Chief of Public Affairs.

Responsibilities include:

• In collaboration with the Chief of Public Affairs and the team's other Director of Government Affairs, lead the development of MCPSA's advocacy agenda, aligned with the organization's strategic plan. Develop and implement strategies to build support for Massachusetts charter public schools and the Association's advocacy priorities, enabling achievement of both offensive and defensive goals in both the immediate term and the longer-term.
• Draft legislative language relevant to MCPSA's advocacy agenda, including bill and amendment proposals, fact sheets, calls to action, bill summaries and policy briefs, regulatory comments, analyses, and presentations.
• Maintain active, working knowledge of Massachusetts charter public school laws and regulations. Monitor, analyze, and report on state-level legislation affecting charter public schools, and recommend positions for MCPSA to take on relevant legislation. Liaise with national partners to monitor national legislation and recommend MCPSA's position and advocacy strategy, when appropriate.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key legislators, policymakers, and their staff, serving as a lobbyist and one of MCPSA's key points of contact with elected decision-makers on all policy matters.
• Plan and execute legislative meetings and meetings with candidates for elected office, leveraging other members of the team and member schools as appropriate.
• Ensure effective communication about policy matters with member schools. Collaborate with other members of the Public Affairs team to lead the Charters SPEAK community of practice, MCPSA's community of practice for school-based communications and advocacy leaders. Develop training sessions and resources to equip schools and their stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively engage key legislators and build support for MCPSA's advocacy agenda.
• In partnership with the Director of Community Mobilization, identify and facilitate high-impact opportunities to engage charter public school stakeholders as advocates for key legislative priorities, including calls-to-action, lobbying days, campaign events, and other events to build constituent relationships with individual candidates and legislators.
• Manage the use of legislative tracking tools across the Public Affairs team.
• Manage and effectively partner with MCPSA's contract lobbyists.
• Support the execution of events designed to further political strategy.
• Effectively partner with other advocacy groups as appropriate. Participate in legislative coalitions as necessary to achieve policy outcomes. Represent MCPSA on policy working groups, task forces and working committees, and at special events.
• Other activities, as requested by the Chief of Public Affairs.