Chief Policy Officer

Description:

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Status: Full-time

Travel Requirements: < 30%

Physical Demands: This role primarily involves computer-based work, including prolonged sitting, frequent typing, extended screen use, occasional light lifting (up to 10 lbs), and active participation in virtual meetings and digital communications.

Make an Impact in This Role

The Chief Policy Officer (CPO) leads the strategy, development, and execution of Chiefs for Change’s federal and national policy portfolio, ensuring the organization is recognized as a leading voice for bold, equity-driven K–12 leadership. The CPO ensures that CFC’s policy agenda is informed by research and member insights and aligned with the organization’s broader strategic direction.

This role oversees policy research, legislative engagement, and advocacy initiatives at the federal level, while ensuring cross-functional collaboration with Communications, Network Support, and Development to amplify organizational impact. The CPO is a strategic advisor to the CEO and Board, representing CFC in high-level discussions with policymakers, funders, and partners.

All senior leaders are expected to collaborate and work collectively to achieve the organization's mission, fostering a strong, cohesive team that drives success and delivers impactful results.

Your Role in Our Success

Policy Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the national policy agenda and advocacy strategy to advance educational equity and system transformation.
• Translate research and member insights into actionable policy goals and frameworks aligned with organizational priorities.
• Serve as the lead policy spokesperson, representing CFC in national and state-level policy forums, coalitions, and media engagements, advancing the organization’s federal presence and thought leadership.
• Provide strategic policy counsel to the CEO and Leadership Team on emerging education trends, legislative developments, and advocacy priorities.

Advocacy and External Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, education leaders, community organizations, think tanks, and funders to advance shared goals.
• Convene coalitions and stakeholders to align on advocacy priorities and amplify organizational impact.
• Represent the organization at legislative hearings, public forums and policy discussions.
• Oversee advocacy campaigns that advance organizational priorities and evidence-based solutions.
• Develop position statements, testimonies, policy briefs, and coalition materials.
• Elevate CFC’s federal presence by ensuring member priorities and organizational expertise are consistently represented in high-level policy discussions.

Policy Research and Analysis

• Oversee the identification and prioritization of national policy trends, emerging opportunities, and systemic challenges to inform CFC’s advocacy agenda.
• Synthesize research and member insights to provide actionable, high-level recommendations for the CEO, Leadership Team, and key stakeholders.
• Commission, review, and interpret policy research conducted by staff or external experts, ensuring it aligns with CFC’s strategic priorities and elevates national visibility.
• Translate policy evidence and member perspectives into narratives that enhance CFC’s thought leadership and federal presence.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of policy initiatives on member systems and the broader K–12 landscape, informing strategy adjustments at the organizational level.

Evaluation and Impact

• Establish KPIs and metrics to measure policy and advocacy impact, incorporating member engagement outcomes and organizational priorities to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Use research insights, member feedback, and data from advocacy outcomes to refine strategy, strengthen national influence, and inform continuous improvement.
• Leverage policy and advocacy outcomes to demonstrate CFC’s thought leadership, inform funder communications, and position the organization as a leading voice in equity-driven systems transformation.
• Contribute to reports and presentations that highlight the impact of CFC’s policy work on members, networks, and the broader education landscape.

Strategic Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead strategy for policy and advocacy initiatives and partner with the CEO and all Chiefs to integrate policy priorities across organizational initiatives.
• Partner with the Chief Strategy Officer to integrate policy and advocacy priorities into broader organizational strategy and cross-functional initiatives.
• Partner with the Chief Communications Officer to strategically frame and amplify CFC’s policy work through messaging, storytelling, and media outreach.
• Partner with the Chief Network Officer to ensure policy priorities are informed by member insights and amplify member impact at the national level.
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to identify strategic funding opportunities aligned with policy priorities.
• Partner with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure advocacy campaigns, research initiatives, and policy engagement activities are funded and financially aligned.

Leadership and Team Management

• Serve as both a hands-on policy leader and a strategic mentor to staff, consultants, and cross-functional partners contributing to CFC’s policy and advocacy work.
• Influence cross-functional teams and external partners to achieve organizational goals.
• Contribute to organizational decision-making and serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and within the Leadership Team.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team members and teams to ensure alignment of strategic priorities across the organization.
• Model inclusive leadership and high professional standards that set the tone for the organization.
• Cultivate a collaborative, mission-driven culture by aligning teams and partners around shared goals and accountability.

Requirements:

Your Expertise and Impact

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Education, Law or a related field required.
• Advanced degree in a related field preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of policy, advocacy, or government affairs experience.
• At least 5 years of senior leadership experience overseeing policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement in K-12 education or nonprofit organizations.

Technical Skills:

• Proven ability to lead policy advocacy campaigns and build effective coalitions.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local government processes.
• Demonstrated track record of influencing education policy and driving systemic change.
• Strong relationships within national and state education policy networks.

Leadership and Communication:

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional, diverse, high-performing teams.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and public speaking skills with the ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to translate research and member-informed insights into actionable policy outcomes.

Strategic Thinking and Agility:

• Familiarity in strategic planning and the ability to translate long-term goals into actionable plans.
• Strong research and analytic skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changes in the political, media, and policy landscape, ensuring that policy strategies remain relevant and impactful.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate future trends and develop innovative approaches.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify new opportunities to expand CFC’s impact and sustainability

Thriving in Your Role: Core Competencies

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Management
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Problem-Solving
  • Change Leadership
• Effective Teaming
  • Trust & Collaboration
  • Communication & Influence
  • Developing Others
  • Conflict Resolution
• Self-Management
  • Growth Mindset
  • Empathy
  • Ownership
  • Mission Driven

Role-Specific Competencies

• Policy, Research and Government Processes
  • Policy Analysis and Evaluation
  • Navigating Government Systems
  • Policy Advocacy and Lobbying
• Advocacy Goal Setting, Strategy and Tactics
  • Goal Setting & Measurement
  • Advocacy Strategy and Planning
  • Implementation and Continuous Improvement
• Relationship Building and Mobilizing
  • Coalition-Building and Management
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Mobilization

Compensation & Your Path to Growth

We offer a comprehensive compensation package aligned with a career progression plan that ties your demonstrated abilities and proven performance to growth opportunities within your role and the organization. This plan provides clear pathways for advancement, with compensation levels reflecting your progression and impact.

Proficiency Level

Salary Range

Proficiency Level 1

$160,000 - $170,000

Proficiency Level 2

$170,000 - $180,000

Proficiency Level 3

$180,000 - $195,000