Director, State & Local Policy

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy and approach for state and local policy implementation work.
• Develop frameworks, toolkits, and implementation models to help communities translate policy into measurable impact.
• Support governments, school systems, and community partners in operationalizing enacted policies.
• Build and maintain relationships with governors' offices, mayors, state agencies, and local governments.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to government leaders implementing place-based and economic mobility strategies.
• Capture lessons learned from implementation efforts to translate them into actionable insights for the field.
• Partner across the National Impact Team to ensure policy implementation aligns with technical assistance and community-impact strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred in public policy, public administration, education, law, or a related field.
• 6+ years of experience in public policy, government, or public sector systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading policy implementation efforts or systems-change initiatives.
• Proven track record of working with public-sector institutions such as governors' offices, mayors, or state agencies.
• Strong strategic planning, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to navigate complex environments and influence across diverse organizations.
• Deep commitment to equity and improving outcomes for children and families.

Benefits

• Highly competitive base salaries ($130,000-$140,000 per year)
• No-cost health insurance
• Annual performance bonuses and deferred bonus programs
• Paid time off and commuter benefits
• Life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance
• Wellness discounts and financial wellness perks
• Additional discounts on travel, hotels, and entertainment

About the Company

Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) is a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Through comprehensive, place-based programming, HCZ builds opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life. The William Julius Wilson Institute-National Impact Team works to scale these proven models and support economic mobility nationwide.