Senior Manager, Federal Policy

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Federal Policy, helps advance SchoolHouse Connection’s (SHC) federal policy and advocacy agenda on behalf of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. This is a key role for a strong federal policy professional living in the Washington DC area with substantial Capitol Hill experience who can build bipartisan relationships, navigate fast-moving federal developments, translate complex policy issues into clear, persuasive strategies and materials, and help connect SHC’s network directly with federal policymakers to advance change.

You will work across a wide range of issues related to early childhood, K-12 education, higher education, housing, and homelessness, helping ensure that SchoolHouse Connection’s federal advocacy is strategic, responsive, and grounded in the realities facing children, youth, families, and practitioners. 

We seek a highly effective federal policy professional who combines strong Hill experience, policy analysis, and writing with excellent judgment, relationship-building, and follow-through. Successful applicants will be skilled at both high-level policy strategy and the practical work of mobilizing networks, coordinating advocacy opportunities, and helping people engage effectively with federal policymakers.

What You’ll Do

1.  Advance SHC’s federal policy strategy and Hill relationships

• Monitor and analyze federal legislation, regulations, and administrative actions related to the early care, education, and well-being of children and youth experiencing homelessness.
• Build and maintain strong bipartisan relationships with congressional staff, executive branch officials, and other federal policymakers.
• Identify opportunities to advance SHC’s federal policy agenda, including prospective legislative and policy champions and strategies for engaging them.
• Represent SHC in coalitions, policy meetings, trainings, and conferences relevant to federal advocacy.

2. Develop high-quality policy analysis and advocacy materials

• Translate complex federal policy issues into clear, accurate, and compelling messages for policymakers, partners, and SHC’s broader network.
• Write issue briefs, public comments, position papers, talking points, action alerts, newsletter articles, blogs, and other policy and advocacy materials for a range of audiences.
• Track and help document SHC’s interactions with policymakers and federal agency staff.
• Help shape advocacy materials and strategies that inform, mobilize, and engage SHC’s network and partners.

3. Keep SHC’s federal advocacy connected to communities

• Organize and connect members of SHC’s network directly to federal policymakers through virtual and in-person meetings.
• Stay informed about emerging state and local developments and trends in education, housing, homelessness, and related policy areas.
• Work with SHC staff and practitioner networks to ensure SHC’s advocacy reflects conditions in local communities and the experience of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.
• Help position SHC to respond effectively to emerging issues, shifting policy landscapes, and new opportunities.

4. Strengthen coordination across SHC’s advocacy and communications work

• Work with SHC’s Youth Leadership & Scholarship team to identify opportunities for youth engagement with policymakers.
• Partner with SHC’s state policy staff to align federal and state advocacy strategies and leverage relationships across both areas of work.
• Collaborate with SHC’s communications staff to identify opportunities to use media and public messaging to support SHC’s federal policy goals.

What We’re Looking For

You are a highly effective federal policy professional who combines strong Hill experience, policy analysis, and writing with excellent judgment, relationship-building, and follow-through. You are comfortable working across issues, managing multiple priorities, and responding quickly in a changing policy environment. You can think strategically, communicate persuasively, and collaborate closely with a small but high-impact team.

Required experience and knowledge

• At least 5 years of experience in federal public policy, including substantial experience working with Congress and congressional staff, and preferably direct Capitol Hill experience.
• Strong knowledge of federal legislative, administrative, and regulatory processes.
  Substantial knowledge of the federal education policy landscape, from early childhood through postsecondary education, as well as housing and homelessness policies.
• Demonstrated experience writing clear, persuasive policy and advocacy materials for varied audiences.
• Experience building bipartisan relationships and working effectively with policymakers, partners, and stakeholders across a wide range of viewpoints.

Key strengths for success

• Excellent nonpartisan relationship-building skills and diplomatic judgment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills: precise, clear, accurate, and persuasive.
• Strong strategic thinking, including the ability to identify creative pathways in changing or difficult policy environments.
• Ability to learn new issues quickly and work across multiple policy areas.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines at once.
• High standards, strong initiative, and the ability to work independently while collaborating closely with others.
• Ability to motivate and engage others in advancing SHC’s policy goals.

Who Should Apply

This role is a strong fit if you have substantial Capitol Hill experience or closely related federal advocacy experience, strong bipartisan relationship-building skills, and a track record of translating complex federal policy into effective strategy, messaging, and action.

Why Join SchoolHouse Connection?

Your work will directly support the nation’s leading organization focused on overcoming homelessness through early care and education. You’ll join a collaborative, mission-driven team working across systems to create practical and lasting change for children, youth, and families.

Location:Must reside in Washington DC Metropolitan Area
Travel: 3-5 trips per year
Position Type: Full-time
Salary: $90,000-$105,000
Benefits: Work from home, flexible schedule, generous leave, health insurance reimbursement, 403(b) plan with employer contribution, and professional growth opportunities.

Equal Opportunity

SchoolHouse Connection provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, genetics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Application Guidelines

Applications are accepted only via the form provided here. We will reach out to those selected for an interview.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

To ensure a fair and consistent experience for all candidates, we are not able to respond to individual outreach or schedule conversations outside of the formal hiring process. 

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