Director of State and District Policy

Who We Are
The Alliance for Decision Education (the Alliance) is a national nonprofit and field builder with the mission of improving lives by empowering K-12 students with essential skills and dispositions for making better decisions. Founded in 2014 and backed by experts in decision sciences, business, and education—including several Nobel laureates—the Alliance believes that better decisions lead to better lives and a better society.

As a field builder, the Alliance partners with teachers, academic and business leaders, families, and community members to raise awareness and lead the growing call to have Decision Education taught in schools across the country.

The Alliance is committed to an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative culture. Our diverse team comprises educators, researchers, subject matter experts, and other professionals dedicated to our mission. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

What We Offer
The Alliance offers a comprehensive total rewards package, inclusive of competitive compensation.

Annual Salary:

• $140,000 - 160,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications*

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% employer-paid)
• Basic life insurance and AD&D (100% employer-paid)
• Short-term disability insurance (100% employer-paid)
• Long-term disability insurance (100% employer-paid)
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to a 5% employer match (100% vested)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare and dependent care)
• Up to 20 days of Paid Time Off per calendar year (prorated the first year based on hire date)
• Unlimited paid sick time
• Hybrid work schedule
• Paid lunch stipend while working on-site

*Salary range is a good-faith estimate based on external benchmarking, internal equity, and industry standards and may vary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits are subject to change at the organization’s discretion.

JOB OVERVIEW
The Director of State and District Policy is a senior role responsible for advancing the Alliance’s state and national policy agenda through state and district engagement, policy-aligned outreach, and coalition and stakeholder activities that advance Decision Education. This position focuses on building awareness and scaling Decision Education implementation through network expansion, policy development, relationship-building, and communication with policymakers, external partners, and internal teams.

This role will report to the Director of Public Policy within the Public Policy Department.

LOCATION AND SCHEDULE
This full-time role requires an 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. It is an exempt position under the FLSA and is not eligible for overtime pay.

This position is open to local and remote candidates. Local employees follow the Alliance hybrid schedule, working onsite at our Bala Cynwyd, PA, headquarters every Tuesday and Wednesday and remotely on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. Fully remote employees are expected to maintain a productive home-based workspace and stay engaged with the team during Eastern Time business hours. Leadership-level remote employees are expected to be onsite once every month on both designated in-office days. The role requires 15-30 percent travel for state and district leadership engagements, national and regional conferences, and internal and all-staff meetings at organization headquarters.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

State and District Engagement

• Lead state and district engagement efforts to advance the adoption and implementation of Decision Education in K–12 schools nationwide.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with superintendents, curriculum directors, state education officials, and other education leaders to expand implementation opportunities and build a pipeline of state and district leaders.
• Collaborate with the Education team to design and pilot multiple pathways for integrating Decision Education into classroom instruction across subject areas, including mathematics, career and technical education (CTE), college and career exploration, social studies, and English language arts.
• Develop and execute state and district engagement strategies, including a ladder of engagement that supports education systems at varying levels of readiness for implementation and scale.
• Co-design state and district policies to codify Decision Education in K-12 systems and collaborate with the Deputy Director of Public Policy, Legislative Engagement to ensure policies are adopted through necessary state and district channels.
• Represent the Alliance at state, regional, and national convenings of education system leaders, building awareness of and interest in the Alliance and classroom implementation of Decision Education.
• Establish and apply criteria for prioritizing state and district engagement based on implementation readiness, existing relationships, demonstrated interest, and alignment with current education policies.
• Identify opportunities to align Decision Education with state and district priorities, curriculum frameworks, and existing educational initiatives.
• Engage current and past Policymaker Fellows in the design and implementation of legislation, regulations, and pilot programs in collaboration with the Senior Manager, Public Policy.

Strategic Planning and Management

• Build state and district policy and pilot implementation plans with the Director of Public Policy, Education team staff, and national and regional partners.
• Support the development and monitoring of department-level Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) related to state and district policy development and adoption.
• Collaborate with the Communications team, the Director of Public Policy, and other teams to design research briefings and public-facing toolkits that shape the national narrative around the importance of Decision Education in K-12 education policy.
• Support senior‑level relationship management with key strategic policy leaders, including preparing for, aligning, and following up on high‑value engagements.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure public policy activities are aligned, supported, and communicated effectively.
• Represent the Alliance at events, conferences, and in key coalitions and coordinated advocacy campaigns.

These responsibilities may change or expand over time, consistent with the organization’s needs and initiatives.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience leading education policy, public policy formulation, and state and district education initiatives.
• Deep expertise in state and district education processes and governance, standards-aligned education, and educator professional development.
• Experience contributing to strategic planning and organizational alignment.
• Experience managing complex cross-sector initiatives, education policy campaigns, and district- and state-wide initiatives.
• Strong project management skills, including experience tracking goals and metrics.
• Ability to represent the Alliance at conferences, executive-level meetings, and national events.
• Experience using a CRM system.
• Excellent communication, judgment, and organizational skills.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in a national nonprofit or mission‑driven organization.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with policymakers, district staff, and education leaders.
• Experience navigating complex education policy initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Interest in decision science, behavioral economics, psychology, cognitive science, or related fields.

ATTRIBUTES WE VALUE

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship‑building skills
• Strong analytical thinking, problem‑solving ability, and sound judgment
• Effective leadership skills with the ability to guide, mentor, and collaborate across teams
• Respectful, collegial, and highly collaborative working style
• Intellectually humble, open‑minded, innovative, strategic, and adaptable
• Growth‑minded, intellectually curious, and committed to continuous learning
• Highly organized, diligent, reliable, professional, and efficient
• Demonstrated initiative, independence, and the ability to work productively with minimal oversight
• Strong time‑management skills and the ability to meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Passionate about the mission and motivated to contribute to organizational success
• Detail‑oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• Reflects the Alliance’s core values and standards:
  • Humanism: valuing others as human beings
  • Rationality: thinking and skills to help answer “What is true?” and “What to do?”
  • Education: growth mindset; dedication to developing knowledge and skills
  • Conscientiousness: diligent work ethic; professionalism; high‑quality work
  • Initiative: owners’ and founders’ mentality; leadership skills
  • Mission Alignment: dedication to the organization’s mission and goals

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employment is contingent upon completing Form I‑9 and verifying authorization to work in the United States, as required by federal law.
• Successful completion of the pre‑employment screening process.
• Compliance with all organizational policies and procedures.
• Ability to understand and demonstrate safe work practices to ensure a safe work environment.
• Complete special projects and other duties as assigned.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Primarily desk‑based work involving sitting at a workstation
• Occasional walking, standing, or lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs
• Frequent hand and finger dexterity for typing, writing, and handling objects
• Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to travel 15–30 percent, including overnight travel, for state and district engagements, conferences, and headquarters meetings, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• The Alliance is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions, including the use of assistive technologies

This role is based in the United States. Applicants must have authorization to work in the U.S. and must not require current or future visa sponsorship.

The Alliance for Decision Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment based on merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, or veteran status.

Employment with the Alliance for Decision Education is at will, meaning either the employee or the organization may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.