Employment Opportunities

Policy and Programs Associate

Application Deadline: June 30, 2023

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) is a national policy and action think tank in Washington, DC. Its mission is to educate, engage, and inform policymakers, practitioners, and researchers about education, youth, and workforce policies to improve the lives and outcomes of youth marginalized by systemic inequities. We carry out this mission by providing research-based information and resources, first-hand learning experiences, convenings, and peer-to-peer networking exchanges to policymakers and youth-serving leaders at the national, state, and local levels.  Please find additional information about AYPF at www.aypf.org.

AYPF seeks an intelligent, strategic, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and motivated professional to join our staff to serve as Policy and Programs Associate and lead programs and strategic efforts to improve policies and outcomes for youth.

Core Responsibilities

AYPF recognizes the value of meaningful youth engagement in policymaking and has created a Youth Council for its Youth Policy Consultants (YPCs) to collaborate with policymakers and one another, promoting policies that create opportunities or remove barriers to their success. The Policy and Programs Associate will work directly with AYPF’s YPCs to recruit and facilitate their onboarding at AYPF and provide guidance, direction, and support for the Youth Council mission. Under the supervision of the Senior Director, Programs and Strategy, the Policy and Programs Associate will work with staff at AYPF to monitor day-to-day policy changes at the national level, with a specific focus on the administration and federal agencies. With support from the Senior Director, Programs and Strategy and other AYPF staff, the Policy and Programs Associate will also work in partnership with other national and state organizations to promote policies with proven successes and positive outcomes for youth marginalized by systemic inequities. While the majority of AYPF’s work is grant-driven, there is ample opportunity for the successful candidate to creatively express his/her passions in culmination of the following responsibilities:

  • Works with the Senior Director, Programs and Strategy to collaborate, educate and engage with the administration and targeted agencies.
  • Assists AYPF staff members in the development of learning events and products, including forums, study tours, webinars, podcasts, discussion groups, and publications, and the dissemination of policy and practice guidance to multiple audiences.
  • Provides strategic assistance to advocacy coalitions regarding youth development, education, workforce, juvenile justice, and child welfare issues.
  • Writes national and state-specific issue briefs, fact sheets, and other policy documents.
  • Tracks national and state legislation, regulations, and policy on youth development, education, workforce, juvenile justice, and child welfare issues, among others.
  • Writes and distributes national and state-specific action alerts.
  • Represents AYPF at colleague organization and coalition meetings and conferences. Works in cooperation with other organizations promoting youth development, education, workforce, juvenile justice, and child welfare issues.
  • Assists in other tasks as assigned.

Desired Qualifications and Attributes

  • Bachelor’s degree and at least two to three years of programmatic or specialized experience in education and/or youth policy advocacy.
  • Candidate must have excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, organizational skills and be a team player.
  • Candidate must have demonstrated understanding of the Executive Branch and federal agencies i.e., Department of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor.
  • Must have a commitment to equity and the empowerment of youth marginalized by systemic inequities.
  • Must be a self-starter, able to prioritize and meet deadlines as delineated by the Senior Director, Programs and Strategy to the mission and goals of AYPF.
  • Some travel is required.

Compensation, Benefits and Location

The salary range for this position is $50,000 – $65,000 based on experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package.  This is a full-time hybrid position.  The successful candidate will work in Washington, D.C. 2-3 days per week and work remotely from home on the remaining days.

 

How to Apply

Please submit a résumé, two (2) writing samples (links to the writing samples are acceptable), and cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications and three references by email, indicating the position title Policy and Programs Associate in the subject line, by June 30, 2023, to Christine Veney at cveney@aypf.org. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please.

 

AYPF’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

AYPF is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. AYPF makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.