Center Director, Center for Education Opportunity

Overall Responsibility:

The Center Director for the Center for Education Opportunity will work with the Chief Policy Officer, Center Chair, Board of Academic Advisors, and the Center Advisory Board, among other leaders of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) to develop strategic vision and operational plans for the Center for Education Opportunity and oversee the execution of AFPI’s education-related policy initiatives. The Director will play a key leadership role in advancing education freedom, parental rights, school choice, and restoring excellence in American education.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Champion AFPI’s servant leadership culture and foster an environment of continual learning, collaboration, and policy innovation.
• Oversee the strategic development of the Center’s research, policy goals, and planning efforts in alignment with AFPI’s America First principles.
• Develop a research agenda in collaboration with the Research Director that anticipates education policy trends, school choice expansion, parental rights, curriculum transparency, and the role of government in education.
• Ensure high-quality research output for the Center, including white papers, policy briefs, op-eds, legislative proposals, and expert testimony that align with AFPI’s mission.
• Supervise Policy Analysts and other center staff, managing work assignments, professional development, and performance.
• Collaborate with other AFPI Centers to ensure a comprehensive approach to policy solutions and advocacy.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including policymakers, think tanks, and grassroots organizations to advance education opportunity initiatives.
• Work with Communications to amplify key education messages through media appearances, publications, and strategic outreach.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with external scholars and subject matter experts to contribute to key research and advocacy efforts.
• Monitor education policy at the local, state, and federal levels and develop targeted strategies to influence legislation and public discourse.
• Advocate for AFPI’s principles in public forums, including Capitol Hill hearings, legislative briefings, and academic conferences.
• Propose and develop new initiatives and programs to broaden the reach and impact of the Center’s work on education opportunity.
• Ensure a rigorous peer-review process for all research and publications to maintain credibility and impact.
• Act as a thought leader in the education policy space, positioning the Center as a premier voice on school choice, parental rights, and K-12 education reform.

Type of Employment: Full-Time Employee

Qualifications:

• Supportive leadership style that fosters a positive team culture and encourages the growth and success of the Center’s staff.
• Completion of an advanced degree (e.g., Master’s, J.D., or Ph.D.) or equivalent experience in education policy, public administration, political science, or a related field.
• Significant legislative and/or executive policy experience in education reform, including school choice policies, parental rights legislation, curriculum standards, and federal/state education regulations.
• Demonstrated commitment to free-market principles and parental rights in education.
• Strong managerial skills, with the ability to organize and oversee the daily activities of the Center while effectively coordinating with the Policy and Research teams.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, with a drive to seek out new opportunities to expand the Center’s impact on education reform.
• Exceptional writing, research, and editing skills, with the ability to translate policy recommendations into actionable legislative proposals.
• Public speaking and media engagement experience, with the ability to effectively advocate for education opportunity policies in public forums.
• Proven ability to analyze complex legislative and regulatory issues and develop detailed, practical, conservative policy recommendations.
• Ability to maintain productive relationships with stakeholders, including elected officials, school choice advocates, parents’ rights organizations, and policymakers.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into public policy, influencing education reform at the federal, state, and local levels.

Salaries for positions will be commensurate with the experience, expertise, and skills of the individual. Please send a cover letter, resume, salary requirement, writing samples, and references.

AFPI is a non-profit, non-partisan research institute offering competitive salaries and benefits to qualified candidates.