Senior Political Manager - Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA)

About MCPSA

Founded in 2001, the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) represents Commonwealth charter public schools across Massachusetts. MCPSA's work is guided by our Equity Vision and a deep belief that every child regardless of race, zip code, or family background deserves equal access to a high quality education. Collectively, Massachusetts charter public schools are widely recognized as among the highest performing charter public schools in the country. MCPSA has an extensive history of supporting and advocating for charter public schools, with the mission of creating and protecting the conditions that will enable the charter sector to thrive, contributing toward the common goal of all children having equitable access to high-quality schools.

Position

Reporting to the Chief of Public Affairs, the Senior Political Manager will play an integral role within MCPSA’s Public Affairs department, and is responsible for leading execution of an advocacy and political agenda that will protect and create the conditions necessary for charter public schools in Massachusetts to thrive. Through helping lead both 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 year-round political activities, the individual in this role will help MCPSA build a strong political operation that grows political support for charter public schools and advances the advocacy agenda set by its member schools. The Senior Political Manager will also represent MCPSA externally among elected officials and other key stakeholders to build strong coalitions to move its work forward.

Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the Chief of Public Affairs, build and execute MCPSA’s political strategy, and oversee compliance management for Advocates for Massachusetts Charter Public Schools, MCPSA’s affiliated 501(c)4.
• Make campaign engagement and support recommendations; develop campaign engagement proposals that include scopes of work, budgets (including spending allocations), and timelines for all campaign work.
• In partnership with the Director of Government Affairs, develop and implement engagement strategies for current and prospective MA elected officials, their staff, and coalition partners. Foster these relationships to advance MCPSA’s political and advocacy goals and stay abreast of new political developments, opportunities, and threats.
• Manage all aspects of events designed to further political strategy. 
• Collaborate and communicate frequently with the other members of the public affairs team to  ensure seamless integration of MCPSA's political activities across the department, with a focus on integration of digital engagement and community mobilization into political strategy.
• Set actionable goals, develop benchmarks, and track performance metrics to assess the political program and its impact. Maintain up-to-date databases on legislative districts and elected officials to track support of charter schools and legislative and policy opportunities and victories.
• Supervise MCPSA staff members and/or consultants as assigned, to support the success of the political program.

• Other activities, as requested by the Chief of Public Affairs.

Location and Schedule:

MCPSA is a virtual organization with team members working remotely. General working hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., with flexibility required. This position requires frequent travel throughout Massachusetts, and candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and reliable access to a vehicle. Residence within Massachusetts, and/or within 75 miles from Boston, is strongly preferred.

To Apply

Along with your resume, please submit a brief cover letter stating why you are interested in working for MCPSA and why you are confident that you would be a great fit for this job. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. The position is available immediately.

Notice of Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are crucial to our mission and we are committed to cultivating a team that reflects the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunity Employer MCPSA does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, accessibility needs, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. As such, MCPSA strongly encourages people from marginalized and oppressed communities to apply, recognizing and respecting that diverse perspectives and experiences are valuable to our team and essential to achieving our purpose.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• A belief in the power and possibility of charter public schools and an unwavering commitment to educational equity.
• Successful and progressively responsible campaign experience (e.g. Political Manager, Field Manager or Director), or issue advocacy or interest group work (e.g., PAC or 501(c)4 Manager). Political fundraising, direct lobbying, and legislative advocacy experiences are all pluses. Familiarity and/or experience with the MA political landscape is a must.
• Superb relationship building skills with the ability to build consensus, engage a wide range of stakeholders and allies, and navigate complex community and political dynamics. Demonstrated ability to develop, sustain, and strengthen relationships and trust over time.
• Able to synthesize and translate complex political language or strategy to gain broad appeal and generate calls to action.
• Excellent written, verbal, and collaboration skills; high attention to detail, with the ability to stay focused and nimble, managing multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to hold sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At MCPSA, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in this job description, we encourage you to apply. 

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

The base annual pay for this position is $78,500 - $83,500 plus a competitive compensation package, including 25 days of paid time off, office closure between Christmas and New Years, 12 paid holidays, an annual cost of labor adjustment, 75% of health insurance, 100% of dental, life and disability insurance, a professional development stipend, a 4% 401(k) match, and potential for an annual team bonus.