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The director of advocacy plans, directs, and oversees the implementation of association advocacy strategies. Advocacy at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) is defined as being inclusive of a range of activities, including primarily (1) government relations and public policy, in conjunction with NACAC’s research department, volunteer leaders, coalitions, and external counsel; (2) engagement with the public through media and social media, in conjunction with the NACAC communications department, and (3) engagement with the profession through educational resources, in conjunction with the NACAC education and training department. The advocacy director will communicate directly with state and federal policymakers, facilitate member input and participation in association advocacy activities, and build on association guiding documents and research to promote the college admission counseling profession. In general, NACAC’s advocacy priorities focus on student- and equity-centered college admission practices, support for ethical college admission counseling practice, and support for school counselors and college advising.

This position provides an opportunity for the director to lead a portfolio of advocacy activities at a moment when college admission policy is at an historically critical juncture. NACAC’s focus on improving equity in college admission in the face of substantial challenges provides an opportunity for the director to make a significant difference in the trajectory of postsecondary educational access.

1. Leads NACAC’s policy and advocacy portfolio, representing the association, its mission, and its members in policy and advocacy activities that advance the organization’s priorities among stakeholders including institutional, state, and federal policymakers, association members, members of the media, and the public.

2. Monitors federal legislative and regulatory activity that affects NACAC members’ or member priorities, provides information and solicits feedback on policy questions that affect legislative or regulatory processes, and provides information to policy stakeholders about the college admission counseling profession.

3. Seeks opportunities to draft, amend, or otherwise support policy initiatives in accord with NACAC’s policy priorities.

4. Provides, in conjunction with the advocacy associate, regular communication to association members about legislative and regulatory activities relevant to the profession, regular advocacy updates, action alerts, and other information as needed.

5. Serves as liaison to allied organizations, coalitions, and affiliate government relations committees.

6. Collaborates with NACAC’s research, communications, and member experience teams to advocate on behalf of the profession to other educational stakeholders, members of the media, the public, and other audiences as needed.

7. In conjunction with the advocacy associate, creates content for NACAC dissemination outlets, including the NACAC web site, NACAC publications, social media, and educational services/resources.

Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in advocacy, organizing, or related field
• Experience in politics, legislation, policy analysis, preferably in the field of education
• Experience working with research to inform policy and practice
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Success in planning and implementing strategic initiatives
• Familiarity with media and social media strategy a plus

Skills

• Expert-level knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes
• Knowledge of statistics and research
• Strong strategic planning and management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills
• Ease with collaborating with different audiences
• Staff supervision
• Budgeting
• Familiarity with the transition from secondary to postsecondary education

About NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), founded in 1937, is an organization of more than 25,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education.

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