Policy Advocate

Founded in 2016, EdAllies is a Minnesota-based education advocacy nonprofit that partners with schools, families, and communities to ensure that every young Minnesotan has access to a rigorous and engaging education. We advance policies that put underserved students first, remove barriers facing successful schools and programs, and foster an inclusive conversation about what’s possible for students. To learn more, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

EdAllies is seeking a Policy Advocate to focus on advocacy campaign strategy, outreach, amplification, and mobilization. The Policy Advocate will closely track education policy developments at the Minnesota Capitol and within state agencies, and develop strategies to translate key takeaways and action opportunities to parents, students, educators, and community leaders. You will work closely with EdAllies’ Advocacy Programming Manager to guide program participants through hands‑on advocacy opportunities, coaching them on testifying, facilitating lobby days, and more.

You will support the Senior Policy Director with legislative meetings, bill tracking, hearings, coalition work, and strategy. You will partner with the Director of Communications to develop videos, social media updates, and other strategies to amplify real‑time policy updates. The ideal candidate is eager to get into the weeds of policy making, with an acumen for engagement, public speaking, and activating community.

This position reports to the Senior Policy Director. EdAllies is a hybrid work organization, with employees working 2 days in‑person at our Minneapolis office. This position will also spend significant time in the community and at the Capitol during legislative session, including some work on evenings and weekends. Occasional in‑state travel may be required to meet with stakeholders in different communities.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Supporting the Senior Policy Director to closely track education policy developments, becoming a subject matter and process expert to inform the larger community;
• Connecting community members to advocacy and communications opportunities strategically designed to drive meaningful policy change;
• Keeping partners informed on policy issues to support their ongoing engagement in advocacy;
• Supporting the Senior Policy Director with direct legislative work, including attending meetings and hearings, coordinating testimony, and other advocacy tactics;
• Managing logistics and event plans for lobby days and policy engagement events, engaging other team members as needed;
• Utilizing systems to track and maintain community engagement with the policy process;
• Leading EdAllies’ Youth Advisory Council, partnering with a cohort of students to develop and execute advocacy campaigns grounded in student needs;
• Serving as a public‑facing ambassador for the organization as needed, including through social media videos, service on task forces and coalitions, testimony, and more;
• Coordinating issue‑specific listening sessions and work groups;
• Collaborating closely with team members to advance EdAllies’ mission and vision.

Candidates should possess a strong commitment to EdAllies’ mission, and to education equity more broadly. The ideal candidate has:

• Strong communication skills, including comfort with public speaking and the ability to break down complex policy issues for multiple audiences;
• Strong relationship‑building skills with demonstrated experience working across lines of race, ethnicity, age, political identity, and socioeconomic background;
• Experience organizing groups around advocacy goals;
• Familiarity with the Minnesota policy process and eagerness to engage in work at the Capitol;
• Demonstrated understanding of effective policy advocacy strategies and tactics;
• Familiarity with local education landscape and/or current education policy debates;
• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to seek and implement feedback from colleagues, and to support projects across the organization as needed;
• Commitment to principles of student‑centered education, inclusiveness, and justice;
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a fast‑paced,…