Director, State & Local Policy

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) — a world‑renowned education and poverty‑fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission‑aligned Director of State & Local Policy to join the William Julius Wilson Institute‑National Impact Team.

The Director will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on‑the‑ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) is advancing a bold vision to transform the lives of one million young people by scaling what works, building the field, and supporting place‑based efforts rooted in community. Through the National Impact Team, HCZ works alongside communities, school systems, governments, philanthropy, and local organizations to accelerate cradle‑to‑career outcomes and economic mobility nationwide.

The Director, State & Local Policy, provides strategic leadership and subject‑matter expertise in state and local policy implementation. Reporting to the Deputy Director, this role supports communities, government partners, and National Impact teams in translating policy into action and advancing systems‑change efforts that improve outcomes for children and families.

The Director works closely with governors' offices, mayors, state agencies, local governments, school systems, and community partners to advance implementation of policies that strengthen cradle‑to‑career systems, economic mobility, and place‑based change efforts. This role also partners across National Impact functions to ensure that policy implementation aligns with technical assistance, field‑building, learning, and community‑impact strategies.

This position is ideal for a leader who understands both policy and implementation and can bridge government systems, community organizations, and cross‑sector partnerships to drive sustainable change.

For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children’s Zone? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know.

• Bachelor's degree required;
  Master's degree preferred in public policy, public administration, education, law, government, or a related field.

• 6+ years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in public policy, government, public sector systems, or related fields, with demonstrated success leading complex initiatives and driving strategy and implementation efforts.

• Demonstrated experience leading policy implementation efforts, systems‑change initiatives, or cross‑sector partnerships.

• Experience working with governors' offices, mayors, state agencies, local governments, school systems, or other public‑sector institutions.

• Strong strategic planning, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience developing frameworks, implementation models, toolkits, or systems‑change approaches.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to influence across organizations, navigate ambiguity, and drive execution in complex environments.

• Commitment to equity, community transformation, and improving outcomes for children and families.

• Functional Leader:
  Provides leadership for the state and local policy implementation function and helps ensure quality, consistency, and impact across the organization.

• Policy‑to‑Practice Expert:
  Understands how to translate policy into implementation and measurable results for communities and families.

• Systems Change Strategist:
  Sees connections across government, education, workforce, economic mobility, and community systems.

• Government Relationship Builder:
  Builds trust and credibility with public‑sector leaders and effectively navigates complex government environments.

• Cross‑Functional Collaborator:
  Partners effectively across teams and functions to advance organizational goals and community impact.

• Mission‑Driven Leader:
  Brings a deep commitment to equity, place‑based change, and expanding opportunity for children and families.

State & Local Policy Strategy

• Lead the strategy and…