Policy Strategist

Summary

The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care for home-based early learning programs. These programs serve almost 40% of the 6.7 million children who receive care from a non-relative on a regular basis.

We envision a world where all families especially those from historically under-resourced communities have access to high-quality home-based early learning programs that meet their child and family needs and all family child care (FCC) educators have access to the opportunities support and resources they need to thrive.

NAFCCs mission is to support and leverage a nationwide network of educational professionals in expanding and promoting the power of family child care. We do this by engaging and developing a diverse group of FCC educators increasing the number of FCC educators meeting high-quality standards including national accreditation and being a national leader in elevating the role of home-based child care.

Position Summary

The Policy Strategist will strengthen NAFCCs policy capacity by leading legislative and regulatory analysis developing state and national policy positions and supporting implementation of the state-based advocacy framework. This position will play a critical role in monitoring state and federal policy developments preparing NAFCC for rapid-response actions and ensuring family child care educators voices are centered in national policy conversations.

The Policy Strategist will represent NAFCC in external convenings provide technical assistance to state leaders and educators and help translate complex policy issues into accessible materials and communications.

Essential Functions

Policy Analysis and Development

• Conduct legislative and regulatory analysis; review bills and provide recommendations for endorsements or opposition.
• Draft official NAFCC policy positions statements and responses to proposed rules.
• Develop accessible public-facing content including policy bulletins newsletters action alerts fact sheets and toolkits.
• Provide clear and timely analysis of emerging state and federal policy issues on child care and early learning issues.

State-Based Advocacy Support

• Support the implementation of NAFCCs state-based advocacy framework.
• Coordinate with NAFCC state representatives to align state strategies with national priorities.
• Provide research drafting and logistical support for state campaigns and advocacy efforts.
• Monitor state-level policy developments and flag emerging opportunities or risks.
• Facilitate cross-department collaboration to strengthen state-level impact and engagement.
• Develop state advocacy toolkits resources and blueprints that strengthen capacity.

Stakeholder Engagement and Training

• Facilitate cross-department collaboration to strengthen state-level impact and engagement.
• Provide training technical assistance and public education on policy issues for educators advocates and partners.
• Host and facilitate webinars including topic development.
• Represent NAFCC in coalitions forums and conferences; engage meaningfully in coalition calls and working groups.
• Partner with local advocates and educators to strengthen grassroots engagement and organizing efforts.

Who We Need

The ideal candidate will connect deeply with NAFCCs mission and bring a strong commitment to equity inclusion and justice in advancing family child care. They will be a skilled policy strategist with the ability to balance big-picture analysis with on-the-ground advocacy needs.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Must be located in Washington DC.
• Deep expertise in child care and early learning policy at the state and federal levels with a priority focus on state-level advocacy.
• Minimum of a bachelors degree in public policy education or a related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Strong legislative and regulatory analysis skills; ability to translate complex policy into clear recommendations and educator-focused content.
• Skilled communicator with strong writing facilitation and public speaking abilities.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement coalition participation and government relations.
• Demonstrated ability to respond quickly to shifting policy conditions and advise on rapid response actions.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Flexible and responsive to diverse state contexts and able to align them with national strategy.
• Ability to translate complex policy context in a clear accessible and non-partisan manner for diverse audiences.
• Experience in advocacy organizing and partnership building with educators and local advocates preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Required to travel to Capitol Hill with educators and provide support in meetings with Congressional members both in-person and virtually. Position requires willingness to travel up to 30% and occasionally work evenings or weekends as needed.
• Must be located in Washington DC.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with family child care settings and accreditation systems.
• Ability to speak Spanish preferred.

Benefits

This position is eligible to participate in benefits generally available to employees including generous paid time off 100% employer-paid medical dental and vision insurance retirement plan and professional learning and development opportunities.

Equal Opportunity

The National Association for Family Child Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race color sex religion national origin disability protected veteran status or any other basis protected by law.