Senior Policy Advisor

If youre passionate about building a better future for individuals communities and our countryand youre committed to working hard to play your part in building that futureconsider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online competency-based degree programs WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century one that has received praise from academic industry government and media leaders. Whatever your role working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Job Summary

The Senior Policy Advisor is responsible for managing WGUs public policy stewardship analysis and coordination processes. This position reports to the Director of Strategy Policy and Insights within the Strategy & Ventures Group.

Responsibilities

Policy Stewardship & Institutional Credibility

• Develop timely credible and consistent policy productsincluding position statements policy briefs comment letters and legislative memosthat articulate WGUs perspective to policymakers and external stakeholders.
• Oversee disciplined internal review and alignment processes for policy products ensuring quality consistency and appropriate consultation with relevant leaders.
• Safeguard WGUs reputation and credibility by ensuring policy positions are analytically sound transparent and responsibly framed.

Policy Analysis & Sensemaking

• Monitor and interpret public policy developments that may affect WGUs strategic positioning growth or operating environment in higher education and workforce.
• Conduct policy analysis that surfaces implications tradeoffs risks and opportunities for institutional decision-making.
• Synthesize information from legislation regulatory activity media think tanks and advocacy organizations into concise decision-relevant insights for internal stakeholders.
• Direct the development and use of AI-enabled tools and analytic systems to enhance policy scanning regulatory analysis and opportunity mapping.

Strategic Translation & Coordination

• Partner closely with Strategy and Insights leaders to translate institutional priorities research and foresight into coherent policy positions and narratives.
• Collaborate with Government Relations to translate approved policy positions into effective engagement and advocacy strategies.
• Support identification of policy-aligned partnerships by working with internal teams to assess alignment with WGUs mission and strategic objectives.
• Contribute to broader thought leadership efforts by articulating WGUs perspective on higher education and workforce policy issues in coordination with Institutional Advancement.
• Coordinate with leaders across WGU to provide policy expertise as needed.

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Qualifications

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of higher education workforce and related public policy domains including legislative and regulatory processes.
• Knowledge of how public policy intersects with institutional strategy growth and reputation in complex mission-driven organizations.
• Skill in distilling complex policy developments into concise decision-relevant updates for senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Skill in managing internal review processed to ensure policy products are accurate consistent and aligned with institutional priorities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in navigating policy issues that carry reputational strategic or political sensitivity.
• Ability to operate comfortably in ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Ability to influence without formal authority across a complex matrixed organization.
• Ability to represent WGU positions with external partners as directed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree in a relevant field (such as public policy social sciences economics)
• 7 years of relevant public policy experience and a strong understanding of higher education and workforce related policies and issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in talent and workforce development or higher education sectors.
• Strong ability to identify and participate in policy-aligned partnerships aligning to WGUs mission and strategic objectives.

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20% including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences visits to company locations and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. Its not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.