Florida Virtual School

Director, National Advocacy

Florida Virtual School$80K — $158K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Florida, US
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Communications, or Public Policy fields.
  • 7+ years in strategic communication or legislative advocacy, especially in education.
  • Thorough knowledge of legislative processes and ability to interpret legal documents.
  • Strong leadership and project management skills in the public sector environment.
  • In-depth understanding of government and education policy, with excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Plan and implement national advocacy strategies aligned with organizational goals.
  • Partner with product and business teams to assess legislative opportunities and their potential ROI.
  • Develop and manage procedures to enhance operational efficiency in advocacy efforts.
  • Oversee tracking of education legislation across states and develop responses to regulatory changes.
  • Coordinate with departments to identify priority states for advocacy engagement.

Benefits

  • Generous paid time off, including 25 holidays and sick leave.
  • Comprehensive professional development opportunities.
  • Supportive remote work environment with a large team of professionals.
  • Engagement in transformative digital learning initiatives that impact students globally.
Full Job Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your application will expire one year from the time of submission. Please feel free to apply to any other positions for which you may qualify.

Our team members enjoy competitive salaries, a well-rounded benefits package, generous paid time off (including 25 holidays, vacation, and sick leave), and an array of professional development opportunities. We're always looking to add to our team of more than 3,000 dedicated professionals who are leading online education worldwide with transformative digital solutions - personalized to every student.

Job Posting End Date:

Deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on
09-14-2026

Job Title:
Director, National Advocacy

Contract Type:
Employee

Annual Salary:
$80,029.00 - $158,457.00
(Support staff salary will be based on internal equity and experience)

Location:
FL - HOME OFFICE

Job Description Summary:
Our Mission is to equip students for success by developing and delivering highly effective digital learning through an intuitive online platform.

The Position:

Position General Summary:

The Director, National Advocacy will focus on duties specific to planning and coordinating the national legislative advocacy efforts for the Department of External Affairs. The Director, National Advocacy, will play a key role in the External Affairs Department by overseeing and monitoring legislation and regulatory policies around the country, and implementing strategies when opportunities arise. The Director, National Advocacy will collaborate with leaders within FLVS and FlexPoint to meet requirements and timelines for all competitive revenue opportunities selected as part of the organizational strategy and will partner with the Specialist, National External Affairs to identify and research these through potential business partnerships and generated leads. This position will advise and consult on the strategy for national advocacy campaigns, engage in policy and data analysis, and develop legislative relationships throughout the country through thought leadership opportunities, conferences, and stakeholder communications. The Director, National Advocacy will work with the Director, External Affairs and Advocacy to create advocacy for laws and regulations related to education policy in states across the country and beyond. The Director, National Advocacy will build relationships within government agencies, support organizations, and legislatures across the country, at the federal level, US territories, and other countries as necessary. The Director, National Advocacy will provide expertise to the External Affairs Department by assisting in any and all policy-based issues for the organization.

Essential Position Functions:
  • Plan, develop, and implement programs, activities, and functions designed to achieve organization goals as directed by the Director, External Affairs and Advocacy
  • Partner with Product Strategy, Business Development, and Sales to identify and evaluate ROI opportunities, providing legislative and regulatory insight that informs financial modeling and expansion decisions and supplying market and policy intelligence that strengthens targeting, positioning, and go-to-market decisions.
  • Develop, manage, and evaluate all procedures, activities, and functions under his/her supervision to ensure their efficient operation and full alignment with organization goals and priorities
  • Oversee identifying, tracking, disseminating, and creating reports pertaining to rules promulgated by the departments of education in states outside of Florida, as a result of enacted education legislation Assist in policy priorities and strategic planning for a national legislative/regulatory strategy
  • Coordinate cross-department collaboration to identify key states of interest that are consistent with the goals of the organization
  • Provide leadership and vision for ensuring the ongoing development of quality programs that will continue to place curriculum and a positive experience at the center of all programs
  • Provide leadership in planning, conceptualizing, and implementing new and custom programs that reflect the needs of students in other key states of interest, both nationally and globally
  • Serve as one of the External Affairs Department liaisons to government agencies around the country, at the federal level, and internationally
  • Advise on strategy to advance a set of related programs and services in key states and globally in a way that adheres to the organization's purpose and vision
  • Review and analyze education-related policies of interest
  • Advise the Director of any legislative issues of interest in key states
  • Actively engage with executive, legislative, and district bodies to monitor educational, legislative, and regulatory policy in key states
  • Assist with the development of advocacy plans for priority states, at the federal level and internationally
  • Review and research legislative impact of issues and advise on legislative language for bills and amendments at the direction of the Director, External Affairs and Advocacy
  • Develop and implement advocacy campaigns and events while seeking opportunities both internally and externally
  • Work with internal and external stakeholders on the development of issue-management plans, including policy position statements, media talking points, advocacy communications, and executive communications
  • Collaborate with internal departments on the development of editorials, resolutions, proclamations, talking points, community presentations, media pitches, and other PR scripts
  • Create and manage opportunities (policy summits, attend events, meetings with legislators and staff, etc.) to educate lawmakers, policy administrators, and other key stakeholders in states across the country, federally, and internationally
  • Participate and provide advice and expertise in research and strategy sessions to help guide the organization
  • Work on third-party outreach and engagements to support the goals of the organization
  • Serve as liaison between FLVS and other education advocacy groups and foundations nationally and internationally
  • Develop and present content for presentations and communications both internally and externally as directed by the Director, External Affairs
  • Plan and implement the production of an agentic national legislative report that covers the activities of the priority states
  • Work proactively with the External Affairs Department to address internal/external customer needs and escalate issues/concerns as needed
  • Analyze state policy and data on reports generated by other team members and make recommendations for action
  • Oversee the annual creation and management of appropriate tracking documents to measure and achieve defined department priorities and metrics specific to increasing advocacy and customer service
  • Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits such as, meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, coordinating resources and meetings in an effective and timely manner, and demonstrating respect for others
  • All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established


(These essential functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related duties as required.)

Minimum Requirements:

Education/Licensure/Certification:
  • Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Communications, Public Policy, Public Administration, or equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience


Experience:
  • Minimum of seven (7) years in strategic communications, legislative or government relations, organizational management with a focus on the public sector, education, school choice organizations, school district, state agency, advocacy campaigns, monitoring legislation, and navigating the political environment


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's):
  • Thorough knowledge of legislative processes
  • Ability to review and understand legislative/legal documents
  • Ability to leverage external/governmental relationships to benefit the organization
  • Manage the national legislative and regulatory tracking tool
  • Skill working in a detail-oriented, deadline-driven environment
  • Demonstrated ability to provide vision and effective leadership
  • In-depth knowledge of government and education industry
  • Ability to clearly communicate the organization's policy positions to external stakeholders in ways that gain respect and strengthen the organization's relationships
  • Ability to work with and through people to establish goals, objectives, and action plans
  • Ability in strategic and innovative thinking processes
  • Ability to evaluate resources for applicability to projects or programs
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Bi-lingual a plus


CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS:

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Team member carries out essential job functions with accuracy, engages in ongoing and relevant professional learning, applies new knowledge effectively, and demonstrates mastery of job-specific skills

In addition to the above, supervisors will set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, recognize high performance, address underperformance, and support employee learning and development

PRODUCTIVITY

Team member produces high quality work, meets organizational and departmental deadlines, balances multiple responsibilities, manages time effectively, and seeks ways to improve processes and productivity

In addition to the above, supervisors will successfully manage team projects and deadlines, foster a positive team culture, empower autonomy, and balance team workload effectively

COMMUNICATION

Team member communicates clearly in written and verbal formats, collaborates effectively, demonstrates professionalism in all interactions, exhibits strong interpersonal skills, and contributes to a positive team and professional community

In addition to the above, supervisors will model strong communication skills and leverage interpersonal skills to build relationships and sustain a strong professional community

CUSTOMER FOCUS

Team member addresses the needs of internal and external customers, analyzes problems effectively, contributes to innovative solutions, seeks opportunities for improvement, and successfully adapts to change

In addition to the above, supervisors will create and support action plans and strategies to achieve organizational goals, make informed decisions, promote innovative solutions, and anticipate future trends and challenges

MANAGER COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS:

COMMAND SKILLS

Relishes leading; Takes unpopular stands if necessary; Encourages direct and tough debate but isn't afraid to end it and move on; Is looked to for direction in a crisis; Faces adversity head on; Energized by tough challenges

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities; Reads situations quickly; Good at focused listening; Can hammer out tough agreements and settle disputes equitably; Can find common ground and get cooperation with minimal "noise"

LISTENING

Practices attentive and active listening with all groups/people; Has the patience to hear people out without interruption; Can accurately restate the opinion of others even when he/she disagrees

TIMELY, QUALITY DECISION MAKING

Makes decisions in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure; Able to make a quick decision; Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment; Sought out by others for advice and solutions; Most of his/her solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time

DEVELOPING OTHERS

Provides constructive, concrete, behavioral feedback to others through monthly development discussions; Shares information, resources and suggestions to help others be more successful; Delegates challenging work assignments or responsibilities that will help the abilities and stretch others; Regularly meets with employees to review development needs, career aspirations and progress; Constructs compelling developmental plans and executes them; Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; Is a good judge of talent; After reasonable exposure, can articulate the strengths and limitations of people inside or outside the organization

TEAM BUILDING

Develops networks and builds alliances; Participates in cross-functional activities to achieve organizational objectives; Focuses time and energy to develop direct report team and peer team; Fosters commitment, team spirit, pride and trust; Recognizes and rewards people for their achievements and contributions to organizational success; Identifies and tackles morale issues; Provides training and development to employees; creates and participates in team building sessions; Empowers others; Makes each individual feel his/her work is important; Invites input from each person and shares ownership and visibility

PROCESS MANAGEMENT

Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; Knows how to organize people and activities; Understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient work flow; Can readily see opportunities or synergy and integration; Can simplify complex processes; Gets more out of fewer resources

COMFORT AROUND HIGHER MANAGEMENT

Deals comfortably with more senior managers; Presents to more senior managers without undue tension and nervousness; Determines the best way to get things done with more senior managers by talking their language and responding to their needs; Crafts approaches to working with more senior managers that are seen as appropriate and positive

MANAGING & MEASURING WORK

Clearly assigns responsibility for tasks and decisions; Sets clear objectives and knows what to measure and how to measure them;

About Florida Virtual School

Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is a public online school based in Orlando, Florida. The school offers online courses for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as adult learners. FLVS was founded in 1997 as the first statewide Internet-based public high school in the United States. The school has since expanded to offer courses in a variety of subjects, including core academic subjects, electives, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. FLVS has a diverse student body, with students from all 67 counties in Florida, as well as students from other states and countries. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA).
Learn more about Florida Virtual School
Size
1,500 employees
Industry

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