Senior Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Education

Posted by Public Health Management Corporation on December 21, 2015

SENIOR POLICY ANALYST
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Research & Evaluation Group
POSTING DATE: December 21, 2015

JOB OVERVIEW:
PHMC is creating a new Early Childhood Education think-action tank that will develop and advance local knowledge on evidence-based educational practices and policies which support equitable learning for all children in Pennsylvania, with a specific focus on Philadelphia. PHMC seeks an experienced, engaging leader to serve as Senior Policy Analyst. The Senior Policy Analyst will strengthen the evidence base for policies and approaches fostering a high quality early childhood education system in Philadelphia. The ideal candidate will combine strong policy skills with a deep understanding of the research on early childhood education and the current challenges and opportunities in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania’s ECE sector. Familiarity with current challenges and opportunities in the local ECE sector is critical.

The current opening is a unique opportunity for a policy expert/researcher with expertise in early childhood education to lead a new regional research action collective supported by the William Penn Foundation. Over the span of two years, the Senior Policy Analyst will lead the research collective, where he/she will provide expert assessment and analysis in child care and early education policy, research and practice, including activities related to: 1) conducting assessment, analyses and summaries of policies, practices and research on Philadelphia and PA’s most pressing ECE challenges and opportunities; 2) analyzing data from existing studies and datasets, and gathering new data as required from focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders in Philadelphia and PA ECE sector; 3) identifying sources of data and conducting appropriate analyses to answer questions of relevance to Philadelphia and PA child care utilization, child care supply, and the effects of child care and other early childhood policies on parental and child outcomes; 4) leading and providing expertise in the preparation of 10 research-to-practice briefs, research-to-policy briefs, white papers and other publications; and 5) identifying, convening and partnering with external researchers and policy experts who will be contracted by PHMC to contribute to the preparation of the 10 briefs and papers. The Senior Policy Analyst will work with an advisory group to identify and prioritize focal topic areas for a policy and practice research agenda

In addition to the above responsibilities, the Senior Policy Analyst will work closely with senior leadership in the Research and Evaluation Group and Early Childhood Education Group at PHMC to identify new, complimentary funding opportunities that will strengthen and further the work of PHMC in the ECE research and policy sector. The Senior Policy Analyst will report to the Managing Director of the Research and Evaluation Group, while also working very closely with the Managing Director and other senior leaders within the ECE Group.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provide senior leadership for the newly formed ECE research policy collective.
• Conduct original research and synthesize extant knowledge on ECE priority areas.
• Conduct policy analysis, e.g. identifying relevant policy issues, reviewing and interpreting available evidence, analyzing policy implications and strategies, and suggesting policy recommendations concerning the ECE systems in Philadelphia.
• Build relationships with state and city policymakers, ECE professionals, ECE researchers and other key stakeholders.
• Liaise with an existing advisory group to identify focal topic areas.
• Identify and recruit appropriate external researchers to author/co-author briefs and reports.
• Lead writing/co-writing of briefs and papers.
• Interface formally and informally with media, external groups, and policymakers.
• Collaborate with the communications team to disseminate briefs and papers via news outlets, website, social media and other forms of external communication.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
• At least five years of relevant work experience.
• Robust understanding of local education policy or practice.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Strong ability to conceptualize problems.
• Strong ability to manipulate and analyze data.
• Strong ability to formulate policy recommendations.
• Ability to generate new and original ideas for solving policy problems.
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work with other researchers to conceptualize, facilitate and produce briefs and reports focused on policy and practice recommendations for Philadelphia’s ECE sector.
• Ability to initiate projects and balance multiple projects at once.
• An exceptional communicator, with outstanding oral and written skills.
• Demonstrated success in building relationships with policymakers and other partners.

GRADE: 23

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Ph.D. or equivalent (e.g., Ed.D.)in social sciences, public policy, education or related field.

SALARY: Starting salary anticipated in low to mid $80s, and is commensurate with experience. PHMC offers an extremely competitive benefits package to its employees, including but not limited to generous paid time off for personal, sick, vacation and holidays; health and dental insurance; company paid pension plan; a 403B tax deferred annuity plan; flexible spending account; and, transportation benefits program.

ABOUT PHMC: PHMC is a 501(c)(3) non‐profit corporation founded in 1972. It is a member institute of the National Network of Public Health Institutes, and is designated as the Public Health Institute for the State of Pennsylvania. For over 40 years, PHMC has been working in partnership with communities, government, the health care sector, and other non-profit agencies to address the public health challenges facing southeastern Pennsylvania. PHMC employees share a passion and commitment to improving the lives of the region’s most vulnerable citizens. While PHMC’s focus has always been on serving the southeastern PA region, some of its programs have a multi-state focus, and a few are national in scope. Major program areas at PHMC include behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, primary health care, chronic disease prevention, health promotion, child welfare, early childhood education, services to the homeless, and criminal justice/re-entry services. To learn more about PHMC and its many programs, visit www.phmc.org.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION GROUP AT PHMC: PHMC’s Research and Evaluation Group (REG) has worked closely with hundreds of external organizations to design, implement and evaluate the impact of a diverse portfolio of public health, social justice and educational programs. At any given time, REG has close to 50 different clients and funders. Our team has completed a wide variety of community needs assessments, program evaluations, and scientific research projects. Some of our recent research and evaluation studies have focused on statewide and regional tobacco prevention, cessation and control; violence prevention and human trafficking; LGBT health and wellness; maternal and child health; substance use and behavioral health; HIV/AIDS prevention; nutrition and food security; chronic disease prevention; injury prevention; emergency preparedness; and, worksite wellness.

Our work is primarily conducted in Southeastern PA, however we are also actively involved in research across the State of PA, and are leading evaluations of public health programs in other States. We also are leading studies with a national focus. Our funders and clients include: federal, state and local government; private and non-profit organizations, including foundations and community-based organizations; health care systems; and, national organizations and their regional chapters.

TO APPLY:
Please email cover letter and curriculum vitae to: [email protected]. Please include Senior Policy Analyst in Subject Line.

PHMC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN, VETERANS, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.