Education Jobs in Washington, DC

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty organization advancing policy solutions that work for people with low incomes and people of color. We advocate for public policies and programs at the federal, state, and local levels that reduce poverty, improve the lives of people with low incomes, and advance racial, gender, and economic justice. Our solutions directly address the barriers that individuals and families face because of race, ethnicity, low income, sex and gender discrimination, immigration status, and involvement with the carceral system.

For over more than 50 years we have kept our vision alive through our trusted expertise on policy and strategy; deeply knowledgeable and committed staff; partnerships with directly impacted people and grassroots leaders; and bold, innovative, and inclusive approaches to economic, racial, and gender justice.

At this crucial moment for the United States, CLASP is actively defending against unprecedented and relentless assaults on the people and policies at the core of our agenda. We are doing so through a mix of congressional advocacy built on our vision, relationships, and deep knowledge; administrative advocacy to fight against the unabating attacks on programs and policies; generating impactful ideas in collaboration with state officials and advocates to facilitate state-level change; and a powerful vision built with on-the-ground leaders.

CLASP Values for Racial Equity

We understand that inclusion is the first step toward fostering sustainable racial equity in our society and organizational culture. At CLASP, we value the importance of including multiple perspectives in shaping our organizational culture and engaging in our policy and advocacy efforts. However, we also know that to move beyond inclusion and achieve true racial equity, we must intentionally center and prioritize the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of people of color. Historically white-founded and led policy and advocacy organizations must commit to full and immersive racial equity to achieve true and sustainable change in our country.

About CLASP’s Education, Labor & Worker Justice Team

CLASP’s Education, Labor & Worker Justice (ELWJ) team works to advance policies that improve access to education, skills, economic opportunity, and quality jobs for people with low incomes.

Our workforce development work focuses on strengthening federal, state, and local workforce systems and expanding access to high-quality education, training, career pathways, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities. We seek to ensure that people with the greatest need can access the skills, support, and opportunities necessary to enter and advance in quality jobs.

The team’s work connects workforce development with education and training, economic security, career pathways, job quality, and worker justice. We work with federal and state policymakers, workforce development boards, labor organizations, community-based organizations, education and training providers, advocates, researchers, employers, and other partners to advance policies and practices that increase economic opportunity and mobility.

CLASP seeks an experienced Senior Policy Analyst to lead a significant body of workforce development policy work within the ELWJ team. This position will play a key role in shaping and advancing CLASP’s federal and state workforce development policy and advocacy agenda.

Working closely with the ELWJ Director and other team members, the Senior Policy Analyst will independently lead assigned areas of work, develop policy strategies and recommendations, conduct policy analysis and research, manage projects, build and maintain external relationships, and represent CLASP with policymakers, partners, and other stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is an experienced policy professional who is a strong writer and strategic thinker, exercises sound judgment, produces high-quality work, and can take ownership of a body of work and move it from strategy and planning through execution and completion.

This position is full-time and in the Washington, D.C. office. CLASP is currently working under a hybrid office model, with the expectation that staff will work in-person four days a month. Candidates must be based in D.C.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a significant body of federal and state workforce development policy work, including developing priorities, strategies, policy recommendations, and deliverables.
• Shape and advance federal and state advocacy strategies to increase access to high-quality workforce development, education and training, apprenticeships, career pathways, and employment opportunities for people with low incomes and communities that have historically faced barriers to economic opportunity.
• Lead and contribute to policy work related to apprenticeships and work-based learning, career pathways, workforce training, and other federal and state workforce development policies and programs such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
• Analyze legislation, regulations, administrative actions, budgets, and other policy developments and assess their impact on workers, job seekers, and people with low incomes.
• Develop policy recommendations and provide policy analysis and technical assistance to federal, state, and local policymakers, agencies, workforce development boards, advocates, practitioners, community-based organizations, and other partners.
• Monitor federal and state workforce policy developments and identify opportunities for CLASP to inform and advance policy discussions.
• Conduct research and write high-quality reports, issue briefs, policy analyses, commentaries, regulatory comments, testimony, presentations, and other products.
• Translate complex policy issues, research, and data into clear and accessible information for policymakers, advocates, practitioners, partners, and other audiences.
• Speak to a wide variety of audiences, including federal, state, and local policymakers, workforce leaders, advocates, practitioners, labor and community-based organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Lead and support policy convenings, roundtables, meetings, briefings, and webinars with policymakers, agency officials, workforce development boards, policy experts, advocacy partners, labor organizations, education and training providers, and other stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with diverse partners and stakeholders.
• Manage assigned projects and areas of work, including priorities, timelines, deliverables, partnerships, and coordination with internal and external colleagues.
• Work collaboratively across the ELWJ team and other CLASP teams on issues that intersect with workforce development, education and training, economic security, career pathways, job quality, and worker justice.
• Incorporate CLASP’s intersectional racial equity priorities throughout policy analysis, research, advocacy, technical assistance, partnerships, and engagement with people with lived experience.
• Contribute to funder relationships, including grant proposals, reports, and other materials supporting the team’s work.
• Provide guidance, support, and knowledge sharing to colleagues, fellows, or junior staff, as appropriate.
• Participate in organization-wide working groups, committees, and other CLASP activities.

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience, or a master’s degree or other advanced degree and a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading a substantive body of policy work, portfolio, project, or initiative, including developing strategy, setting priorities, managing deliverables, and moving work through completion.
• Substantive expertise in federal and/or state workforce development policy, especially focused on increasing pathways for those who have historically been excluded from opportunities. This includes knowledge of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), workforce development systems, apprenticeships, career pathways, and related education and training policies and programs.
• Strong policy analysis skills, including the ability to understand and analyze complex legislative, regulatory, administrative, and budgetary issues and develop clear policy recommendations.
• Exceptional research, analytical, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and persuasively and creatively communicate policy ideas to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality work, exercise sound judgment, work independently, and lead assigned areas of work with limited oversight.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage multiple projects and deliverables, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships and work collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in a highly collaborative environment focused on high-impact policy and advocacy goals.
• A self-starter who can work independently and as a team member.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial, social, and economic justice and improving opportunities for people with low incomes and communities that have historically faced barriers to education, training, employment, and economic mobility.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed.

Desired Skills

• Experience developing and advancing federal and/or state workforce development policy and advocacy strategies that ensure equitable access for all workers, specifically focused on those at the margins.
• Experience working with WIOA and other federal workforce development programs.
• Knowledge of registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, career pathways, sector strategies, work-based learning, and workforce training programs.
• Experience working with federal or state agencies, workforce development boards, policymakers, labor organizations, community-based organizations, education and training providers, employers, or advocacy coalitions.
• Experience providing policy or technical assistance to state and local workforce systems and partners.
• Experience leading policy advocacy strategies, research projects, technical assistance, or multi-partner initiatives.
• Knowledge of the connections among workforce development, education and training, economic security, job quality, and worker justice.
• Experience contributing to grant proposals, funder reports, and foundation-funded policy work.
• Experience working across diverse and cross-cultural settings and with partners representing different perspectives and lived experiences.

Compensation

$85,040-$127,560 (commensurate with experience)

CLASP offers exceptional benefits, including several health insurance options (most of which currently require no employee-paid premiums). In addition, we provide the following benefits that currently require no employee-paid premiums: dental and vision insurance, life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, and long-term care insurance.

We also offer a 403(b) retirement program with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and a no-cost onsite gym at our D.C. office. Finally, we provide generous vacation, paid sick leave, personal days, paid family and medical leave, and holiday schedules.

Work Conditions and Union Recognition

The Senior Policy Analyst position is part of the bargaining unit and operates within an environment where employees are represented by CLASP Workers United, an affiliate of OPEIU Local 2. Employees in the bargaining unit are subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, including the payment of union dues as applicable. The organization recognizes and respects the union’s role in advocating for employees and is committed to fostering a collaborative and equitable workplace. This position requires adherence to workplace policies that uphold fair labor practices, promote employee engagement, and support constructive collaboration with union representatives.

Application Process

Please upload your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in CLASP’s mission and this position.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. You must submit all materials requested and follow the instructions outlined above to be considered. NO PHONE CALLS, please.

CLASP is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law.

>> Apply here.