Democrats for Education Reform

• Draft press releases, statements and campaign communications • Develop social media strategy and content • Build, cultivate, and maintain trusted relationships with reporters • Serve as a regional spokesperson and press contact • Monitor regional media narratives on education policy • Partner with the National Director and the Digital Manager to plan and execute digital campaigns • Collaborate on day-to-day execution of regional social media content • Help shape paid digital strategy for issue campaigns • Track, analyze, and report on earned and digital performance • Serve as a close thought partner to the National Director on messaging strategy • Stay fluent in the political landscape of priority states • Contribute to rapid-response operations • Work closely with the Campaigns and Partnership teams • Partner with the Graphic Designer & Digital Communications Manager to translate regional strategy into on-brand creative • Coordinate with outside consultants

• Chief of Staff to the President, acting as operational right hand. • Lead cross-functional projects and hold departments accountable to shared goals. • Manage internal operations, ensuring consistency and rigor in execution. • Supervise and support staff development, fostering a culture of accountability. • Navigate multi-entity operations, ensuring compliance with legal constraints. • Oversee core operational systems to support the organization's mission and growth.

ROLE: Chief of Staff  LOCATION:​ Remote; Hybrid if within 30 miles of Providence, Rhode Island  POSITION TYPE: Exempt, Full-time TRAVEL REQUIREMENT: 10% START DATE: ASAP REPORTS TO: President  ROLE OVERVIEW  Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) seeks a driven and mission-aligned Chief of Staff to serve as the operational right hand to the President of our multi-entity organization, which includes a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and Political Action Committee (PAC). This is a unique opportunity for a mission-driven, highly organized, and politically savvy leader to work at the core of one of the most influential education advocacy efforts in the center-left ecosystem. DFER is led by a Chief Executive Officer who serves as the organization's primary external face — setting organizational vision, representing DFER in the broader policy, advocacy and philanthropic landscape, and leading its most senior external relationships. The President operates as a trusted senior leader within that structure, with a distinct and complementary focus: translating organizational vision into operational and systemic success, driving cross-functional execution, managing internal accountability, and stewarding the culture and capacity of the team. The Chief of Staff reports directly to the President and serves as a force multiplier for that work. Carrying the President's delegated authority on internal matters, the Chief of Staff will lead cross-functional projects, hold departments accountable to shared goals, and ensure the organization executes with the consistency and rigor the mission demands. The COS will escalate to the President on decisions that require presidential judgment, but will otherwise be empowered to act, coordinate, and drive on the President's behalf. Over time, the Chief of Staff may assume direct supervisory responsibility for one or two functions. THE ORGANIZATION Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a national political organization that supports elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies and practices that work well for America’s students and confront those that do not. We prioritize students and families, especially low-income students and students of color who should be better served by our country’s public education system.  DFER partner Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA) is an advocacy group that advances education reform measures through empowering community leaders to support our legislative and political advocacy work. ERNA keeps constant pressure on legislators to champion high-quality public education.  DFER partner Education Reform Now (ERN) is a nonpartisan think tank that promotes increased resources and innovative reforms in K-12 public education, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families.  WHAT WE DO  Support Forward-Thinking Education Leaders — In an approach that is markedly different from our peers and partners in the field, DFER engages directly with candidates and elected officials to empower them to advocate for education policies that focus foremost on serving students. Our partner organization, Education Reform Now, does work that involves policy research, analysis and education that helps policy makers at all levels understand complex education issues and make informed decisions.  Inform the Education Debate — Our coalition work reflects the breadth of our policy priorities. We work collaboratively with organizations and our community networks to create an education system that serves and is held accountable to all students and families. Targeted Interventions and Rapid Response — DFER’s reach, from the most local district relationships to state and federal policymakers, enables us to respond quickly to the changing landscape and policy trends. Activities vary significantly from project to project and may include training, policy analysis, public engagement, electoral and issue advocacy, and policy guidance for elected officials and local advocates. ROLE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF The Chief of Staff is the President's most trusted operational partner — a cross-functional project leader and internal authority who carries the President's delegated mandate to drive execution, accountability, and organizational health across the full team. Where the CEO leads the organization externally and the President focuses on operational and systemic success internally, the Chief of Staff extends the President's reach and capacity, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks and that the organization moves as one. The Chief of Staff is empowered to make decisions on the President's behalf in defined areas, coordinate across departments without requiring presidential involvement at every step, and escalate to the President when decisions require presidential judgment — including anything that touches the CEO's purview, external relationships, or major resource and strategy calls. Over time, the COS may take on direct supervisory responsibility for one or two functions as organizational needs evolve. More specifically, the Chief of Staff will focus on the following priorities: Lead Cross-Functional Projects and Organizational Priorities The Chief of Staff will serve as the operational lead on the President's highest-priority cross-functional initiatives — building project structures, convening the right people, tracking progress, and driving workstreams to completion. Rather than owning a single functional area, the COS operates across the organization, cutting through silos and keeping teams moving in alignment. This includes maintaining a clear organizational calendar, managing cross-functional dependencies, and proactively surfacing obstacles before they require presidential intervention. Exercise Delegated Presidential Authority Internally The Chief of Staff carries the President's delegated authority on internal operational matters — meaning staff and department heads can expect the COS to speak and act with the weight of the President's office on defined issues. The COS will establish clear escalation norms in partnership with the President: decisions within the COS's mandate are made and communicated; decisions that require presidential judgment are surfaced promptly with a clear recommendation. This empowers the organization to move quickly without over-relying on the President's direct bandwidth. Build and Maintain a Culture of Accountability The Chief of Staff will establish and steward clear systems of accountability across teams — ensuring that departments set measurable goals, report progress consistently, and course-correct when needed. By increasing internal communication and cross-functional knowledge sharing, the COS will help drive organizational effectiveness and productivity. This includes leading internal team meetings, staff rhythms, planning cycles, and annual goal-setting processes in partnership with the President. Navigate Multi-Entity Operations and Compliance A defining feature of this role is the ability to operate fluently across the organization’s multiple entity structure: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 527.. The Chief of Staff will work closely with outside legal counsel and finance leadership to ensure that staff activities, communications, and resource allocations respect the legal constraints governing each entity — including, but not limited to, lobbying disclosure requirements, contribution rules.. The Chief of Staff will be a knowledgeable, calm resource for staff navigating these boundaries in their daily work. Oversee Internal Operations and Organizational Infrastructure The Chief of Staff will ensure that core operational systems — including financial management, HR, compliance, and technology — support the organization's mission and growth. While the COS may not yet hold formal supervisory authority over all functional areas, they will be the President's primary operational liaison, assessing processes, implementing improvements, and ensuring the organization's infrastructure can scale with its ambitions. Support Staff Leadership and Organizational Culture The Chief of Staff will model and reinforce a culture of high performance, inclusion, and purpose across the team. Working in close partnership with department heads, the COS will support staff development, address internal challenges proactively, and help foster an environment where all staff feel valued and equipped to do their best work. The COS will champion the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all internal practices and people systems.

• Design and lead a comprehensive national and state strategy to build stakeholder support for FSTC opt-in across priority states, with an eye toward the 2026 gubernatorial election cycle • Develop and manage state-specific plans, working closely with in-state coalition partners and policymakers • Track gubernatorial and legislative developments in target states and adapt strategy in real time • Synthesize data and research provided by our policy team and partner organizations to develop state-specific messaging and advocacy materials, such as factsheets, webinar presentations and toolkits • Direct targeted multi-channel digital communications campaigns in 4–5 high-priority states to illustrate FSTC’s benefits for families • Present results of polling and public opinion research, including national polls and deep-dive state-level polling in target states • Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with center-left governors, gubernatorial candidates, and their senior staff on both official and campaign sides • Build and sustain a structured coalition of national and state partners—including school choice and charter advocates, youth-serving organizations, and community groups—to ensure alignment and amplify advocacy efforts • Oversee budgets across 3 entities, ensuring resources are allocated effectively across communications, lobbying, polling, research, and coalition activities • Direct outside consultants and manage vendor relationships • Report to senior leadership and contribute to organizational fundraising by demonstrating campaign impact • Supporting organizational engagement in the 2028 presidential election cycle, including stakeholder outreach and voter-facing education advocacy • Identifying and launching new mission-aligned state and federal initiatives aligned • Building out organizational infrastructure—systems, processes, and partnerships—to support a growing multi-initiative operation

Senior Director of Partnerships & Advocacy   National Programs Team Location: Remote, or Hybrid if within 30 miles of Providence, RI Position Type: Exempt, Full-time Travel Requirements:  20% Travel Start Date: ASAP Reports to:  Vice President, National Programs and External Affairs   ROLE OVERVIEW Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and its partner organizations, Education Reform Now (ERN) and Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Director of Partnerships and Advocacy to lead high-impact national and state-level initiatives that advance educational opportunity for families across the country—especially low-income families and families of color. This is a leadership role designed to grow over time. The Senior Director of Partnerships & Advocacy will initially focus with urgency and full investment on the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC)—a transformative and time-sensitive opportunity to expand available education dollars for families in states across the country. With 36 states holding gubernatorial elections in 2026, the window to build political will and secure FSTC opt-in commitments is immediate and consequential. Success in this phase will require rapid coalition building, deep government relations work, and sophisticated multi-state execution. As the FSTC initiative matures, this role will evolve to lead other major organizational priorities adjacent to continued FSTC advocacy. These may include initiatives relevant to the 2028 presidential election cycle, emerging federal and state education policy opportunities, and other strategic initiatives where we seek to shape the national education landscape. The Senior Director of Partnerships & Advocacy will help define and build the organizational infrastructure for these future initiatives while executing on immediate priorities.   Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the United States and will be required to submit proof of eligibility. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. WHO WE ARE Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a national political organization that supports elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies and practices that work well for America’s students and confront those that do not. We are education advocates who prioritize students and families, especially low-income students and students of color who should be better served by our country’s education system. Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA) is an advocacy group that advances education reform measures through executive and legislative engagement strategies and political advocacy work. ERNA keeps constant pressure on elected officials to champion policy that drives progress towards a high-quality public education system for low-income students and students of color. Education Reform Now (ERN) is a nonpartisan think tank that promotes increased resources and innovative reforms in K–12 public education, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families. WHAT WE DO 1. Support for Forward-Thinking Education Leaders — In an approach that is markedly different from our peers and partners in the field, DFER engages directly with candidates and elected officials to empower them to advocate for education policies that focus foremost on serving students. Our partner organization, Education Reform Now, does work that involves policy research, analysis and education that helps policy makers at all levels understand complex education issues and make informed decisions.  2. Informing the Education Debate — Our coalition work reflects the breadth of our policy priorities. We work collaboratively with organizations and our community networks to create an education system that serves and is held accountable to all students and families. 3. Targeted Interventions and Rapid Response — DFER’s reach, from the most local district relationships to state and federal policymakers, enables us to respond quickly to the changing landscape and policy trends. Activities vary significantly from project to project and may include training, policy analysis, public engagement, electoral and issue advocacy, and policy guidance for elected officials and local advocates. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The responsibilities of the Senior Director of Partnerships and Advocacy will be shaped by the campaign cycle and organizational priorities at any given time. In the near term, they will center on FSTC; over time they will expand to encompass additional initiatives. Immediate Focus: FSTC Initiative Leadership (2025–2026) The FSTC represents an urgent and time-limited opportunity. The Senior Director of Partnerships and Advocacy will be expected to move quickly and execute with precision on the following: - Design and lead a comprehensive national and state strategy to build stakeholder support for FSTC opt-in across priority states, with an eye toward the 2026 gubernatorial election cycle. - Develop and manage state-specific plans, working closely with in-state coalition partners and policymakers. - Track gubernatorial and legislative developments in target states and adapt strategy in real time. - Synthesize data and research provided by our policy team and partner organizations to develop state-specific messaging and advocacy materials, such as factsheets, webinar presentations and toolkits.  - Direct targeted multi-channel digital communications campaigns in 4–5 high-priority states to illustrate FSTC’s benefits for families. - Present results of polling and public opinion research, including national polls and deep-dive state-level polling in target states. Ongoing: Government Relations & Coalition Building - Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with center-left governors, gubernatorial candidates, and their senior staff on both official and campaign sides. - Build and sustain a structured coalition of national and state partners—including school choice and charter advocates, youth-serving organizations, and community groups—to ensure alignment and amplify advocacy efforts. Ongoing: Organizational & Budget Management - Oversee budgets across 3 entities, ensuring resources are allocated effectively across communications, lobbying, polling, research, and coalition activities. - Direct outside consultants and manage vendor relationships. - Report to senior leadership and contribute to organizational fundraising by demonstrating campaign impact. Future: Expanded Initiative Scope As the FSTC campaign reaches key milestones, the Director of Partnerships and Advocacy will take on additional portfolios. Anticipated areas of expansion include: - Supporting organizational engagement in the 2028 presidential election cycle, including stakeholder outreach and voter-facing education advocacy. - Identifying and launching new mission-aligned state and federal initiatives aligned. - Building out organizational infrastructure—systems, processes, and partnerships—to support a growing multi-initiative operation. COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Democrats for Education Reform welcomes applications from all, and strongly encourages women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ people to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization and recruiting a team that reflects the diversity of the students we serve.

• direct and oversee the integrated management of all organizational aspects related to the operational infrastructure, finance and accounting, and human resources functions • Lead efforts to manage the organization's financial resources • Sustain robust financial systems and internal controls • Provide strategic financial guidance and support to the executive leadership team • Lead the annual audit and 990 preparation process • Sustain organizational operations, including IT hardware and technology tools • Lead all aspects of human resources • Manage a team of staff and consultants