The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research, policy, and advocacy organization committed to promoting access to and success for all students regardless of race, background, or circumstance. Established in 1993, IHEP provides timely, evidence-based, and student-centered research to inform policy decisions and address our nation’s most pressing education challenges.

JOB SUMMARY:

IHEP seeks a Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs (VP) to join its leadership team and lead the Communications and Government Affairs team, which connects our research and policy recommendations with people across the country, including policymakers at the federal, state, and institutional levels, who have the power to shape higher education. This is an exciting time for IHEP, as the mission-driven nonprofit prepares to embark on its fourth decade of equity-driven, evidence-based research, policy, and advocacy. IHEP is undertaking a strategic planning effort to chart a course toward implementing a vision in which higher education reaches its full potential to build a more equitable and just society, with a particular focus Black, Latinx and/or Hispanic, Indigenous, and underserved Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, and students from low-income backgrounds. The new VP will provide crucial leadership toward making this vision a reality. This position will be charged with crafting and disseminating compelling messages through strategic use of IHEP channels; advocacy strategy and policymaker engagement; media outreach, including traditional press engagement and editorial content development; and partner and coalition engagement.

Although IHEP is headquartered in Washington, D.C., it has been operating fully virtually since March 2020 with multiple team members living outside the D.C. area on a permanent basis. As public health conditions allow, we are shifting to a hybrid environment that facilitates both virtual and in-person work, including intentional in-person time for all-staff to connect, build cohesion, and bond. We welcome remote applicants for this position with the understanding that this role will require regular in-person attendance at meetings in the D.C. area and additional travel outside the D.C. area.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communications:

• Design and implement a robust communications strategy to crystallize our message, expand our reach, and deepen our impact.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of IHEP’s communications function, including branding, planning, and maintaining a communications calendar, proactively planning end-to-end workflows, and remaining knowledgeable and informed about the status of all tasks that fall under the communications function.
• Lead IHEP’s media outreach efforts, including initiating media contacts, press briefings, and interviews; providing talking points and other materials as needed for senior staff; and responding to media inquiries quickly and effectively.
• Manage and coordinate the production of a diverse range of products (including research reports, policy briefs, videos, infographics, etc.) tailored to specific audiences to help tell our story and devise strategic dissemination strategies for all IHEP products.
• Craft compelling press releases, official statements, opinion pieces, and blog posts for IHEP senior leadership.
• Refine, implement, and effectively manage a social media strategy and presence for IHEP.
• Update, refine, and evolve IHEP’s website regularly to maintain fresh content and a user-friendly design.

Government Affairs:

• Craft and implement policy and advocacy strategies designed to advance IHEP’s policy priorities and vision through legislative, regulatory and non-regulatory work with governmental agencies; at the federal, state, and local levels; and in partnership with other organizations.
• Lead and/or oversee strategic relationships with policymakers, including Congressional staff, Department of Education staff, and state lawmakers to communicate IHEP’s positions and maximize IHEP’s policy influence.
• Collaborate with Leadership Team, Research Team, and IHEP’s policy consultants to design IHEP’s advocacy agenda and strategic goals; and with IHEP’s Research Team to maximize the impact of strategic field engagement.
• Maintain thorough, real-time understanding of ongoing legislative and regulatory developments related to IHEP’s policy agenda, including political analyses and partner positioning, and communicate those updates internally to inform IHEP actions.
• Prepare senior leadership for high-profile speaking engagements, including but not limited to drafting oral and written testimony.
• Oversee processing, tracking, and endorsement recommendations for legislation, sign-on letters, and partners’ advocacy actions.
• Oversee rapid response to policymaker requests, to be conducted by Government Affairs Associate, in close collaboration with Research Team.
• Create and manage innovative advocacy campaigns and other related activities.
• Ensure organizational compliance with all lobbying rules and regulations by maintaining an ongoing understanding of requirements and ensuring all staff and contractors remain aware of and complaint with requirements.

Team and Organizational Leadership:

• Oversee the strategic direction of the Communications and Government Affairs team, including managing, coaching, and cultivating professional growth of two direct reports.
• Manage the Communications and Government Affairs team budget and ensure efficient use of organizational resources, which includes close coordination with the Finance department and Research Team to identify, track, and manage communications and advocacy-specific funding sources.
• As a member of the Leadership Team, contribute to leadership discussions through creative, nimble, and open-minded thought partnership and problem-solving to address organization-wide topics such as staffing, business models, fundraising, priority-setting, and strategic positioning on issues of higher education policy and advocacy.
• Assist in IHEP’s organizational and strategic planning, including setting annual goals and key performance indicators, informing the annual budget process, Board engagement, and strategic policy priorities.
• Create a sense of community, collaboration, transparency, and candor that fosters equity, inclusion, diversity, goodwill, and professional growth among all colleagues.
• Serve as an ambassador and deepen IHEP’s relationships with partnering organizations, funders, policymakers, practitioners, and other key stakeholders through close collaboration with both the IHEP President and the Vice President of Research and Policy.
• Collaborate with Research Team and President to grow and diversify funding, particularly to secure funding for communications and government affairs staff and activities.
• Establish metrics and regularly evaluate the results and impact of our communications and government affairs efforts.
• Work with external consultants and manage outside vendors, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCES, and SKILLS:

IHEP seeks a leader who is passionate about higher education as a vehicle for social mobility and racial justice; committed to crisp messaging, strategic positioning, and deliberate policymaker engagement; and knowledgeable about higher education policy. An ideal candidate will have at least ten years of work experience building and proving a combination of the following qualifications, experiences, and skills:

• Knowledge of and experience with communications strategies, policy mechanisms, and advocacy strategies.
• Established relationships to media, as well as a demonstrated ability to develop, maintain, and build upon strong media and partner relationships.
• Proven success positioning subject matter with national, regional, and local media to achieve high-impact results.
• Strong analytic, critical and strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Experience managing a diverse team of people in ways that both contribute to the larger organizational good and promote each individual’s professional growth.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow through and push projects to completion amidst competing responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, work under pressure in a fast-paced environment, and remain flexible and adaptable, as well as strong interpersonal skills to work effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to building and maintaining a healthy, respectful, and inclusive organizational culture that prioritizes diversity and equity.
• Knowledge of and passion for issues related to racial and socioeconomic equity, postsecondary data and transparency, college affordability, college access and completion, and/or college value.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills, especially for describing complex subject matter in clear and concise ways.
• Self-motivated and eager contributor to a team who shares in the accolades of successes.
• Desire to continuously improve skills and develop professionally.

WORKING at IHEP:

IHEP recognizes that a talented and justice-focused, diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce benefits individual, partners, and IHEP as a whole. We recognize that all employees bring their own capabilities, experiences, and characteristics to their work. At IHEP, diversity encompasses differences including, but not limited to, those of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, religion, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family responsibilities, experience, and education. The wide array of perspectives that results from such diversity promotes innovation and business success, further supporting the organization’s mission.

IHEP values a healthy work-life balance and offers a comprehensive benefits package with generous paid time off; health, dental, vision benefits; 401K matching; life and disability insurance, flexible work arrangements, and other benefits. Salary is commensurate with experience. The starting salary range for the position is $140,000-170,000.

For the safety and wellbeing of our staff, IHEP requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with a primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, J&J/Janssen, or Novavax) as a condition of employment.

HOW to APPLY:

Interested candidates should apply here by submitting a cover letter and resume.

The Institute for Higher Education Policy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity in all facets of the organization’s work.

IHEP participates in E-Verify and confirms all employees are authorized to work in the United States through a Form I-9. For more about your right to work, see this information from the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section of the Department of Justice.