Program Director, Policy & Advocacy

ACT, Inc.
life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k)
United States, Iowa, Iowa City
Jan 26, 2026
At ACT, Your Work Makes a Difference Education has power - a power that changes lives forever. It creates opportunities that lift up individuals, their families, and sparks societal change that echoes through generations to come. From our grassroots we have fought the good fight for inclusivity in education, and we remain devoted to helping anyone who struggles to access that power. This is what matters to us and we must do better -- we've never been more sure of our purpose. ACT team members are part of an organization dedicated to a mission that has never been more important: Helping people achieve education and workplace success. Advancing that mission within our organization, by helping our team members achieve education and workplace success of their own, is core to our values. ACT values a diverse workplace and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which every team member has an equal opportunity to grow. We want our team members to have the well-being and confidence they need to do their best work, in an environment where both they and ACT thrive. To support this, our total rewards include company paid life insurance, medical, dental, vision, flexible health and dependent spending accounts, 401(k) retirement savings with company match, paid holidays, paid time off, and so much more. You can find a comprehensive list of our benefits here. We are seeking a Program Director, Policy and Advocacy to help us fulfill that mission. The Program Director, Policy and Advocacy leads the development, prioritization, and execution of ACT's state and federal policy and advocacy strategy across assigned states to advance education and workforce outcomes aligned with ACT's mission. This role develops strategies to influence state education and workforce policy, builds relationships with key policymakers and influencers, and partners closely with internal teams to ensure ACT's perspectives and solutions are effectively represented at national and state levels, including through their leadership of the annual ACT Summit. The finalist will be hired at the salary and level commensurate with their qualifications. For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary in the range of $120,000 to $135,000. ACT manages salaries within the range based on relevant factors including, skills, experience, and internal equity. This position is incentive-eligible. Location: This is a remote position, based in the United States. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship. What you will be working on: Manages strategic development and execution of ACT's national K-WF convening, including session and speaker selection and management, agenda and engagement creation, policy and product integration, and leadership of cross-functional teams. Directs ACT's state and federal policy projects across assigned states, aligning policy priorities with ACT's mission, products, and long-term goals. Establishes and maintains trusted relationships with state-level policymakers and influencers, including State Departments of Education, Higher Education, Workforce Services, and external advocacy organizations to advance ACT's policy priorities. Monitors, analyzes and interprets state and federal education and workforce policy trends, legislation, regulations, and assessment/accountability systems to identify opportunities, risks and implications for ACT. Develops and communicates policy positions, recommendations, and thought leadership that inform decision-makers and advance evidence-based practices aligned with ACT's strategy. Translates ACT research, data, and insights into compelling policy narratives that influence decision-makers and drive action. Collaborates with internal stakeholders (e.g., government relations, research, product, legal, and business units) to ensure coordinated and consistent policy positions and messaging. Represents ACT in coalitions, advisory groups, hearings, and public forums, serving as a subject-matter expert on assessment, college and career readiness, and workforce alignment. Provides strategic guidance to leadership on policy implications that may affect ACT initiatives, partnerships, or market environments. Supports advocacy planning by preparing briefings, analyses, testimony, and background materials for internal and external audiences. Tracks, evaluates and reports on advocacy activities, policy outcomes, and stakeholder engagement to inform leadership decision-making and ensure alignment with organizational goals. Role Progression: At the end of 3 months you will have: Support ongoing effort for Summit 2026 planning. Begin preparation for 2027 Summit, including April on-site meeting in Nashville. Within 6 months you will: 2026 Summit completed successfully, with focus on learning about the event, planning processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. 2027 Summit registration open, RFP and speaker planning underway. Develop plan and timeline for policy projects to be completed in FY26 (e.g., creating policy collateral). Within 12 months you will: Established leadership role in planning the Summit including full involvement in all relevant meetings/processes. Directing range of policy projects beyond the Summit. This could be the job for you if you have (minimum requirements): At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in education, workforce, public policy, government relations, or advocacy, including experience leading or shaping policy strategy and engaging senior-level stakeholders. Demonstrated experience working with state-level policy environments, including education or workforce systems. Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic organizational convenings. Strong understanding of education and workforce policy landscapes, including assessment, accountability, and college and career readiness. Experience in developing and executing strategic convenings, with strong preference for experience with large, national-level policy or practitioner events. Understanding of product roadmap, user needs, and competitive assessment, education, and workforce environments. Demonstrated ability to influence, advise and engage senior state-level leaders and policymakers. Ability to analyze complex policy issues and translate them into clear, actionable strategic recommendations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including briefing and presentation skills for executive and policy audiences. Ability to work collaboratively across internal teams and with external partners. Demonstrates strategic thinking and ability to anticipate policy implications for organizational strategy and market environments. Actively promotes diverse perspectives and engages with a broad range of stakeholders. Adaptable and effective in fast-changing policy and political environments. Self-starter with strong organizational skills and follow-through. Ability to travel (approx. 15-25%) and manage relationships with leaders at the federal and state level. Skills and knowledge required for success in this position attained through experience, education (Bachelor's degree in Education, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, or a related field), or a combination of both. It's a plus if you have: Experience in education policy, assessment policy, or accountability systems. Prior work with a state education agency, legislature, governor's office, or advocacy organization. Familiarity with K-12, postsecondary, and workforce policy intersections. Experience supporting or leading coalitions or multi-stakeholder advocacy efforts. Background in translating research or data into evidence-based policy recommendations. About ACT When ACT was founded in 1959, it disrupted the assessment industry with a new approach to helping students better understand their readiness so they could take steps to improve it. By leveraging our expertise and authority in assessment and research, we will again disrupt the industry-helping more people learn, better measure their progress, and improve their navigation through life's transitions. More than ever before, ACT is fulfilling its mission of helping people achieve education and workplace success. We're doing it by pushing the boundaries of learning innovation through the work of our people, who we call team members because we're all in this together. We know transformation does not come without challenge. That's why ACT invests in a variety of experiences for team members to strengthen their connections, explore ideas, learn from customers, and celebrate success. Learn more about working at ACT at act.org! ACT is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. ACT participates in E-verify. ACT's online position announcements are intended only to provide general descriptions of employment opportunities; none of the information provided for any position should be interpreted as a commitment by ACT to specific terms and conditions for employment. Completion of the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate is recommended. Find a testing site near you to register for the WorkKeys assessments. Finalists for this position will be subject to a criminal background check as a condition of employment. If you have received an ACT employment-related communication from an email address that is not affiliated with @act.org and/or that requests personal or financial information, please do not reply. Instead, reach out to us at careers@act.org with the details. ACT's recruitment team appreciates your interest in working with us to transform college and career readiness pathways for all learners and wishes you the best of luck in your career journey.