CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
HOURS AND WORK SCHEDULE: Full-Time. Hours are typically Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Occasional evening and weekend hours.
LOCATION: Hybrid – work is split between remote and in-person at shared offices in Greensboro or High Point, NC.
REPORTS TO: CEO
SALARY RANGE: $95,000 to $112,500. Compensation will be based on experience and education.
SUPERVISES: None
BENEFITS: Ready for School, Ready for Life (Ready Ready) is a Family Forward Certified Workplace by North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) and meets the standards outlined by the Family Forward NC initiative by offering policies and practices that support the health and well-being of North Carolina’s children and families. The benefits package includes health, dental, vision, group life insurance, a 4% 401(k) contribution, paid parental leave after 12 months, a generous holiday schedule, paid time off, a remote work stipend, and a flexible work schedule. A computer, monitor, docking station, keyboard, mouse, webcam, and printer will be provided. Ready Ready values professional development and offers opportunities for staff to strengthen and further develop their individual skill set.
ABOUT READY FOR SCHOOL, READY FOR LIFE
Ready Ready is committed to building a connected, innovative system of care that ensures every child in Guilford County is set up for lifelong learning and success. As a backbone organization, Ready Ready is not a direct service provider, but instead provides strategic and programmatic support to more than 300 community-based organizations, including educators, healthcare providers and social service agencies, serving our youngest children and their families—from prenatal through age 8.
Ready Ready was born in 2007 from a community effort focused on reducing poverty in Guilford County. In 2018, The Duke Endowment and Blue Meridian Partners joined this effort to promote economic and social mobility. Together, we are creating a long-term, comprehensive, evidence-based approach for systemic change that builds the capacity of community partners and fundamentally improves the lives of children in Guilford County. We are strengthening the collective system that connects families to the right services at the right time, using data to inform decisions, and measuring outcomes to ensure lasting impact.
We are excited to expand our team with mission-driven individuals who want to take this work to the next level and contribute to meaningful change for families and young children across Guilford County.
WHAT WE DO
Ready Ready works to ensure that all Guilford County children enter school with the skills, supports and opportunities they need to thrive in life. For parents, families and caregivers, we streamline the process for accessing support services so that their children have the foundation to start school strong and developmentally on track.
Specifically, we support partner organizations and public agencies providing direct service with the following:
Expansion and integration of evidence-informed and evidence-based programs.
Design and execution of an integrated data system.
Design and execution of a family-friendly navigation system.
Implementation of capacity building practices among service providers.
Rigorous evaluation of implementation and impact.
Ready Ready enhances this direct service through its collective impact backbone (intermediary) role in guiding vision and strategy, supporting aligned activities, establishing shared measurement practices, building public will, advancing policy, and mobilizing funding.
Please note that while we are deeply committed to supporting young children and their families, our work does not involve direct interaction with children with the exception of a few roles. Instead, we focus on equipping our partners with the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact in the community. That includes state agencies, medical home providers, education systems, and community-based organizations.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Policy Director leads Ready Ready’s efforts to shape policy and advocacy strategies that ensure every child in Guilford County enters school developmentally on track. This role provides strategic leadership in policy development, analysis, and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, while amplifying the voices of families and communities in decision-making. The Policy Director builds and sustains relationships with policymakers, community leaders, and advocacy partners, ensuring that Ready Ready’s policy agenda aligns with the organization’s mission, values, and strategic priorities. This position reports to the CEO and works closely with the leadership team, staff, and external partners to advance systems change in early childhood.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Policy Leadership
Develop, implement, and continuously refine Ready Ready’s policy agenda, grounded in data, community input, and research.
Monitor and analyze local, state, and federal policies, legislation, and regulations impacting early childhood systems.
Translate complex policy issues into clear, actionable information for staff, partners, and the community.
Identify emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in early childhood policy nationwide and assess relevance to Guilford County.
Advocacy and Partnerships
Build and maintain trusted relationships with elected officials, public agencies, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders.
Represent Ready Ready in coalitions, advisory groups, and community initiatives that advance early childhood policy and equity.
Create platforms and opportunities for families and community members to inform policy decisions and share lived experiences.
Lead strategic advocacy campaigns, ensuring alignment with Ready Ready’s mission and priorities.
Research and Analysis
Conduct rigorous policy research, prepare briefs, reports, and actionable recommendations to guide organizational and community decision-making.
Integrate evaluation findings and community insights into policy and advocacy strategies.
Assess the impact of proposed or existing policies on children and families, with a focus on equity and inclusion.
Organizational Support
Advise the CEO, Board of Directors, and leadership team on emerging policy trends, risks, and opportunities.
Partner with communications staff to craft compelling messaging, materials, and campaigns related to policy and advocacy.
Support fundraising and resource development by contributing policy-related content for grant proposals, reports, and donor communications.
General
Document, synthetize, and analyze job-related data to use for learning and improvement, to track progress, and to report to funders and other stakeholders.
Provide regular reports on progress to Ready Ready leadership team and liaise across other partners/consultants.
Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO and/or supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS
This is an outstanding opportunity to play a critical role in building a system of care for Guilford County’s youngest children and their families. Therefore, first and foremost, the Policy Director must be committed to the mission of Ready for School, Ready for Life. Additionally, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
Required
Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, social work, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum 7 years of experience in policy development, advocacy, or government relations, preferably in early childhood, education, or human services.
Deep understanding of local, state, and federal policy processes.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.
Proven ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships across sectors and communities.
Demonstrated experience elevating family and community voices in policy and advocacy efforts.
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of early childhood, education, and/or healthcare systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and comfort with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Zoom, shared drives).
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and Ready Ready’s mission of improving outcomes for children and families.
Desired
Experience working in North Carolina’s policy environment.
Established relationships with policymakers, advocacy organizations, and community leaders in the state.
Familiarity with early childhood systems, research, and best practices.