Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow

Join Our Talented Team! The Southern Education Foundation, Inc. (SEF), located in Atlanta Georgia, seeks an Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow to direct SEF’s emerging early childhood education initiative. Founded in 1867, SEF’s mission is to advance equity and excellence in education for all students in the South, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families. SEF uses advocacy, leadership development, research, and strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations to improve outcomes in early childhood through early adulthood. SEF believes education is the vehicle by which all students get fair chances to develop their talents and contribute to the common good. For more than 156 years, SEF has also substantially improved opportunities for young learners and students from birth through 16.

The ideal Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow candidate will possess a robust understanding of prenatal, infant, childcare, pre-K, and other Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs and policies. The candidate must also have a history of effectively advocating for ECE policies at the local, state, or federal level.

This position reports to the Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. To learn more about SEF, visit www.southerneducation.org.

The Opportunity:

The ECE Senior Fellow will elevate SEF’s portfolio of work to improve and increase support for young children in the South. This person will manage SEF’s ECE overall strategy and portfolio of work. In coordination with SEF’s Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, the ECE Senior Fellow’s primary responsibility will be to direct the Southern Early Childhood Education Justice (SECEJ) network, a new SEF-sponsored, multi-year, multi-state initiative that seeks to improve state and federal policies and make transformative educational improvements for the region’s youngest children of color. The ECE Senior Fellow will provide internal and external leadership for the SECEJ project, coordinate efforts with associated partner organizations, and provide technical assistance to a growing network of ECE advocates and policy partners.

The ECE Senior Fellow will bolster SEF’s early childhood agenda by responding to the region’s most pressing policies and challenges by learning from and listening to partners, analyzing, and understanding relevant data and research, and determining when conditions are ripe for shifts in state and federal policies. The ECE Senior Fellow will also work collaboratively across the organization with other SEF leaders, such as the Director of Research and Policy, early learning staff members, and partner organizations, on strategy and the execution of workplans.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead a state and national network of early childhood education advocates to advance racial equity in the early childhood education sector.

Perform data analysis and coordinate community-based advocacy bootcamps.

Develop or coordinate a series of policy briefs and ECE related fact sheets.

Assist in the development of advocacy tactics tailored to six southern states and support the work of other network partners.

Develop a regional early childhood education advocacy agenda in collaboration with national and state-based partners.

Disseminate ECE data, research, and advocacy opportunities across communities, families, schools, ECE programs, and with other key partners.

Serve as a regional ECE leader and identify new opportunities to expand equity in early childhood education throughout the South.

Connect and collaborate with other ECE organizations, forging strong external relationships that benefit young children and their families.

Provide guidance and advising on policy, build connections with policymakers, and work collaboratively across disciplines and with multiple partners.

Develop network programming, meeting agendas, and other relevant collateral to facilitate network convenings, and lead other capacity-building discussions with a diverse set of partners online and in-person.

Draft memos and grant-related reports, as needed, including midpoint, annual, and final summaries along with other associated materials for funders.

Educate SEF staff on key ECE issues, including notable benchmarks for improvement and collaborate with colleagues to align cross-sectional areas of work.

Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

A master’s degree is strongly preferred in a related field such as early childhood development/education, public policy, public health, or a related social science field. A bachelor’s degree is required.

Have a documented history of successfully managing state or federal ECE campaigns.

Possess government advocacy experience and an understanding of local, state, and federal policies that impact and govern ECE.

Have seven or more years of experience leading ECE or K-12 education advocacy efforts, conducting policy analysis, and leading advocacy coalitions.

Possess a deep commitment to educational equity and improving systems to support all children, but especially children of color and those who live in low-income households.

Demonstrate knowledge of the ECE policy landscape and key political factors, with a specific focus on program affordability, quality, workforce preparation, and retention.

Have a comprehensive understanding of the child development field.

Possess substantial knowledge of state and federal ECE policies and programs.

Demonstrate the capacity to translate ideas into action.

Possess excellent written, oral, and digital communication skills, great interpersonal skills, and the ability to distill and explain complex information to a variety of audiences and partners.

Have experience with private grants, grants administration, monitoring, and reporting requirements, along with tracking contracts and agreements.

Have stellar project management skills and the ability to facilitate the work of multiple teams, prioritizing competing demands in a fast-changing and highly collaborative environment.

Candidates should be able to organize and prioritize their workload effectively, complete multiple assignments, and meet various deadlines.

Advance skills in Excel/Google Sheets, Word/Google Docs, PowerPoint/Google Slides, comfortable using database software applications, online data-collection systems, and remote videoconferencing via Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Experience working independently and collaboratively with other staff members while displaying a positive demeanor.

Exhibit sensitivity to and respect for differences in personal, professional, and business relationships on behalf of SEF.

Have comfort with ambiguity and a sense of humor while exhibiting grace under pressure.

Available to travel up to 30.

Effectively communicate and embody the values, beliefs, purpose, and equity-focused mission of SEF as an organization.

Effectively advocate for increased access to affordable, high-quality early learning environments for young children and increased pay and benefits for the ECE workforce.

Possess significant professional experience in the public, academic, and nonprofit sectors.

Fundraising experience and the skills to contribute to the program’s long-term financial sustainability and growth.

This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday. Compensation for this role begins at $80,000 and is commensurate with experience including a competitive benefits package. This is a grant-funded position with funding currently in place for three years. Extending the position will depend on raising additional project funding beyond 2026. The Southern Education Foundation, Inc. is an Atlanta-based organization. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the organization.

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest 2) a current resume 3) names and contact information of three professional references to hr@southerneducation.org with Early Childhood Education Senior Fellow in the subject line of the email. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Southern Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Flexible work from home options available.