Description

Hawaii Children’s Action Network (HCAN) is hiring a Public Policy Lead with a focus on Education and Early Childhood. This person serves as a core member of our public policy and legislative team and is an experienced community leader grounded in anti-oppression principles and committed to systemic change alongside parents and families in Hawaii.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director or their assignee, Public Policy Leads co-create advocacy agendas directly with families (e.g., Ohana Leadership Council) and community partners (e.g., Hawaii Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, Hawaii Children's Policy Agenda), share decision-making power, and build collective grassroots momentum. Public Policy Leads collaboratively manage a portfolio of policy work, including, but not limited to, overseeing assigned parts of HCAN's public policy agenda development process, forming and leading coalitions, conducting training, and executing campaigns that advance HCAN's priorities. This is an exempt, full-time position that reports to HCAN's Executive Director or assignee.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Administrative Management and Leadership

• Works with the Executive Director or their assignee to research, develop, and execute policy plans, campaigns, and initiatives.
• Under the guidance of the Executive Director, coordinates, monitors, and documents day-to-day operational progress for an assigned portfolio.  
• Represents HCAN at meetings, community events, and on state and community workgroups, task forces, and commissions, on an as-needed basis. 
• Supports the Research and Evaluation unit to transform HCAN into a teaching/learning organization.  Ensures that placed students (interns, fellows, practicum students) are integrated into policy and programmatic efforts.  

Public Policy and Advocacy (May be as part of 501c3 or c4 as appropriate)

• Keeps the executive director and other relevant HCAN staff informed of policy activities and outcomes.
• Leads complex policy research and analysis to interpret statutes, regulations, budget structures, and data, producing actionable insights that guide organizational strategy.
• Facilitates participatory meetings, workshops, and training to gather diverse insights. This includes working collaboratively with families and community partners to develop policy options, strategic recommendations, and implementation pathways, including scenario modeling, feasibility assessments, and identification of administrative levers.
• Creates and/or coordinates the development of reports, guides, scorecards, issue briefs, testimony, and special reports.
• Researches proposed legislation, ordinances, agency rules, and regulations. 
• Responds to requests for information on a broad range of issues related to child and family well-being, education, and early learning.  
• Provides supervision for other staff, volunteers, and interns as needed.

Coalition Building and Engagement

• Builds, coordinates, and manages a portfolio of coalitions on children’s issues.  Plans and facilitates participatory coalition meetings, as needed.  
• Works closely with the Family Engagement Team to build and support a continuum of family and community participation in coalitions.
• Engages with state policy partners. Serves as an information hub by monitoring and keeping HCAN leadership informed and up-to-date on national-level work and opportunities in their portfolio area.  Supports other policy staff in this area at the state level.  
• Delivers updates and conducts training on policy priorities/implications and legislative processes for staff and stakeholders, on an as-needed basis.

Development

• Works closely with the Executive Director and Operations and Development Director/team to prospect and develop new funding sources. 
• Works closely with the Executive Director and Operations and Development Director/team to manage grant and contract writing and compliance efforts. 
• Supports the Operations and Development Director/team with donor/member relations, including special events, solicitations, and acknowledgments.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with funders, donors, and other appropriate collaborative partners, community networks, and collaterals.

Other functions as assigned

• Acts as a resource to the Board of Directors of the 501(c)(4), HCAN staff, and appropriate Board committees.
• Under the leadership of the Executive Director, leads special projects on an as-needed basis.