Partnership for Los Angeles Schools,

Manager of Research & Policy

Posted
14 days ago
Employment type
Full-Time
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Closing date

About this organization

Launched in 2007, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools’ mission is to transform schools to revolutionize school systems, empowering all students with a high-quality education. The Partnership is a non-profit, in-district partner to LA Unified, not a charter network. As an independent nonprofit organization, the Partnership serves 13,550 students across 20 LA Unified schools in Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. The Partnership works within the LA Unified School District context, which includes honoring all collective bargaining agreements for its teachers and school staff. To learn more about the Partnership, our mission, and how we approach our goals, please visit our website.

About this job

The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is seeking a Manager of Research & Policy to support the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts through high-quality research, policy and data analysis, and policy strategy. This position will play a key role in advancing educational equity by designing and leading research projects, co-developing multi-year campaign strategies, supporting family and community partnerships, and translating complex state and local policy landscapes into accessible and actionable insights.

The Manager of Research & Policy will collaborate closely with internal teams and community partners to ensure that policy positions reflect the lived experiences of students, families, and educators across Partnership schools. The role will also support external influence strategies by contributing to public-facing materials, presentations, and learning exchanges, supporting legislative analysis, and representing the Partnership in key external spaces. This position will report to the Director of Research & Policy.

Roles & responsibilities

Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Research & Strategy

  • Design and lead research projects in alignment with the Partnership’s policy, advocacy, and family engagement strategies, focused on generating actionable insights to inform policy and practice
  • Support the development and execution of a multi-year campaign strategy with a primary focus on Emergent Bilinguals and Equitable Staffing initiatives
  • Analyze and synthesize data from educators, families, Partnership schools, and publicly available datasets to shape policy positions, elevate key narratives, and ensure advocacy strategies reflect the experiences of community members
  • Ensure alignment between research, policy campaigns, and family and community engagement strategies through cross-functional collaboration

Policy Analysis & Influence

  • Develop policy briefs, memos, slide decks, and research summaries that translate complex data and policy landscapes for a range of audiences, including staff, educators, students, families, funders, media, and policymakers
  • Produce timely analyses of LAUSD board resolutions, budgets, and state legislative developments, providing clear takeaways and recommendations
  • Collaborate with the Director of Research & Policy to analyze local and state-level legislation and budgets, and identify timely opportunities for organizational sign-ons, advocacy, and alignment with broader policy priorities
  • Connect systemic research insights to school-level practice and implementation across the Partnership network
  • Support the design and facilitation of family leadership programs, including the Policy Advisory Board, Parent College, and United Parents for Educational Justice, contributing research insights and policy context to deepen learning and engagement
  • Integrate student, family, and educator perspectives into major research publications and advocacy pushes

External Engagement

  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with LAUSD’s Committee on External Research and Review (CERR)
  • Support the planning, coordination, and logistics for research-focused events, such as convenings, webinars, and briefings
  • Represent the Partnership in external meetings with policymakers, partner organizations, coalitions, research institutions, and other strategic spaces that foster research and policy analysis in our priority areas
  • Support student, family, and educator engagement in public advocacy efforts, including during mobilizations and the Partnership’s annual Advocacy Days event
  • Contribute to the creation and review of public-facing materials that communicate organizational perspectives and elevate the voices of impacted communities

Qualifications

  • 3-5 years of relevant experience, including significant experience with policy analysis, research, and advocacy
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to tailor content for diverse audiences (educators, families, policymakers, funders, media)
  • Strong research skills, including design and execution of qualitative and quantitative studies, data analysis, and synthesis of complex information into clear, accessible formats
  • Working knowledge of local and state K-12 education policy landscapes (e.g., staffing, funding, multilingual learners) and ability to analyze legislation, budgets, and district-level initiatives
  • Experience producing policy briefs, reports, fact sheets, and public-facing materials grounded in research and aligned with organizational priorities
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with attention to accuracy, timelines, and collaborative input across teams
  • Excellent organization and coordination skills with high attention to detail
  • Ability to travel between school sites and Partnership Home Office
  • Spanish language fluency (spoken and written), preferred
  • A deep belief in the power of our communities, the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values
  • A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all team members
  • A willingness to learn, grow, and model the Partnership competencies: Anti-racism, root cause analysis, long-term thinking, teaming and collaboration, psychological safety, and learning and growth

To apply

Please prepare your resume and a cover letter tailored to this position. You will submit your documents and application via the direct link.

Research shows that women and individuals from systemically marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications. While this job description outlines the major responsibilities and requirements to be successful in this role, the Partnership is committed to considering all applicants who are passionate about our mission and can see themselves excelling in this role – including those with diverse and non-traditional work experience.

For technical assistance or support for applying with a disability, please contact the Home Office Talent Team.

Direct link to post