Our impact is a direct result of our people

Careers at HCM

Director | State Policy & Strategy

ABOUT THIS ROLE

HCM Strategists (HCM) seeks a creative and motivated person to join our team as a Director, State Policy & Strategy.

Directors at HCM are policy experts sought out by clients for their analytical ability, problem solving, and strategic thinking. Working with Managing Directors and Partners, Directors cultivate and lead a body of work with the intention of developing a core area of expertise. Directors can be generalists or have deep content expertise in a particular policy area. For this Director position, we are seeking individuals with experience in one or more of the following areas: affordability policies, workforce pathways, strategic planning, and goal and/or policy agenda development. The focus of the Director’s portfolio of projects may shift over time based on their interests, strengths, needs of the team, and their contribution to creating additional business opportunities.

Directors are core to the successful delivery of HCM’s high-quality content and solutions for its clients. They combine analytical, project and people management, and communication skills to support projects. Directors at HCM have advised foundations on trends in state policy and emerging opportunities for impact, supported states in identifying and replicating best practices, and helped institutions set and execute strategic priorities that improve students’ outcomes. A Director will manage major project workstreams, engage external stakeholders, cultivate collaboration, and lead key initiatives from start to finish. The Director will be responsible for background research and analysis work as well as leading client meetings, facilitating workgroups, and presenting to the field.

HCM is a fully remote firm with staff located around the U.S. HCM places students at the center of our work – particularly those who have been not well served by the traditional system of postsecondary education – and focuses on eliminating inequities that continue to place far too many students at a disadvantage in pursuing and completing a postsecondary credential. Our postsecondary clients include foundations, state and national not-for-profit organizations, state government agencies, colleges and universities.

The Director, State Policy & Strategy will serve as a key member of the team directing and supporting a variety of work streams.

- Full time
- Remote. Employees are provided a laptop (choice of either a PC or a Mac) and a monthly cell phone stipend.
- Travel: This position may require up to 40% travel; therefore, the candidate must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Compensation and Benefits: HCM offers a competitive compensation package that includes base salary, 401k contributions and incentive bonuses throughout the year (contingent upon the firm’s performance). HCM also provides benefits that include paid time off, sick leave, parental leave, and company paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance. Employees are provided an annual allocation for professional development. The typical pay range for this position is between $100,000-$156,000. Final salary determinations will be based on experience.
Responsibilities across all Director-level positions include, but are not limited to:
- Provides content-level support on client projects, including, but not limited to:
  - Developing, executing, and continually monitoring a strategy for supporting state policy leaders on state attainment goals and agendas.
  - Policy and/or research analysis, including data analysis and qualitative research strategies.
  - Creating and delivering content and assistance to clients through tools, convenings, research syntheses, and other forms of technical assistance.
  - Presenting at, leading, facilitating and/or supporting the content for meetings.
  - Producing near-final written and/or verbal deliverables with limited to no oversight.
  - Producing and assisting in the quality control and finalization of client deliverables.
  - Representing the firm and running client calls and meetings independently.
- Is a content expert in one or more areas and is viewed as such by clients and identifies, stays abreast and contributes to the firm’s and the field’s knowledge base of current policies, legislation, practices and trends.
- Manages and facilitates workgroups and task forces comprised of state policymakers and other diverse stakeholders, including planning and leading meetings and building consensus towards solutions to complex policy challenges.
- Represents the firm or client at briefings, hearings and meetings.
- Possesses or has as an established network within the field and can advance or engage those relationships on behalf of the firm’s work. Actively works to increase that established network.
- Assists in idea creation, problem and solution formulation and business climate assessment.
- Directors may supervise an Associate Director or Policy Fellow. The position does not have a direct report at this time.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Has particular education or workforce policy content expertise, with a minimum 7 years working in/with public policy and research, state education or workforce agencies, institutions of higher education, advocacy, communications, and/or philanthropy.
- Experience working in or with state higher education agencies or system offices and familiarity with federal policy and the federal higher education landscape.
- HCM prefers candidates with proficiency in data visualization tools and statistical analysis software and experience working with a variety of state, institutional, and national data sets.
- Strong interest in HCM’s mission and values, as well as delivering work that advances change that makes educational systems more accessible, affordable, accountable, and equitable.
- Consistently displays the firm’s cultural norms and expectations.
- Strategic thinker and problem solver, able to look across the full scope of a project and make informed decisions.
- Excellent time, task and deadline management.
- Strong and clear communicator, internally and externally, with ability to interface with a client directly
- Ability to interface with and manage a client with developing relationship-building skills.
- Detail- and results-oriented, possessing solid project management skills, with an ability to hold project teams accountable to deadlines.
- Familiarity with education data sets and ability to distill key takeaways through quantitative analyses and data visualization.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to track, work and meet deadlines across multiple projects.
- Motivated self-starter with ability to deliver high-quality work products with limited oversight.
- Comfortable working in a remote environment, as a part of a larger team as well as individually.
- Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills, an enthusiastic attitude and enjoys a team-based culture.
- Collaborative and collegial.
- Strategic, innovative creator adept at developing and executing solutions with a proactive, hands-on attitude.
- Proficient in prioritizing tasks and adapting to changes in a dynamic, multi-client environment.
HCM Strategists, founded in 2008, is a woman-owned and impact-driven consulting firm that believes in the transformative power of postsecondary education and career-competitive learning to improve social and economic mobility. We work with clients and partners to influence the national narrative, evidence base, policy environment and conditions for institutional transformation, particularly for learners and communities that have been marginalized or historically underserved. We have a long record of success nationally and across states based upon our ability to leverage our comprehensive network, forge creative alliances with non-traditional partners, and provide leadership and vision to our efforts on behalf of our clients.

Equal Opportunity Statement

HCM Strategists is an equal opportunity employer affording all employees and job applicants’ fair and equal treatment. To advance inclusive excellence, and in accordance with the letter and spirit of all applicable federal, state and local laws HCM complies with the letter and spirit of all applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, marital status, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, veteran status, and disabilities.

Apply Here

Where Deep Expertise Meets Passion and Drive

Intentionality in everything

We are industry-leading experts committed to intentionally listening to and partnering with our clients. Staying at the forefront of industry and learner data, we intentionally blend evidence with a practical eye for progress. We intentionally cultivate relationships that allow us to engage deeply, over time, in trusting, results-centered initiatives, and our work touches every aspect of the education system–working with students, parents, teachers, institutions, funders and state and federal policy leaders.

Embrace continuous learning

We know that opportunities borne from educational attainment improve lives and transform communities. At HCM, we are lifelong learners dedicated to improving learning opportunities for all, and particularly for historically marginalized and minoritzed populations.

Approach with nimbleness

We tailor our work to meet our clients’ unique circumstances and goals while utilizing our team’s deep expertise and understanding of the policies and practices that shape our education and training systems.

Operate through a DEI lens

We believe in leading and facilitating through an inclusive and collaborative process. We build into our work with clients a commitment to authentically engage the voices of learners and the lived experiences of leaders who have a stake in the policies and practices being developed. Equitable outcomes are at the heart and center of our work.

A focus on impact

We partner for the long-haul with clients that share our mission. Defining up front the impact we collectively seek, HCM’s team offers each client sharp analysis, deep policy acumen, clear advice and counsel, and creative problem solving.

Collaborative thought partners

We know changes in organizations, agencies, and public policy only happen when stakeholders coalesce around a shared mission. As strategic thought-partners, we leverage our vast network of partnerships at the institutional, state and federal levels to build the will and acumen for lasting improvements in educational opportunity.