Description:
ABOUT CLASP
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty organization advancing policy solutions that work for people with low incomes and people of color. We advocate for public policies and programs at the federal, state, and local levels that reduce poverty, improve the lives of people with low incomes, and advance racial and economic justice. Our solutions directly address the barriers that individuals and families face because of race, ethnicity, low income, and immigration status. Because CLASP strives to achieve true racial equity, we are intentional in centering and prioritizing the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of people of color in our work.
For more than 50 years, we have kept our vision alive through trusted expertise on policy and strategy, knowledgeable and committed staff, partnerships with directly impacted people and grassroots leaders, and approaches to economic and racial justice that are bold, innovative, and inclusive.
Within our broad anti-poverty mission, CLASP is organized around four policy teams: Child Care and Early Education (CCEE); Education, Labor & Worker Justice; Public Benefits Justice; and Immigration and Immigrant Families.
CLASP seeks a Policy Analyst who will work with a team of advocates dedicated to increasing access to high-quality child care and early education for children and families with low incomes. This role will specifically focus on issues at the intersection of immigration and child care, including the child care workforce. In this moment of intense threats and actions on immigration that deeply impact children, families, and the child care workforce, we seek support to move this work forward and provide additional capacity. The position sits on the CCEE team and the Policy Analyst will work closely with the Immigration team on supporting immigrant families in the child care and early education space.
The CCEE team at CLASP focuses on solutions to the particular challenges children and families with low incomes face in accessing the quality child care and early education opportunities of their choosing and addressing the barriers they face related to race, language, culture, and immigration status. In addition, the team brings its expertise in child development—including the importance of parents’ well-being and family economic stability—to public debates about policy related to immigration, health and well-being, and the stability and quality of jobs paying low wages. We seek to understand and address the history of racism and other forms of oppression in the child care and early education system, dismantle racist and discriminatory policies resulting from that history, and address the implications this has on young children of color and their families.
The Immigration and Immigrant Families team advocates for federal and state policy reforms to promote health, economic security, and overall success for immigrant children, youth, and families. The team also co-leads the Children Thrive Action Network (CTAN), a network of advocates and service providers at the national, state, and local levels who work directly with/on behalf of children in immigrant families.
This position is based in the Washington, D.C., office. CLASP is currently working under a hybrid office model, with the expectation that staff work in-person four days a month. The Child Care and Early Education team will prioritize in-person workdays that align around the team’s shared schedules and offer meaningful opportunities to engage and collaborate with co-workers.
Job Responsibilities
The Policy Analyst will support the team’s effective advocacy for people with low incomes and people of color on a wide range of early childhood and immigration issues
Specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
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Analyzing state and federal child care and early education and/or immigration policies impacting families with low incomes, especially those who are also immigrant families or families of color;
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Researching and writing high-quality reports, policy analyses, and issue briefs in substantive areas of work;
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Supporting the provision of high-quality technical assistance to state policymakers, advocates, and child care providers to assist them in improving their policies and practices;
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Writing commentaries and blogs that address urgent policy issues, often by providing data or research to inform the debate;
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Supporting Congressional advocacy through research, writing, editing, and/or data analysis on issues relating to young children and family well-being;
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Supporting the immigration team in conducting research documenting the impact of immigration enforcement actions;
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Connecting and fostering the link and feedback loop between federal and state child care and early education and immigration developments, implementation, and bill design; and
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Actively participating in the CCEE team, CLASP-wide activities (such as the cross-team immigration working group and CLASP’s racial equity steering committee), and external working groups and coalitions (such as the Children Thrive Action Network (CTAN), or the immigration administrative advocacy table), as needed.
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We estimate that work at the intersection of child care and immigration will account for approximately 50-60 percent of this role’s time, although this will vary based on what is happening in the world and within the organization. The remainder of the time will be spent on broader child care and early education work.
Requirements:
The successful candidate will have a passion for driving change on behalf of families with low incomes and the commitment, skills, and experience to work with an extraordinary team to make that change happen.
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Demonstrated commitment to CLASP’s mission of reducing poverty and improving the lives of people with low incomes.
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Commitment to understanding the historical and present structural implications of income, racial, ethnic, and gender inequities on communities, families, and individuals and to promoting equity through policymaking. Specifically, we are seeking the demonstrated ability to integrate a racial equity lens and apply anti-oppressive frameworks into policy analysis.
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Knowledge of or experience with child care access for immigrant families and related policies, as well as knowledge or interest in one or more of the following policy areas: poverty, racial equity, child care and early education programs, and/or child development—ideally acquired through volunteer or paid work, personal experience, and/or academic study.
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Demonstrated capacity to prioritize and work on multiple complex and detail-oriented projects, often on a time-sensitive basis; and work effectively both individually and as part of a team.
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Demonstrated policy analysis skills, including the capacity to understand complex legislative and regulatory provisions, while also assessing political and budgetary context and policy.
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Demonstrated written and oral communication skills with the ability to synthesize policy priorities effectively, persuasively, and creatively for policymakers, advocates, and the general public.
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Demonstrated research skills (ability to analyze large data sets a plus, but not required).
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Proficiency in a language other than English (preferably Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Mam) to perform tasks such as conducting focus groups with participants who speak those languages is a plus but not required.
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Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of related experience or a master’s or other advanced degree. CLASP values the lived experience people gain from various life circumstances which can be considered toward an applicant’s related experience.
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Ability and willingness to travel occasionally (estimated at 5-10% percent of the time).
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Candidates must be based in the Washington, D.C. metro area or willing to relocate.
Work Conditions & Union Recognition
The Policy Analyst position is part of the bargaining unit and operates within an environment where employees are represented by CLASP Workers United, an affiliate of OPEIU Local 2. The organization recognizes and respects the union’s role in advocating for employees and is committed to fostering a collaborative and equitable workplace. This position requires adherence to workplace policies that uphold fair labor practices, promote employee engagement, and support constructive collaboration with union representatives.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range: $66,000-77,000
CLASP offers exceptional benefits, including several health insurance options (most that currently require no employee-paid premiums). In addition, we provide the following benefits that currently require no employee-paid premiums: dental and vision insurance, life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, and long-term care insurance. Additionally, we offer a 403(b)-retirement program with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and a no-cost gym onsite at our D.C. office. Finally, we provide generous vacation (four weeks in the first year), paid sick leave (three weeks annually), two personal days a year, paid family and medical leave, and holiday schedules.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please send a cover letter explaining your interest in CLASP’s mission and why you are the best candidate for this position, along with your resume.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
CLASP is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
