Senior Associate, Policy

Ballston, Virginia, Position Supervisor: Assistant Director of Policy Classification Level: Full-Time Exempt Location: Arlington, VA / Hybrid Position Timeline: Permanent

APHSA is recruiting new talent! We are seeking a policy professional to support our child care and early childhood portfolio. This role will help state and local health and human services agencies advance effective policies, strengthen child care and early childhood systems, and improve equitable access to services that support the well-being of children and families.

APHSA is an Association representing state and local agencies in the health and human services field. With and through these members, we work to advance solutions that are centered on administering, overseeing, and aligning programs to provide access to food, health care, employment, childcare, community support, and other key building blocks.

Join a team of dedicated professionals who are results-oriented and are impacting systems across the nation! Our team at APHSA is looking for a critical, strategic thinker who is action-oriented, comfortable facilitating communities of thought leaders and partners, and adept at working across teams and in a fast-paced environment.

Your main focus will be advancing child care and early childhood policy, supporting state child care administrators, building strategic partnerships, and developing practical resources for members. You will collaborate with internal teams and federal, state, local, and community partners to connect policy priorities with the experiences of administering agencies and the children and families they serve.

Your direct supervisor and coach will be an Assistant Director of Policy. Your support will be the entire APHSA organization because we work best when we all work together!

JOB SUMMARY: The Senior Associate serves a key role on APHSA’s policy team, managing projects and implementing initiatives aligned with APHSA’s mission and member priorities, with a primary focus on child care and early childhood. The role combines federal and state policy analysis, member engagement, strategic partnerships, and project implementation to strengthen state systems and advance positive outcomes for children and families.

Working with members and partners, this position translates policy developments, research, and emerging trends into accessible analyses, practical resources, and opportunities for peer learning. The Senior Associate also supports the National Association of State Child Care Administrators (NASCCA) and contributes to grant-funded initiatives and APHSA convenings.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Monitor and analyze federal legislation, regulations, guidance, and emerging federal and state policy developments affecting child care and early childhood systems. Develop timely, accurate, and accessible policy analyses, briefings, and recommendations for APHSA members and leadership, and support policy positions and formal responses informed by member perspectives and organizational priorities. Coordinate and support NASCCA leadership and all-state meetings, facilitating peer learning, information sharing, and collaboration among state and territorial child care administrators. Identify emerging member challenges, priorities, and technical assistance needs to inform APHSA’s work, and strengthen communication between state administrators and federal leadership. Develop and maintain relationships with federal agencies, national organizations, researchers, and other child care and early childhood stakeholders, and represent APHSA and its members in policy discussions and collaborative initiatives. Develop newsletters, publications, webinars, and other resources that communicate policy developments, elevate promising practices, and support member learning. Contribute subject matter expertise and project support to grant-funded initiatives focused on child care access, equity, and improved early childhood outcomes. Coordinate work plans, deliverables, and milestones with internal teams and external partners. Develop practical resources, tools, and written products that support state and local implementation of effective child care policies and practices. Analyze member-informed data and field trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and support meaningful reporting on project progress and outcomes. Support planning and implementation of APHSA conferences, meetings, and other convenings related to child care and early childhood development, including identifying topics, speakers, and opportunities to highlight member experiences and innovative practices. Collaborate across APHSA teams to advance broader organizational priorities and integrated projects. Perform other duties as assigned. Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Social Work, Public Health, Sociology, Human Services, Political Science, Business Administration, or a related field required. • 5–7 years of experience in the human services sector required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office products Ability to apply knowledge and experience to relevant human services programs, practices, and policies Willingness and ability to travel up to 20% Competencies crucial for success in this role include: project management, collaboration, facilitation, time management, writing, problem solving, e-learning, change management, adaptability, and teamwork

At APHSA, we value and support the health, well-being, and future of our staff. Our benefit package is based on improving employee morale, which fosters a work environment where staff feel they can thrive and feel accomplished. APHSA offers health, dental, and vision insurance. We also offer additional employee benefits and perks like these:

Health, vision and dental insurance Life and AD&D insurance 401(k) or Roth with a 3% employer contribution Generous paid leave Hybrid/remote work environment Flexible spending for health and dependent care Employee Assistance Program Optional employee-paid legal, critical illness, accident and pet insurance

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements. Physical Requirements:

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Must be able to work in an independent manner from a remote location

This employer participates in E-Verify for employment verification.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) is a bipartisan national membership association representing state and local health and human services agencies and the subject matter experts that help execute their mission to improve outcomes for people nationwide. Building on our long-standing relationships with health and human services leaders, we focus on generating pragmatic solutions that advance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.