Senior Policy Manager or Policy Director

Are you passionate about building policy solutions for people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities? AUCD, a national disability nonprofit organization is seeking a highly motivated, accomplished, organized, and goal-oriented Senior Policy Manager or Policy Director (based on experience) to help formulate and implement AUCD's internal and external partnerships with a focus on legislative and federal advocacy priorities and strategies, development of sponsoring relationships, and management of effective external communication. As a member of the senior leadership team this role works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and the association's Public Policy Committee to coordinate and conduct activities that educate the AUCD network and our diverse stakeholders on the work of the network, our mission, and key priorities.

As the Senior Policy Manager or Policy Director you will provide robust analysis of the impact of federal and state legislation and regulatory changes for member centers, individuals with disabilities, and their families. You will develop and maintain deep working relationships with Members of Congress and their staff, federal agencies, AUCD network members, the disability community, and corporate partners and prepare testimony for Congressional hearings and utilize strategic communication channels to express AUCD's views and positions. In this role you will work across internal and external stakeholders to advance organizational goals and actively pursue funding opportunities to support AUCD policy initiatives.

Overview of Responsibilities

• Strategy & Advocacy Execution: Develop and execute policy and governmental relations strategy, ensuring the perspectives of people with lived experience are heard and represented across all advocacy platforms.
• Representation & Relationship Building: Serve as a key voice on Capitol Hill, within the national disability community, and with corporate and agency partners to advance organizational goals.
• Network Engagement: Develop and nurture routine relationships with network members across University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LENDs), and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Centers (IDDRCs).
• Policy Communication & Analysis: Articulate policy positions in briefing papers, Congressional testimony, AUCD publications, online platforms, and internal/external briefings. Identify, monitor, and analyze relevant legislative and regulatory trends.
• Internal Leadership & Collaboration: Partner with internal team leaders to ensure policy education is embedded across all funded project areas and member center communication strategies.
• Governance & Committee Support: Serve as lead staff liaison to the Public Policy Committee, or other such network groups, and provide regular reports on policy developments to the Board of Directors.
• Resource Development: Assist in pursuing a consistent strategy for securing unrestricted funding sources and grant opportunities to support organizational budget strength and policy activities.
• Team Mentorship & Supervision: Mentor and direct the work of policy staff, project teams, and emerging leaders within and outside the AUCD network.
• Travel: Engage in required local and national travel to perform essential functions and represent the association.

Position Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in social science, education, administration, public policy, law, or a related field required.
• Master's degree or Juris Doctor (JD) strongly preferred.

Experience:

• The Senior Policy Manager must have a minimum of five (5) years of progressive, related experience in public policy, law, or legislative advocacy related to disability issues, alongside a minimum of two (2) years managing direct reports or project teams. OR
• The Policy Director must have a minimum of eight (8) years of progressive, related experience in public policy, law, or legislative advocacy related to disability issues, alongside a minimum of five (5) years managing direct reports or project teams and leading policy strategy.
• Proven track record working with individuals with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, and individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience working in the U.S. Congress, U.S. administration, or state government.
• Direct experience working with children and adults with disabilities and their families.
• Familiarity with the capacity and national structure of UCEDDs, LENDs, and IDDRCs, as well as higher education settings.
• Deep knowledge of key federal funding agencies (e.g., ACL, HRSA, NIH, CDC).
• Established network within national disability, health, and education coalitions.
• Experience and understanding of higher education settings.

Supervisory:

Supervises one (1) full-time Senior Advocacy Specialist. Interns and fellows may be supervised on a temporary or time-limited basis. Additional supervisory responsibilities may be required in the future to expand the policy team. Responsibilities include assigning and coordinating work, conducting performance evaluations, recommending personnel decisions (hiring/termination), and enforcing organizational policies.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of federal legislative and executive regulatory processes, particularly federal budget and appropriations mechanisms.
• Expertise in bipartisan advocacy across disability policy, health, education, employment, and social services.
• Strong skill in translating complex policy into plain-language materials for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, assess emerging opportunities or threats, and formulate proactive responses.
• Exceptional written, verbal, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to demonstrate attention to detail and project management skills.
• Unwavering commitment to AUCD's mission, accessibility, and inclusion.

Salary Range

The salary range for the Senior Policy Manager position is $100,000 – $120,000.

The salary range for the Policy Director position is $110,000 - $130,000.

Commensurate with years of relevant experience, and supervisory background for both roles.

To Apply

Please submit: (1) a letter of interest, (2) a resume of relevant experience, (3) names and contact information of at least three professional references, and (4) any accommodations needed for the application and interview. The position will remain open until filled.

AUCD operates under a hybrid structure. This position must be based in the Washington, DC metro with the ability to meet in-person on Capitol Hill or at other policy meetings regularly. Washington, DC based employees are expected to be in the office 1-3 days a week and working remotely the other days.

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AUCD is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to hairstyle, 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.

For more information about AUCD, visit: www.aucd.org.