Director, Government Affairs & Policy

State/Federal strategy and prioritization

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  Build and own MagicSchool's state-by-state government affairs strategy, using your track record of what has and has not worked to decide where to focus.

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  Identify state funding opportunities (appropriations, grants, state programs) and build the plan to pursue them.

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  Track and analyze education technology, AI, and student privacy legislation and regulation, and advise leadership on the impact to MagicSchool and the broader EdTech landscape.

Legislative and agency engagement

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  Represent MagicSchool in meetings with legislators, committee staff, state education agencies, and other stakeholders, in person and virtually.

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  Deliver legislative testimony and recommend specific bill language, amendments, and edits that ensure legislation reflects the realities of responsible AI use in schools.

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  Tailor messaging across political landscapes while remaining authentic and credible.

Lobbyist management

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  Manage MagicSchool's contracted state lobbyists: equip them with product knowledge, talking points, and strategic context, and hold them accountable to company priorities and results.

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  Evaluate lobbyist performance and advise on engagement scope and spend.

Deal and go-to-market support

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  Partner with Sales, Customer Success, Marketing, and Product so that on-the-ground insight from districts and schools informs our policy work, and policy developments inform our go-to-market.

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  Support active procurement and statewide opportunities by briefing sales on legislative and funding context, contributing policy language and funding guidance to proposals and RFPs, and engaging state officials where it moves a deal forward.

Team and function building

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  Lead and develop the Government Affairs team, and build the function as MagicSchool grows, including processes, reporting, and future hires.

Industry presence

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  Represent MagicSchool at state and national conferences and build relationships across the education policy ecosystem.

• Demonstrated results in government affairs, ideally at the state level, including helping an organization secure appropriations, grants, or other state funding. The ability to quantify it ("I helped secure $X in state funding") is a strong differentiator.

• Experience delivering legislative testimony.

• Deep knowledge of the legislative process: how bills move through committees, how amendments are introduced, and how to work effectively with legislative staff.

• Experience working with or managing lobbyists.

• Experience in education policy, EdTech, or technology policy, including an understanding of why state education funding works differently than in other industries.

• Sharp political instincts and the ability to adapt messaging across parties and states.

• Ability to become an expert on our product, value proposition, and policy positions quickly.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Comfort operating independently in high-stakes settings and collaborating across teams in a fast-moving startup.

• Familiarity with K-12 AI policy, student data privacy law, and state education agency guidance.

• Prior experience at an EdTech company, education nonprofit, or state education agency.

• Experience working in or with state legislatures.

• Experience supporting sales or procurement processes.

• Prior experience leading or building a small team.

• Unlimited time off to empower our employees to manage their work-life balance. We work hard for our teachers and users, and encourage our employees to rest and take the time they need.

• Choice of employer-paid health insurance plans so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Dental and vision are also offered at very low premiums.

• Every employee is offered generous stock options, vested over 4 years.

• 401k match & monthly wellness stipend.

• Educators are Magic:  Educators are the most important ingredient in the educational process - they are the magic, not the AI. Trust them, empower them, and put them at the center of leading change in service of students and families.

• Joy and Magic: Bring joy and magic into every learning experience - push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI.

• Community:  Foster community that supports one another during a time of rapid technological change. Listen to them and serve their needs.

• Innovation:  The education system is outdated and in need of innovation and change - AI is an opportunity to bring equity, access, and serve the individual needs of students better than we ever have before.

• Responsibility: Put responsibility and safety at the forefront of the technological change that AI is bringing to education.

• Diversity: Diversity of thought, perspectives, and backgrounds helps us serve the wide audience of educators and students around the world.

• Excellence:  Educators and students deserve the best - and we strive for the highest quality in everything we do.