Career Opportunities
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Status: FTE, part-time available
Location: Treasure Island, Sacramento, San Francisco City and County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County; possibility to work remotely several days/week
Reports to: Co-Executive Director overseeing government affairs
School Description:
At Life Learning Academy, we believe that every single kid deserves relentless love, accountability, and the chance to make a good life. For the past 24 years, we’ve provided an innovative, student-centered alternative to large public high schools for Bay Area students who have been failed by traditional educational models. We believe that when our students become immersed in a community of mutual respect and accountability, they surpass everyone’s expectations. This belief is supported by our 92% average graduation rate. We are about to celebrate a quarter century of success, and are entering this milestone with ambitious plans to spread our model across California to reach even more students.
Position Summary:
The Director of Policy and Advocacy is an experienced leader who will work with leadership to position Life Learning Academy for successful strategic plan execution. The Director of Policy and Advocacy will work with co-Executive Directors to develop the organization’s policy and advocacy goals, and is responsible for managing, executing, and implementing Life Learning Academy’s state and local policy agenda.The Director of Policy and Advocacy will advance policies and practices that remove barriers for Life Learning Academy students, and help to create a policy environment that prioritizes resources for system-involvement prevention and early intervention for youth.
The Director of Policy and Advocacy will conduct research and analysis, contribute to issue briefs, represent the organization at stakeholder meetings, and work in coalition with other agencies and advocates to shape and move a policy and advocacy agenda supporting the success of Life Learning Academy students and students like them throughout California. The Director of Policy and Advocacy is responsible for effectively engaging government and community leaders, Life Learning Academy leadership and staff, external stakeholders, and youth leaders in advancing policies to accomplish our mission.
The Director of Policy and Advocacy will provide support to the co-Executive Directors and Board in evaluating and shaping Life Learning Academy’s federal, state, and local policy agenda. They will provide research, analysis, and expert recommendations to support the development and execution of a policy and advocacy strategy.
Responsibilities:
- Offer expertise, guidance, and staffing to co-Executive Directors, policy experts on LLA’s Board of Directors, and real estate development and design volunteers to propel conversation with City stakeholders, such as TIDA, regarding future site identification on Treasure Island
- Work closely with the co-Executive Directors and Board Directors to develop, articulate, and implement a strategic direction for policy and advocacy development and systems change in Bay Area Counties and California
- Support the design and execution of a county-based policy and advocacy agenda to support sustainable program delivery, especially focusing on San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties
- Track and analyze state legislative and regulatory issues that affect Life Learning Academy students and students like them across the state. Recognize and elevate initiatives that may directly or indirectly impact youth at LLA
- Identify initiatives where Life Learning Academy can play a strategic role.
- Communicate initiatives and Life Learning Academy’s participation cross-functionally within Life Learning, including with the Strategy, Communications, Development, and Program leadership
- Respond to key policy initiatives on behalf of Life Learning Academy. Prepare data analysis, issue briefs, policy memos, and presentations as needed for a variety of stakeholder audiences, including LLA leadership and Board. Ensure that Life Learning Academy’s policy positions and recommendations in the Bay Area counties and California are consistent with its organizational strategy and priorities, including a laser focus on LLA students and students like them
- Coordinate and collaborate across departments to ground policy and advocacy work in practical experience, data, and research
- Professionally and effectively represent the agency to external stakeholders, including government agencies, the policy and advocacy communities, academia, the media, and other service providers. Utilize external meetings, stakeholder workgroups, conferences and speaking engagements to advance Life Learning Academy’s presence in the policy landscape
- Actively participate in relevant policy and advocacy implementation work groups and engage in regulatory advocacy alongside partners
- Serve as liaison with staff and leadership by regularly sharing policy changes that impact how they do their work and collaborating on ways to leverage systems change opportunities in order to improve outcomes for youth at LLA
- Provide policy analysis and research to support Life Learning Academy’s replication, technical assistance, and spread efforts across the state
- Establish a cohort of youth ambassadors to engage in and support Life Learning Academy's policy and advocacy efforts. Create a process for selecting, training and supporting a group of 5-10 youth each year to serve in this capacity
Qualifications and competencies
- At least three years’ experience developing and advancing effective practice-based policies and strategies on a local, state, or national level in one or more of the following policy areas: child welfare/foster care, youth justice, education, workforce development, homelessness eradication and/or anti-poverty work
- Demonstrated effectiveness in developing and advancing a strategic policy agenda
- Excellent research, problem solving, and writing skills
- Ability to summarize complex arguments clearly, succinctly, and accurately. Ability to stimulate and contribute constructively to debates on complex and controversial issues
- Ability to situate the mission and priorities of Life Learning Academy within the larger political context and make recommendations that align with the organization's values while advancing LLA’s contribution to relevant discussions
- Ability to work with a range of stakeholders, including government agencies, legislators and other public decision-makers, community partners, and young people. Cultural and political sensitivity. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships. Proven experience in leveraging relationships to achieve policy and advocacy goals. Ability to build coalitions
- Exemplary teamwork and an understanding of the importance of cross-functional collaboration internally and externally
- Understanding of the social sector landscape, in particular the systems and barriers facing vulnerable youth and young adults
- Interpersonal charisma, including public speaking ability and the ability to inspire Life Learning Academy staff and students
- Ability to anticipate and analyze opportunities, define risks and objectives, and formulate effective strategies and messages
- Sets clear goals, uses data to evaluate progress towards goals
- Willingness to receive feedback and insights as opportunities to learn, encourage dialog, and model leadership through accountability
- Proof of vaccination required
- Background check required
LLA is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving a diverse staff and inclusive work environment. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Compensation: $100,000 for FTE, health/vision/dental benefits, 401K, free on-site parking, and daily lunch prepared by our students
How to Apply: Send a cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications, and a resume to .
Status: Full time
Location: Treasure Island, San Francisco
Reports to: Chief of Programming
School Description:
Life Learning Academy (LLA) is an SFUSD charter high school for disconnected and under-resourced youth. Our mission is to create a nonviolent community for students who have not been successful in traditional school settings. LLA welcomes students into an ‘extended family’ which motivates everyone to give and receive support, develop responsibility and judgment, and build the academic, vocational, and social skills necessary to be successful.
We have a dorm on campus that houses up to 20 students, and we offer ongoing transitional services for our alumni. With less than 60 students, LLA is a very small school which maintains a 1:6 teacher to student ratio with 6-8 students per class. We utilize a block schedule model for extended instructional periods Monday-Thursday. On Fridays, we support students through our workforce development programming. Teachers teach 3 classes per term carrying a student load of no more than 24 students. Teachers have the freedom to create curriculum based on student needs and interests.
Why Teachers Love Working at Life Learning Academy
- Small classroom settings of 6-8 students
- Collaborative environment with a dream team
- Community immersed programming
- Lunches included
- 25 years of innovative, student centered alternative learning
- We’re growing!
- Love for this craft and passion for this work
- Alternative education setting with creative approaches
- Professional development program available
- Free and easy parking onsite
Position Summary:
We are seeking an enthusiastic teacher with experience and a clear passion for teaching young people English and History in a manner that helps them better understand the world around them. Ideally this would be a hybrid position where the teacher would teach 1-2 English Classes and 1-2 sections of either Economics, American Democracy, American or World History. There is flexibility within this position so if you have any interest in teaching English or History please inquire.
Desired skills, experience and dispositions for LLA teachers:
- Encourages a culture of mutual respect and equitable practice
- Demonstrates content knowledge
- Commitment to understanding student academic needs and catering instruction to meet those specific needs
- Supports students’ social, emotional, and behavioral learning needs
- Implements Project-Based Learning techniques and strategies
- Facilitates and designs effective group work & independent learning opportunities
- Provides timely feedback and collaborates with faculty to offer specialized support
- Showcases student work within the local and wider school community
- Scaffolds instructional activities that facilitate engaging and appropriate learning opportunities
Desired qualifications
- All employees must possess an unshakable faith in students' abilities to learn and to develop healthy, productive, independent lives; and each staff member must demonstrate the talent, energy and commitment necessary to help transform those individual abilities into a collective reality.
- Bachelor's degree
- CA Teaching Credential (Multiple Subjects or Single Subject in Social Sciences)
- Some experience in classroom instruction at the high school level
- Knowledge and commitment to supporting the needs of disconnected, system-involved youth and at least two (2) years experience working directly with this population.
- Excellent communication skills, professional demeanor, sound judgment, and strong organizational skills.
- Willingness to work collaboratively, but with the capacity to work independently.
- Competency with Google Docs and Google Classroom.
- Criminal Justice Clearance required.
- Must be vaccinated for Covid-19.
- Proof of vaccination required
- Background check required
LLA is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving a diverse staff and inclusive work environment. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Compensation:Competitive, based on experience and market standards. LLA will contribute to costs for credentialing / internship programs / ongoing professional development. We are open to providing relocation assistance if needed.
How to Apply: Send a cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications, and a resume to .