Principal

EducationCounsel, LLC (EducationCounsel), in affiliation with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP (Nelson Mullins), is seeking a Principal in its Washington, DC office. EducationCounsel and Nelson Mullins are equal opportunity employers. This is a senior leadership position that is open to candidates with or without a J.D. degree.   

EducationCounsel LLC is a mission-driven education organization that works with leading nonprofits, foundations, and policymakers to help significantly improve education opportunities and outcomes for all students. We do this by leveraging policy, strategy, law, and advocacy to help transform education systems, in early learning, K-12, and postsecondary education. We work with partners at the local, state, and federal levels to advance evidence-based innovations and systems-change, with a central focus on advancing equitable opportunity in education. EducationCounsel is affiliated with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, a national law firm with a strong focus on public policy, pro bono services, and more. 

EducationCounsel is committed to identifying and supporting top talent and fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture. Our team approach to project impact is based on our belief and experience that diverse teams are more innovative, make better decisions, and achieve better results for communities and clients.  

EducationCounsel is seeking a forward-thinking, effective, innovative leader to serve as a Principal. This is an ideal opportunity for a senior education leader with strong strategic thinking, legal analysis, relationship management, policy knowledge, research and analysis, writing, project leadership, and facilitation skills to work with the EducationCounsel team and play an influential role in shaping the future of education in our country. 

This critical role will lead projects designed to advance work on education policy toward success for all students, particularly historically marginalized communities, including low-income students and students of color. In addition, this role will provide a unique opportunity for thought leadership and driving strategy in partnership with clients. The Principal will serve as trusted counsel to a wide array of decision makers (e.g., policymakers, national organizations, foundation leaders, nonprofit executives, and other stakeholders), helping build and steward high-level strategy and impact on a variety of critical education topics. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:  

Leading Institutional and Systems Change    

• Work with policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders at all levels to build, direct, and inform policy change and remove systemic barriers to participation and success of all students
• Develop innovative, achievable solutions for improved student experiences and outcomes in early education, K-12 and/or postsecondary settings
• Listen to and look for potential consensus among a wide variety of policy, law, political, research, and practical perspectives while constructing novel ideas and solutions to complex problems 
• Use data, research, and other information to build an evidence base for proposed approaches and solutions
• Provide expertise and analysis through written and oral communications
• A Principal with a J.D. would also: 
  • Provide legal analysis to inform parties working on amicus briefs or other legal actions
  • Monitor progress of relevant litigation and provide analysis on its implications for education policy as well as on the education and philanthropic sectors more broadly 

Driving Progress in Education Efforts through Partner/Client Relationships    

• Use expertise (particularly policy and, if applicable, legal expertise) to develop, inform and advance the strategies that leading non-profit organizations, foundations, states, districts and institutions are using to improve education outcomes
• Lead work with partners and clients to set vision and drive the reflective thinking and strategic planning necessary to achieve the goal of improving education policy, practice, and outcomes
• Engage with high-level policymakers and other key actors of the education system to inform their decisions and partner in advancing the work
• Manage existing client relationships, establish trust and rapport, and deliver exceptional client service and support
• Leverage internal and external relationships to maximize our clients’ impact within education and strategically move policy efforts forward
• Serve as the external face of EducationCounsel with a wide array of stakeholders, including foundations, leading education non-profit organizations, state education agencies, local education agencies, higher education institutions, and others    

Leading and Facilitating the Delivery of Value & Content    

• Design and facilitate impactful convenings (e.g., meetings, conferences, etc.) that will effect change, strengthen systems, and move policy on a national scale
• Conduct thoughtful research on specific policy issues that will push the conversation forward
• Produce exemplary written materials from start to finish, including policy and legal memos, issue reports, and presentations  
• A Principal with a J.D. would also provide legal analysis and advice, and help lead efforts involving legal strategy and production of legal publications 

Managing Projects towards Successful Outcomes    

• Set the vision, tone, and desired outcomes for each project and build investment among internal team members and external partners
• Plan, manage, and implement initiatives towards execution through effective planning and delivery with minimal supervision, leveraging both individual effort and delegation to project team members – anticipating potential areas of challenge/opportunity and continuously improving course as needed
• Hold team members accountable while operating with a collaborative style and a commitment to coaching and developing others
• Oversee project budgets to ensure operational excellence and effective allocation of resources

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:    

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required. Advanced degree valued, but not required
• If applying for the Principal with legal responsibilities, a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited institution required 
• Minimum of 12-15 years of relevant work experience, including significant experience in education policy 
• Experience working in a position of leadership ideally at an educational institution or at the federal, state, or local government levels (including school districts) strongly valued
• Evidence of a strong commitment to equitable opportunity in education
• Strong analytical mindset; able to deconstruct large, complex education policies into clear and actionable strategies and initiatives
• Experience leading and managing multiple, complex projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting
• Inspiring leadership and relationship building; able to quickly build trust and credibility with both internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills for a variety of audiences and in a variety of settings 
• Preference will be given for candidates located in the Washington DC area—our team is generally in the office at least 2-3 days per week.  

Compensation is estimated to be within the range of $225,000 to $275,000, commensurate with experience and role. 

To apply, please provide the following no later than June 26th:   

• A cover letter describing your interest and qualifications for the position
• A resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
• Two examples of your work that illustrate your subject matter knowledge and communication style. Consider presentation decks, policy briefs, memoranda, advocacy documents, blog posts/op-eds, etc. Our preference is for work products that showcase your voice, rather than documents that have already undergone editing/polishing/branding by others. Please do not submit any written work longer than 10 pages or that includes any privileged or confidential information.

EducationCounsel LLC is a mission-based education organization that combines experience in policy, strategy, law, and advocacy to drive significant improvements in the U.S. education system to help all children thrive. EducationCounsel is affiliated with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, including through our Senior Partner, former U.S. Secretary of Education Dick Riley Nelson Mullins is a law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys, policy advisors, and other professionals across the nation.