Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) Director of Advocacy Coordination

Director of Advocacy Coordination

Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA)

Status: Part-Time, 0.4 FTE (approx. 16 hours/week; hours flex upward during legislative session, Jan–May, and around plan milestone deadlines)

Reports to: Legislative Director / Executive Director (dual accountability — see “Reporting & Coordination” below)

Grounded in: MASA Strategic Plan, Priority Initiatives 1.1–1.4 (Proactive Advocacy Strategy, Awareness & Communication, Resource Partnership Relations, Membership-Ready Advocacy Tools)

Position Summary

The MASA Director of Advocacy Coordination is a new part-time position designed to strengthen and organize the association’s statewide advocacy efforts. Serving as the connection among MASA leadership, legislative advocacy staff, regional lobby assistants, members, and external partners, the director will help move MASA from primarily responding to legislative issues toward a more coordinated, proactive, and member-driven advocacy system.

Key responsibilities include building and supporting a statewide network of trained advocates, developing advocacy training and resources, clarifying and coordinating regional advocacy roles, and producing a concise monthly brief that explains what proposed legislation means, why it matters to Missouri schools, and what members can do. The director will also support the Proactive Solutions Committee in developing policy briefs, position papers, and recommended solutions.

The position requires a knowledgeable and credible education leader who can translate complex policy into clear, actionable communication; build trusted relationships; facilitate collaborative work; and equip school leaders to become confident advocates for Missouri public schools. The role is structured as a 0.4 FTE position, averaging approximately 16 hours per week, with increased flexibility during the legislative session and around major strategic-plan deadlines.

Key Responsibilities (Mapped to Strategic Plan Action Steps)1. Statewide Advocate Network

Action Step 1.1.1 — Ongoing; shared with Legislative Director, Director of Legislative Advocacy (MCSA), Lobby Assistants

• Build and maintain a statewide network of trained advocates — superintendents and outside voices — able to speak credibly to the district-level impact of state policy.
• Design and deliver advocate training (i.e. message development, legislator engagement) in coordination with the Legislative Director and MCSA's Director of Legislative Advocacy.
• Because this action step is explicitly ongoing and jointly owned, the Director of Advocacy Coordination acts as the day-to-day coordinator of this network, while legislative strategy and lobbyist relationships remain with the Legislative Director and MCSA staff.

2. Regional Lobbyist Role Definition

Action Step 1.1.3 — Target: Jan 2028; Champion: Legislative Director

• Support the Legislative Director in defining and communicating the role of regional lobbyists to members, so local advocacy capacity is aligned with statewide strategy rather than duplicative or conflicting.

3. Monthly Advocacy Document

Action Step 1.2.1 — Target: Jan 2028; Champion: Advocacy Coordination Director, Legislative Director

• Own production of a concise monthly brief following a “what it means / why it matters / what to do” structure, translating current legislation into clear district-level action for members.
• Coordinate content and sign-off with the Legislative Director; distribute through MASA's existing communication channels.
• This is the one action step in the current plan where the Director of Advocacy Coordination is named as lead champion, making it the clearest early deliverable for this role.

4. Proactive Solutions Committee

Action Step 1.3.2 — Target: 2027; Champion: Director of Legislative Advocacy (MCSA)

• Provide staff support to this forward-looking committee as it produces position papers, policy briefs, and recommended-solutions documents — feeding directly into the content of the monthly advocacy document (1.2.1) and advocate network training (1.1.1).

Reporting & Coordination

Because Strategic Plan ownership of advocacy work is currently split across the Legislative Director, the Director of Legislative Advocacy (MCSA), and the Executive Director, this role functions as a coordination hub rather than a sole decision-maker on legislative strategy:

• Legislative Director — primary supervisor for network-building (1.1.1) and regional lobbyist communication (1.1.3).
• Director of Legislative Advocacy (MCSA) — partner on Proactive Solutions Committee (1.3.2), and partnership network (1.3.1).
• Executive Director — oversight on finance committees (1.3.3), advocacy tools (1.4.1), and constitutional review (1.4.2); co-owner of the original feasibility decision (1.1.2) that created this role.

Recommendation: confirm a single primary supervisor for performance review purposes even though work is distributed across these three relationships.

Qualifications

· Experience in K–12 school administration, government relations, or association/nonprofit management; superintendent or central-office experience preferred to establish credibility with school leaders.

· Strong understanding of public education, school district operations, and the practical effects of state policy on local schools and communities.

· General knowledge of Missouri school finance and the ability to explain financial and policy issues in clear, accessible language.

· Exceptional written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legislation into concise messages, policy briefs, talking points, and actionable resources.

· Demonstrated excellence in public speaking, facilitation, professional learning, and adult leadership development.

· Proven ability to build trusted relationships with school leaders, legislators, association partners, community stakeholders, and other advocacy voices.

· Skill in developing and coordinating statewide networks, coalitions, committees, and collaborative initiatives.

· Ability to equip and empower others to become confident, effective advocates rather than serving as the sole voice for the organization.

· Strong strategic-planning and project-management skills, with the ability to move initiatives from concept through implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.

· Ability to develop compelling, positive narratives that demonstrate the value and impact of Missouri public schools.

· Political awareness and sound judgment, with the ability to work effectively in a nonpartisan manner across differing perspectives.

· Ability to listen carefully, identify common ground, and facilitate productive conversations around complex or potentially contentious issues.

· Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, partnerships, and reporting relationships.

· Initiative, adaptability, and the ability to respond effectively as legislative conditions, organizational needs, and advocacy opportunities change.

· Commitment to representing the diverse needs of Missouri school districts, including rural, suburban, and urban communities.

· High degree of professionalism, discretion, integrity, credibility, and follow-through.

· Proficiency with virtual meeting platforms, presentation tools, digital communication systems, and other technologies used to engage and mobilize members.

Pay: $35,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Jefferson City, MO 65109

Salary : $35,000 - $50,000