The Council of State Governments · 4 days ago
Deputy Director of Policy and Programs
Decatur,GA,US
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$90K/yr - $100K/yr
5+ years expThe Council of State Governments is focused on serving state governments across the South, and they are seeking a Deputy Director of Policy & Programs to provide operational leadership for their policy and programmatic work. This role involves ensuring deliverables are completed on time and meet quality standards while supporting the Director of Strategic Partnerships, Policy, and Programs.
GovernmentNon ProfitPolitics
Responsibilities
Support the Director of Strategic Partnerships, Policy, and Programs with day-to-day operational leadership, project management, and execution support
Coordinate and track policy and program workplans, timelines, and deliverables across the Policy and Programs teams
Ensure projects meet deadlines, quality standards, and organizational expectations; proactively identify risks, resolve bottlenecks, and work with the Director to adjust workflows as needed to keep work on track
Manage task and project workflows for recurring deliverables, special projects, and time-sensitive member requests, such as:
Manage and track policy inquiries from receipt to completion, ensuring clear delegation, quality control, and timely responses; supporting complex or sensitive inquiries from members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches as needed
Managing and tracking policy publication deliverables from planning through release, ensuring adherence to established timelines and publication KPIs, and consistent quality, accuracy, and nonpartisanship
Managing and tracking program deliverables from concept through execution, ensuring readiness of content, speakers, materials, logistics, and follow-up deliverables for both in-person and digital programs
Support standing policy committees and programmatic initiatives by helping the Policy and Programs teams to identify priority topics, agenda alignment, presenter readiness, and documentation to ensure outcomes are clearly captured and communicated
Reinforce and continuously improve systems and processes for workflow tracking, document management, database management, quality assurance, and institutional knowledge across all Policy and Programs work products
Serve as Editor-in-Chief for policy publications by leading the editorial review process across policy and program materials, ensuring all outputs meet CSG South's standards for quality, consistency, accuracy, and nonpartisanship
Provide policy execution support by stepping in, as needed, to respond to policy research requests, deliver presentations, moderate discussions, or provide testimony on high-priority issues-particularly when additional capacity or a senior-level representative is required
Support professional development programs by ensuring content readiness, alignment with learning objectives, and timely integration of policy insights into in-person and digital experiences
Provide coordinated policy and program execution support for special projects, ensuring timelines, deliverables, and internal handoffs remain aligned
Develop and implement performance metrics to assess the reach, quality, and impact of CSG South's policy research and programmatic outputs, convening results, and ensuring alignment with the strategic plan
Support the development and execution of policy and program sessions for the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC), including timeline management, internal coordination, and deliverable tracking
Serve as the primary operational liaison for cross-cutting convenings such as the Policy Plenary Luncheon, Campaign Against Hunger, and International Relations Forum, supporting content readiness, speaker coordination, written materials, and on-site execution
Participate in state visits, policy meetings, and program-related member engagement activities as a representative of CSG South, supporting relationship-building, continuity, and execution follow-through, while coordinating materials and post-visit deliverables
Support policy and program webinar series by coordinating timelines, content readiness, technical preparation, and post-event follow-up tracking
Provide operational and content execution support for in-person and digital professional development programs, working closely with the Programs Associate and Director to ensure a high-quality member experience
Works and communicates effectively with state legislators, legislative staff, other government entities, nonprofits, program presenters, and myriad external partners as needed on policy, programs, or special projects
Serve as a central point of coordination between Policy and Programs staff to ensure alignment, communication, and consistency
Maintain systems and documentation that support efficient workflows, version control, and institutional knowledge
Reinforce CSG South's mission, values, and standards of excellence through consistent operational practices
Partner closely with the Director of Strategic Partnerships, Policy, and Programs to transition funded projects into operational implementation, establishing timelines, workflows, and accountability structures that ensure high-quality deliverables
Serve as a credible representative of CSG South at state, regional, national, and international convenings, as delegated, in support of policy and program execution and member engagement
Qualification
Required
5-7 years of relevant professional experience in public policy, government programs, nonprofit administration, or a related mission-driven environment
Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, timelines, and deliverables in fast-paced settings
Strong editing, writing, and quality-control skills for policy and programmatic materials
Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through
Ability to work collaboratively across teams while exercising sound judgment and operational leadership
Experience supporting policy research, legislative programming, or leadership development initiatives
Familiarity with state government structures, legislative processes, and policy environments
Experience supporting conferences, convenings, or multi-state programs
Comfort using project management tools, shared workspaces, and tracking systems
Demonstrated ability to establish systems, processes, and tools that enhance departmental efficiency, policy tracking, and quality assurance
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and policy research and project management tools (e.g., legislative databases, CRMs, Monday.com)
Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to present complex policy issues in nonpartisan and actionable ways
Genuine interest in and commitment to advancing the organization's mission, values, and goals
Strong interpersonal skills, including self-awareness, sensitivity, and valuing others
Dedication to public service with an unfailing commitment to act with civility, be nonpartisan in performing CSG duties, and be a responsible steward of member and donor funds
Bachelor's degree in public policy, public administration, political science, or a related field
Willingness to travel occasionally (up to 30%) for state visits, conferences, events, meetings, and policy or programmatic convenings as needed
Benefits
A hybrid work schedule: Based in Decatur, GA, with the option to regularly work from home on Tuesday and Thursday unless traveling, discontinued, or temporarily suspended for business reasons.
Generous personal paid and sick leave policies plus 12 paid holidays.
Office closure the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, a paid day off in the month of your birthday, and other periodic telework or paid days off. These benefits are at the discretion of the Regional Director.
A recently renovated office with amenities such as beverages, an in-office business casual dress code, and a collaborative floor plan with options for various workstyles and sit-to-stand desks.
Comprehensive benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, PSLF eligibility and more
Company
The Council of State Governments
The CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase