Public Policy Consultant
The Public Policy Consultant is a public policy and advocacy expert on behalf of their organization. The Public Policy Consultant can work for either a governmental agency or non-profit organization. They act as a liaison between the public, elected officials, volunteers, community partners, advocates and their organization. The Public Policy Consultant will work as one of the lead organizers for public policy initiatives and community outreach initiatives.
As part of their organizational leadership responsibilities they will need to keep abreast of pending legislation that impacts their agency’s programs and mandates. They will be expected to conduct research related to their agency’s programs and its impact on the community. They will be expected to work on maintaining and expanded their strategic partnerships in government, the community and with relevant organizations. They also will train and oversee interns and volunteers within the public policy branch of their agency.
The Public Policy Consultant will be expected to execute a variety of different tasks such as:
- Attending community meetings and advocating on behalf of their agency
- Monitoring pending legislation related to their organization.
- Form strategic alliances with relevant community and non-profit agencies
- Build rapport and working partnerships with relevant local, state and Federal government agencies.
- Recruit, train and oversee interns and volunteers within the public policy branch of their agency
- Develop and execute media campaigns as part of outreach programs
Sponsored School(s)
How a Public Police Consultant is a Service to Society
The Public Policy Consultant works as the point person in an organization to shape public policy around their organizations stated goals. This tends to be targeted at a particular community or cause such as the Homeless or the Environment (local, national or international) for example.
Regardless of the focus of their work, the Public Policy Consultant has a tremendous impact on their community and the people within it. By helping educate the public, work with public and private partners and the government, the Public Policy Consultant helps to shape the debate and ultimately the legislation that impacts their community.
The Public Policy Consultant can impact their community in a variety of ways such as:
- Increasing public awareness of an issue
- Changing public perception of an issue
- Helping shape legislation
- Improving the quality of life for members of their community
Impact on the Individual Level
The Public Policy Consultant works on macro level changes that shape the very laws of society. As such, their impact on the individual filters down from a policy level to one that can dramatically impact the day to day life of the individual. For example, a Public Policy Consultant who works for a Homeless advocacy non-profit might help to stop legislation that criminalizes homelessness. This in turn has a huge impact on the lives of the homeless who might otherwise be incarcerated if the law was passed.
Impact on the Family Level
In a similar manner to their impact on the individual, the Public Policy Consultant impacts the Family by changing the nature of societal debate. An example of this might be a Public Policy Consultant who works at an advocacy group for Teen Parents. By helping get legislation passed that creates funding for Teen Parent pre-natal care; a Teen Parent family would have the opportunity to get the health care they need to have a healthy baby. The potential impact on the family is very significant indeed.
Education to Join Public Policy Consulting Work Force
Most employers are looking for Public Policy Consultant candidates who have a Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Government Relations, or a related field. Depending on the particular agency they also may want bi-lingual or multi-lingual fluency.
Range of Salaries for the Job
Nationwide, the average salary for a public policy consultant is $126,140.
What’s Next To Pursue the Career of a Public Policy Consultant
You will need to attain a Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Government Relations or a related field of study. In addition, it is wise to take classes to attain fluency in at least one additional language based on the region you will be working in. Here are a list of schools that have educational tracks for this career.
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Public Policy Consultant reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2023.
