Jim Malle

Director of Policy

Jim Malle serves as Aligned's Director of Policy, overseeing Missouri's legislative and advocacy initiatives. He is leading the implementation of a comprehensive advocacy strategy, building and maintaining stakeholder relations, and analyzing proposed policies and regulations to assess impact.

With more than ten years of experience in public policy, ranging from real estate to economic development to healthcare, Jim brings a breadth of real-world experience to education policy. He began his career in the Jackson County Executive’s Office, serving as a key advisor to the County Executive. There, he managed and negotiated significant commercial real estate tax incentive projects. His work involved close collaboration with county and state legislators, city councils, and economic development agencies.

Jim served as the Strategic Initiatives Manager for the development arm of the Mayor’s Office at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC), where he managed the LaunchKC program that invested significant capital annually into early-stage technology companies. His efforts included securing substantial funding for accelerator programs and grant competitions, which attracted over 100 global startups to Kansas City.

Previously, as the Director of Government Affairs at Ygrene Energy Fund, Jim advanced the use of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing across twenty-seven states, designed expansion plans, and managed national lobbying efforts. He also forged partnerships with prominent organizations to support Ygrene Energy Fund’s goals.

Jim holds a BA in Economics with an emphasis in Financial Markets from Rockhurst University. He has served in various professional organizations, including the Kansas City Tax Increment Financing Commission and the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board.