Director of External Affairs / Communications – The Education Trust West – Oakland, CA

The Education Trust – West is an Oakland-based organization that promotes high academic achievement for all students at all levels—pre-kindergarten through college. Its goal is to close the gaps in opportunity and achievement that consign far too many young people—especially those from low-income families or who are black, Latino, or American Indian—to lives on the margins of the American mainstream. The Ed Trust – West strives to accomplish its mission by working alongside educators, parents, students, policymakers, and civic and business leaders in communities across the country. It analyzes local, state and national data and uses what it learns to help build broader understanding of achievement and opportunity gaps, and determine the actions necessary to close them. It also participates actively in national and state policy debates, and builds the case for policies that will help all students and schools reach high levels of achievement.

The Ed Trust – West has a talented, knowledgeable, dedicated staff that has experience in a wide variety of backgrounds: K-12, postsecondary education, advocacy, policy development, and community organizing. Our single-minded attention to what is best for students, especially black, brown and poor students, and dedication to two-way learning partnerships with local and state-level educators and activists, sets The Education Trust – West apart from many other Oakland/Sacramento-based education groups.

Historically, major components of the Ed Trust – West’s advocacy agenda have included:

Ensuring that all students graduate from high school prepared for success in college and career;

Raising the caliber of our teaching force, while ensuring that low-income students and students of color get at least their fair share of our strongest teachers;

Ensuring that teachers and students have the support that they need to reach high academic standards;

Adopting accountability and public reporting systems that provide parents with honest information about school quality and hold schools and districts responsible for improving the achievement of all groups of children;

K E Y R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

The Director for External Affairs and Communications will develop and implement a comprehensive external relations strategy to ensure that the Ed Trust – West’s efforts effectively focus the attention of key audiences on inequities in public education and the actions necessary to close gaps in both opportunity and achievement. To that end, this person will ensure tight coordination between and among the department’s three key areas, as well as close collaboration with other departments.

The Director for External Affairs and Communications currently consists of three areas of work – External Affairs, Communications and Field Operations.

Based in Oakland California, the Director for External Affairs and Communications will report to Ryan J. Smith, Executive Director; will serve as a member of the Ed Trust – West’ leadership team, and will lead a team of approximately 3 – 7 staff members.

The Director for External Affairs and Communications will be responsible for the following:

Executive Management

Lead the External Affairs and Communications department, setting short-and long-term strategies and goals for the department, prioritizing key initiatives, and providing feedback and mentorship to team members across the department’s three areas of work.

Serve as a member of the Ed Trust – West ‘s Leadership Team, working with other department leaders to craft the organization’s broad strategic direction and operational plans.

Play a lead role in helping the organization—in consultation with a wide array of education activists, inside and outside the system—to re-craft and re-boot the equity agenda for the decades ahead.

Advise the organization’s Leadership Team on effective communications strategies, positioning for specific initiatives, and general branding for the Ed Trust – West broadly, leveraging the organization’s resources to advance that agenda.

Work collaboratively with the Policy and Practice teams to develop policy positions that advance the organization’s equity goals.

Advocate internally for the work of the External Affairs and Communications team, garnering the internal resources and support necessary to move team efforts forward in a timely and efficient manner.

External Relations

Help move the organization into regions across California. Helping to onboard new staff who will work with community advocates locally.

Raise the profile of the organization’s efforts, finding ways to extend its impact by attracting attention and respect from the broad community of stakeholders invested in K-12 and higher education.

Strategically guide the organization’s efforts to ensure that the organization fosters effective working relationships with national, state and local leaders and organizations that can help further our mission.

Serve as a primary spokesperson with the media, and represent the Ed Trust – West by speaking publicly to the media and to audiences at external meetings and conferences, elevating the profile of the organization’s work.

Manage existing and new donors, cultivating the support of the funding community and providing regular updates and briefings, where appropriate.

Team Management

Provide clear strategic direction and effective oversight of a coherent and collaborative External Affairs and Communications team to ensure that the department’s work is aligned with the organization’s strategic plan.

Oversee the dissemination of the organization’s work for maximum impact through a variety of media, including print publications, electronic platforms, and social media.

Guide and support the development of productive working relationships with policymakers and legislators at the state and local levels.

Strategically guide the development of an effective field and outreach team.

Coach and mentor members of the team to ensure that they develop professionally while meeting organizational goals.

PR O F E S S I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E / Q U A L I F I C A T I O N S

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10-12 years of progressively of senior level experience in political campaign management & state policy development, issue campaigns, and/or public affairs. Direct campaign/grassroots experience is a must and the ability to travel is imperative.

S/He will also have demonstrated success in leading and managing a department; sound judgment; and the ability to direct, motivate, and measure employees, advise/influence senior-level executives, and marshal organizational resources to achieve goals. S/He must also have a broad knowledge/sound understanding of economic, political, public opinion, and business factors that shape policies and decision making. Experience in K-16 education reform-related programs and a practice is desirable, but not required.

The successful candidate will:

Have deep, relentless passion for improving the educational experiences and outcomes for low-income students and students of color, and an unwavering belief that these students could be much more successful if institutions better served them.

Have the ability to think creatively about how the Ed Trust – West should position itself and its work externally.

Be knowledgeable about state and local policy-making and politics, and understand how they impact the development and execution of an integrated political advocacy and stakeholder outreach program.

Possess strong leadership skills, be unflappable under pressure, and be confident without being overbearing and creative with a willingness to “do new things.”

Have a track record of success in complex, fast-paced, high-performing organizations, with an ability to prioritize projects and work cross-functionally.

Have demonstrated experience building partnerships and strategic alliances.Because of his/her collaborative approach, s/he will have the ability to gain internal respect and build consensus with superiors, peers, subordinates and the Ed Trust – West ‘s executive management team.

Exercise sound judgment in the planning, implementing, and evaluating of programs in accordance with the Ed Trust – West’s strategic goals.

Possess keen analytical skills with the ability to synthesize and coordinate complex concepts and projects.

Have the capacity to write and speak clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences, including parents, practitioners, and state and local policymakers.

Have professional maturity, with the ability to handle a dynamic and changing agenda, adapt to a changing landscape, where appropriate, and operate effectively amid ambiguity.

Possess exceptional relationship building skills, with the capacity to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, cultivating productive partnerships and alliances.

LEAD E R S H I P C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S

Understanding the Business

Knows the external relations and communications business and the mission- critical technical and functional skills needed to do the job; understands various types of business propositions and understands how businesses operate in general; learns new methods and technologies easily.

Creating the New and Different

Is able to come up with the next great breakthrough thing to do; is creative, a visionary, and can manage innovation; is an effective strategist full of ideas and possibilities; sees multiple futures; has broad interests and knowledge; can both create and bring exciting ideas to market; comfortable speculating about alternative futures without all of the data.

Getting Organized

Is well organized, resourceful, and planful; effective and efficient at marshalling multiple resources to get things done; lays out tasks in sufficient detail to mark the trail; is able to get things done with less and in less time; can work on multiple tasks at once without losing track; foresees and plans around obstacles.

Getting Work Done Through Others

Manages people well; gets the most and best out of the people s/he has; sets and communicates guiding goals; measures accomplishments, holds people accountable, and gives useful feedback; delegates and develops; keeps people informed; provides coaching for today and for the future.

Dealing with Trouble

Fearlessly takes on all issues, challenges, and people; comfortably confronts and works through conflict; delivers negative feedback and messages without hesitation; deals promptly and fairly with problem performers; lets everyone know where they stand; thrives in crises and is energized by tough challenges; not afraid to make negative decisions and take tough action; challenges the status quo.

Communicating Effectively

Writes and presents effectively; adjusts to fit the audience and the message; strongly gets a message across.

Relating Skills

Warm, friendly, and interpersonally agile; easy to approach and talk to; relates well to all kinds of people; makes a pleasant first impression and builds solid relationships.

ED U C A T I O N

A Bachelor’s degree is required. An advanced degree is preferred.

How to apply

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send a compelling cover letter and resume that describes your interest in the position, your relevant qualifications and experience; please also include a writing sample. Submit your application materials to jobs@edtrustwest.org

In the Subject Line write the name of the position you are applying for and your last name: e.g. “Director_External Affairs and Communications_Smith”

Please save your resume and other materials as attachments with names as follows:

“Director_External Affairs and Communications_Smith_Resume”

“Director_External Affairs and Communications_Smith_CoverLetter” (and so forth)

NO TELEPHONE INQUIRIES PLEASE

The Education Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity in all facets of the organization’s work.

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