Ashley Ellington
Senior Director, Organizing Strategy
Position Grade: Senior Director 1
Position Location: Flexible Location
About Leadership for Educational Equity
Leadership for Educational Equity is a nonprofit leadership development organization inspiring and supporting a network of civic leaders to eradicate the injustice of educational inequity.
Through one-on-one coaching, fellowships, workshops, and resources, LEE works to develop and inspire its members individually and collectively, across all disciplines – as policy makers, advocates, elected leaders and community organizers. LEE membership is free and currently open to all TFA corps members and alumni. LEE believes that when a diverse group of leaders, grounded in their classroom experience, are in leadership roles, they will serve as a transformative force for and with students, communities and the broader movement for educational equity.
LEE is a diverse team of passionate and talented individuals committed to making a difference. We are a high-growth, results-oriented organization that operates in an entrepreneurial environment deeply invested in continuous improvement. LEE is honored to have been selected as a LATINA Style 50 Award recipient and a When Work Works award recipient. We are also an Employer of National Service. If you would like to become part of our team and join the fight for educational equity, or if you would simply like to learn more, please visit educationalequity.org.
Position Summary:
The Senior Director for Organizing Strategy (SD, OS) is responsible for ensuring that excellent organizing resulting in significant policy change for kids is happening in all 20 LEE regions. The SD,OS accomplishes this by training and coaching Regional Impact (RI) Team members responsible for the organizing work in their region, by offering strategic thought partnership and guidance on specific campaigns, and by liaising with other national teams at LEE to direct the necessary communications, digital organizing, training, and policy resources to RI staff and the 20 member-led Organizing Alliances across the country they support. The SD, OS sits on the Regional Impact Leadership Team, where they contribute to the overall team strategy by coordinating organizing strategy with LEE’s other streams of leadership development. This position partners closely with LEE’s Organizing Leadership team, ensuring a cohesive organizing vision and strategy.
Position Location: Flexible
Travel Requirements: 50% travel (to regions to offer in-person coaching and support + team retreats and programming)
Responsibilities:
Regional Organizing Strategy (40%)
- Advise Large and Small Region leads and Regional Portfolio Senior Directors (SDs) on organizing strategy and action-specific tactics, leveraging national platform organizing expertise as needed
- Ensure development and implementation of sound organizing strategy across all regions through the creation of systems, individual coaching, group meetings/trainings, and site visits at key moments.
- Devise systems and supports for data entry and analysis across regions
Coaching and Development of Regional Staff (25%)
- Coach and develop approximately 40 regional staff across all regions to meet regional collective action turnout/engagement goals
Team Leadership & Cross-Team Collaboration (20%)
- Serve on the Regional Impact Leadership team, helping to define team strategy and vision
- Manage relationship with Organizing Leadership and National Impact team to ensure staff and Organizing Alliances are getting the national supports they need, and that national supports are designed with regional context and consultation
- Manage relationship with Organizing Leadership and National Impact team to ensure staff and Organizing Alliances receive national supports needed and that national supports are designed with regional context and in coordination with the Organizing Leadership team
- Facilitate and Support Community of Practice meetings and trainings in tandem with Organizing Leadership and other NI teams
Special Projects (15%)
- Support with Director, Program & Organizing hiring
- Other projects as assigned by Vice President, RI
Minimum Qualifications:
- 7+ years leading organizing strategy and/or managing organizing work and managing complex workstreams towards successful outcomes, building successful relationships with a variety of stakeholders, and leading to equity-driven policy changes
- Demonstrated expertise and success as a manager, driving teams to goals and impact
- Working knowledge and baseline skills in elected leadership, policy, and advocacy
- Deep alignment with LEE’s mission
- Highly effective communication, coaching and team building skills, with demonstrated experience across lines of difference
- Demonstrated expertise and success driving teams to goals and impact
- Ability to communicate and collaborate within a geographically dispersed team
- Strong, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion
- Demonstrated ability to identify and develop strategies to drive policy change
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in a relevant field (MPA, MPP, JD, MBA, or PhD)
- Demonstrated success in innovative practices that leverage resources and enable significant growth
- 3+ years of team management experience
- Management of geographically dispersed team, with evidence of strong team culture and outcomes
- Ability to communicate and collaborate within a geographically dispersed team
- Strong, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion
- Deep passion for educational equity and belief in LEE’s mission and theory of change
- Experience in digital organizing and strategies
Benefits and Salary
Salary for this position is competitive and depends on prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included. LEE offers a comprehensive benefits plan that includes health, dental and vision coverage for spouses, families and domestic partners; life insurance; a retirement package with employer match; family and parent benefits; generous paid time off and an organization-wide winter break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity
Leadership for Educational Equity is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.
An affirmative action-equal opportunity employer.
The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.