Regional Director, DC Region - Leadership for Educational Equity
colleen...@educationalequity.org
About Leadership for Educational Equity
Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan leadership development organization dedicated to developing its members’ potential to ensure every child has the opportunity to receive an outstanding education.
Our kids and communities need more leaders who believe that educational inequity is a solvable problem. We believe that when our members are organized and reach positions of leadership, they’ll serve as a transformative force for 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. 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 about what we do, please visit educationalequity.org.
Position Summary:
Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE), a Teach For America (TFA) partner organization, is seeking a senior leader to serve as a Regional Director of the DC Region. The Regional Director should bring experience, curiosity, and creativity to the need to grow, engage, and organize our base of members in the region.
Regional Directors bring an entrepreneurial spirit to drive our local impact in regions across the country by: (1) actively building a base of civically engaged members and (2) helping our members assume senior leadership roles in policy, advocacy, as elected officials, and members of local community organizing efforts. Regional Directors partner with several teams at LEE to bring the best resources to our communities. They collaborate with our national expert teams at LEE in Elected Leadership, Policy and Advocacy, and Organizing Leadership to bring national gold-standard support in these areas; they partner with our Leadership Develop and Design team to develop best-in-class programming in support of the developmental needs and interests of our members; and they work with our partner organization TFA to maximize our impact on the ground. The Regional Director serves as the face of LEE along with the Manager, Regional Impact - DC, who reports to the Regional Director. Together, they are the primary points of contact for members in their region.
LEE is looking for a strategic leader with strong relationship building skills, a thorough understanding of the political and education policy landscape of the DC Region, and the skills to support community organizing experiences to serve as our Regional Director in the DC Region. The Regional Director will be charged with building a movement that leverages the collective strengths of our members to achieve educational equity for all children in the DC Region. This position will report to a Senior Director of Regional Impact.
Position location: Washington, DC
Travel Requirements: 20%
Responsibilities:
- Building an organized power base for students and communities that begins with getting to know and inspiring the LEE membership base;
- Understanding the complexities of the political and education landscapes to help members understand where the power lies and what opportunities must be seized to help close the opportunity gap in the region;
- Developing the individual leadership of our members in politics, policy and advocacy, and organizing through coaching, leveraging LEE programming, and ongoing support;
- Supporting the collective leadership of our membership base to take meaningful actions – determined by those members – on behalf of students and communities;
- Collaborating with TFA staff and other LEE teams to ensure that data and insight from regions and members inform ongoing strategy and related materials; Supervising and supporting the Manager, Regional Impact – DC; and
- Collaborating with LEE colleagues who have expertise in the areas of organization, policy, advocacy, and electoral work to collaboratively support the ongoing development of LEE members.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- Seven years of work experience
- Demonstrated track record of building local networks and partnerships with a diverse community of leaders and creating change with these partners
- Exceptional knowledge of the political community and climate in the DC Region
- Demonstrated skills and background in one or more of the three leadership development priorities of the organization:
- Politics (including candidate and/or public leadership development, campaign plan development, messaging, conducting a field campaign, coalition building and fundraising)
- Policy (including research and analysis, drafting legislation or policy recommendations, advising elected officials and/or other decision-makers, and working for local, state or federal government)
- Advocacy/community organizing (including identifying, recruiting, and developing community leaders; developing and implementing civic engagement plans in target communities; issue campaign work; coalition building; and conducting targeted communications through online advocacy platforms)
- Experience coaching others and playing a role in their long-term development is a plus
- Excellent communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate degree in a field related to education and/or policy (e.g., MPP, M.Ed.)
- Demonstrated skills and background in community organizing or movement building preferred
- Experience managing a high-functioning entrepreneurial team
- Demonstrated track record of culturally competent coaching across lines of difference
- Demonstrated track record of building strong relationships and organizing communities of color in the DC Region
Benefits and Salary
Salary for this position is competitive and depends on prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included.
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.
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.