Managing Director, Political Engagement (NY) - Families for Excellent Schools

[melanie...@familiesforexcellentschools.org]

ABOUT US

At Families for Excellent Schools, our employees are passionate about their belief that all children should have access to great schools and education. We have diverse professional and personal backgrounds, and we don’t simply accept them - we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our employees, organization and the communities with which we work.  We are an active and energetic group, who like to roll up our sleeves and get things done, which reinforces our culture and organization's core values of Collaboration, Results, Grit, and Respect.  

THE ROLE

Families for Excellent Schools seeks a talented strategist with campaign experience to serve as its Managing Director of Political Engagement. Reporting directly to the Chief Program Officer, the Managing Director of Political Engagement will have strategic and operational responsibility for the political engagement work, as well as for collaborating with the rest of the organization on the execution of its mission.

This is an ideal opportunity for an innovative and entrepreneurial leader to play a critical role in the growth of a dynamic organization that seeks to elevate the voices of families and lift student achievement. As Managing Director of Political Engagement, you’ll have the potential to significantly impact the political and legislative landscape in our current three states and beyond.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Elected engagement strategy: Determine how FES should invest money and time to engage elected officials to build maximum support for our legislative agenda.

• Advocacy campaign strategy: Determine where and how FES should invest to move policy and electeds toward our goals (in full compliance across our c3, c4 and PAC entities).

• Advocacy campaign execution: Once the strategy is decided, you’ll manage and execute our campaign work, resulting in policy wins and more elected officials committed to ensuring that every child in their jurisdiction attends an excellent school.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

Candidates should enjoy working in a dynamic, results-oriented environment in which expectations are high for both the quality and speed of work and for living our core values. In addition, they should have the following:

• 5+ years of professional experience in political and/or advocacy campaign
• Experience in strategically planning for and evaluating the growth of an outcomes-based organization
• Proven leadership and organizational management experience, including having set and achieved strategic objectives.
• Track record of overcoming obstacles in challenging environments.
• Exemplary strategic thinking skills and the ability to apply them to political campaign and legislative contexts
• Ability to build strong, positive relationships across a diverse team and with various external stakeholders
• Basic knowledge of non-profit and political giving compliance.
• Deep conviction about ensuring all children have access to excellent schools and the power of organizing families in pursuit of this aim (note: you don’t have to come from the education/education policy worlds, but you do need to have deep belief in this cause)
• Bachelor’s degree or sufficient relevant work experience in lieu of education requirement
• In keeping with the work, candidates must be able to travel and work off site often, particularly in NY, CT and MA, and work moderately irregular hours when needed.

PAY AND PERKS

We provide competitive salaries and a full slate of benefits including health coverage, an FSA, a 401K plan with 5% matching and pre-tax commuter benefits. We have a generous vacation policy, and our office is shut down for a week at the end of the calendar year. Perks include a shiny new MacBook on your first day and open and collaborative office space at our offices in NYC, Boston, and New Haven.

Please APPLY on our website: https://boards.greenhouse.io/familiesforexcellentschools/jobs/143395?gh_jid=143395