Cambridge, MA

The Organization
The Schott Foundation for Public Education’s mission is to develop and strengthen a broad-based and representative movement to achieve fully resourced, quality preK-12 public education, giving every child an opportunity to learn. The Schott Foundation is a national leader in social justice philanthropy and public education advocacy. Schott strategically resources advocacy campaigns to provide students with an opportunity to learn by providing a hybrid of philanthropic supports, network building supports, communications supports, and policy advocacy supports. Schott makes it possible for communities across the country to address the race and income-based “opportunity gaps” that underlie achievement gaps – ultimately helping thousands of students, district-by-district and state-by-state. In helping to strengthen this movement, Schott recognizes its pivotal role as both funder and advocate in the social justice arena.

Position Overview
The Schott Foundation for Public Education seeks to hire a Director of Programs and Advocacy who will report to the Vice President of Programs and Advocacy. The Director is a member of the foundation’s program team and will work in all aspects including, but not limited to, working closely with grantees and external stakeholders to cultivate and support effective campaigns focused on building systems to provide all students and opportunity to learn, and supporting the capacity of foundation partners through grantmaking, policy, communications, and networking supports.

LOCATION: Cambridge, MA

RESPONSIBILITIES:

•    Manage resourcing strategies for a portfolio of campaigns across the country supported by the foundation. Identify priorities, gaps, and trends in program resourcing areas and make recommendations accordingly to ensure excellent stewardship of the foundation’s resources and the advancement of the foundation’s and community goals.
•    Provide leadership and innovative ideas to the programmatic efforts of the foundation, including campaign support, policy advocacy, capacity building, grantmaking, and movement building.
•    Assist in monitoring state and local education policy activity, including legislation, ballot initiatives, and referenda relative to campaigns supported by the foundation.
•    Obtain, maintain and share a high level of knowledge of the most effective strategies and current thinking in the education and social change fields—what works, what are the most effective and/or innovative ways to support the work, and how to implement strategies with partners to enhance the effectiveness of program strategy and the understanding of the staff and board.
•    Contribute to the team’s development of criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the portfolio and participate in the evaluation of the results and outcomes.
•    Participate in annual planning and budgeting for the programs team and, when appropriate, for the organization as a whole.
•    Oversee convenings for grantee partners and allied organizations.
•    Support the development of the foundation’s Opportunity to Learn Network. Assess developments in the field and strategic points for philanthropic engagement.
•    Assist with external communications, including developing website content, newsletters, public presentations, and articles for sharing information about the foundation’s programmatic achievements and activities.
•    Participate in development of key foundation publications.
•    Represent the Foundation externally. Develop and maintain partnerships with other institutions to extend the impact of the foundation’s grantmaking and campaign resourcing strategies.
•    Collaborate with the fundraising team on special initiatives and events.
•    Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

•    Strong record of achievement and relevant experience in the nonprofit, public, or private sector.
•    A minimum of six years in education, philanthropy, or community organizing is preferred.
•    Substantive knowledge of preK-12 education, social justice, organizing, and/or movement building.
•    Excellent leadership, strategic thinking, and planning skills.
•    Outstanding communication (speaking and writing), interpersonal, organizational, language, and computer skills.
•    Energetic, flexible, self-starting team player with a direct, honest, and respectful approach to problem solving. Ability to foster collaboration and contribute to a strong sense of community among staff.
•    Strong project, time, and budget management skills. Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously without sacrificing attention to detail. Ability to thrive when working under deadlines is a plus.
•    Appetite for and sensitivity to working with diverse communities across race, class, ethnic, political, and geographic boundaries. Deep understanding of racial, gender, and ethnic dynamics locally and nationally.
•    Excellent listener and able to connect readily with grantees.
•    Ability to serve as an ambassador for the foundation externally, including the ability to travel frequently (about 30%).
•    Passion for providing students an opportunity to learn in traditional public education systems.
•    Great sense of humor.
•    Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.