MANAGER OF EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT, NORTH CAROLINA
About Citizen Schools: Citizen Schools accelerates student learning through an innovative expanded learning time model that is rigorous and evidence-based. We partner with middle schools to provide "apprenticeships” (hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations), academic support and a culture of high expectations. As a result, our students develop the skills, knowledge and beliefs they need to succeed in middle school, advance towards college, and become leaders in their careers and communities. Our goal is to demonstrate that these approaches, taken together, can transform struggling schools.
Citizen Schools operates in eight states (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, and California), serving approximately 5,000 students and engaging over 4,000 Citizen Teachers. Building on seventeen years of programming innovation and results, Citizen Schools is in the midst of a strategic plan that will place this model at the center of school transformation. Nationally, Citizen Schools is scaling its Expanded Learning Time (ELT) model to serve 10,000 students by 2017.
Citizen Schools has been recognized as a national model program by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education, has been named a national winner of Fast Company Magazine’s Social Capitalist Award, and has been chosen by the Skoll Foundation as a winner of the Skoll Social Entrepreneurship Award.
Position Overview: The Manager of External Engagement (MEE), North Carolina will design and implement a campaign to grow our revenue base, elevate the Citizen Schools brand, recruit individual volunteer Citizen Teachers, and initiate and build partnerships with target organizations that reflect areas of focus for our diverse communities. This position presents a unique opportunity with critical responsibilities managing both internal systems and structures and external marketing and brand building initiatives to ensure we have the financial and human capital necessary to double the number of students served in North Carolina by 2017. Specifically, the MEE will design & execute a fundraising strategy encompassing corporations, foundations, individuals, and the public sector; volunteer recruitment and appreciation events; steward existing partner relationships, research and cultivate new relationships; support our budding social media strategy; manage relationships with traditional and nontraditional press outlets, and provide general external engagement support to the Executive Director
The MEE will work closely with the the North Carolina Executive Director and other members of the regional leadership team to meet goals for Citizen Schools’ brand and presence throughout the region. The MEE will also work closely with members of the National Civic Engagement team, including participating in Civic Engagement cohort calls and attending annual Civic Engagement conferences. This position reports directly to the Executive Director, North Carolina, and will be based in Durham. This position is available for an immediate start.
Responsibilities Include
Fundraising: General Management & Support
About Citizen Schools: Citizen Schools accelerates student learning through an innovative expanded learning time model that is rigorous and evidence-based. We partner with middle schools to provide "apprenticeships” (hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations), academic support and a culture of high expectations. As a result, our students develop the skills, knowledge and beliefs they need to succeed in middle school, advance towards college, and become leaders in their careers and communities. Our goal is to demonstrate that these approaches, taken together, can transform struggling schools.
Citizen Schools operates in eight states (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, and California), serving approximately 5,000 students and engaging over 4,000 Citizen Teachers. Building on seventeen years of programming innovation and results, Citizen Schools is in the midst of a strategic plan that will place this model at the center of school transformation. Nationally, Citizen Schools is scaling its Expanded Learning Time (ELT) model to serve 10,000 students by 2017.
Citizen Schools has been recognized as a national model program by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education, has been named a national winner of Fast Company Magazine’s Social Capitalist Award, and has been chosen by the Skoll Foundation as a winner of the Skoll Social Entrepreneurship Award.
Position Overview: The Manager of External Engagement (MEE), North Carolina will design and implement a campaign to grow our revenue base, elevate the Citizen Schools brand, recruit individual volunteer Citizen Teachers, and initiate and build partnerships with target organizations that reflect areas of focus for our diverse communities. This position presents a unique opportunity with critical responsibilities managing both internal systems and structures and external marketing and brand building initiatives to ensure we have the financial and human capital necessary to double the number of students served in North Carolina by 2017. Specifically, the MEE will design & execute a fundraising strategy encompassing corporations, foundations, individuals, and the public sector; volunteer recruitment and appreciation events; steward existing partner relationships, research and cultivate new relationships; support our budding social media strategy; manage relationships with traditional and nontraditional press outlets, and provide general external engagement support to the Executive Director
The MEE will work closely with the the North Carolina Executive Director and other members of the regional leadership team to meet goals for Citizen Schools’ brand and presence throughout the region. The MEE will also work closely with members of the National Civic Engagement team, including participating in Civic Engagement cohort calls and attending annual Civic Engagement conferences. This position reports directly to the Executive Director, North Carolina, and will be based in Durham. This position is available for an immediate start.
Responsibilities Include
Fundraising: General Management & Support
- Partner with the Executive Director in the cultivation and fundraising strategy for North Carolina. Lead a new “sponsor an apprenticeship” campaign to corporate and individual donors. Partner with the National Director of Corporate Partnerships on cultivation of national corporate partners with presence in Durham. .
- Partner with Executive Director to manage reporting and compliance requirements for public funding partnerships. Develop and monitor multiple grant budgets relating to public grants and regional expenses.
- Reach high levels of stewardship of North Carolina donors; work effectively with colleagues across the growing Citizen Schools national network to raise funds locally, share information, resources, and leads, manage relationships effectively, and collaborate on national efforts.
- Use campus site visits and campus/city-wide WOW! events to engage current donors more deeply and cultivate prospective donors/volunteers.
Fundraising: Research and Relationship Management
- Lead targeted research efforts and develop the strategies and relationship-building activities required to engage investors; partner with North Carolina team members to research new leads within each private funding category (individual, corporate, foundation).
- Arrange and attend events, conferences, and meetings to generate new leads.
- Steward primary local funder relationships and develop systems of appreciation and communication for each funder. Share funder best practices with colleagues in Citizen Schools’ state offices and provide appropriate connections to prospects in other states
- Communicate with colleagues across the organization to understand funder objectives, requirements, and related program activities, and to ensure fulfillment of commitments.
Recruitment and Engagement of Citizen Teachers
- Attract and manage communication with individuals who have expressed interest in volunteering;
- Support the development and execution of ongoing engagement activities for volunteers after their apprenticeship experience so that volunteers become champions of Citizen Schools who assist with recruiting other volunteers, raising money for the organization, and supporting policy initiatives
- Engage in front-end planning with volunteer Citizen Teachers to conceptualize apprenticeships that will meet targeted student and school needs
- Share an understanding of each volunteer’s background and needs to allow Citizen Schools campus staff members to differentiate support for each individual volunteer
- Lead program staff in collaborative efforts to build and share a network of apprenticeships and WOW! in Durham
Management of Strategic Partnerships
- Work with the Executive Director as well as national Citizen Schools Civic Engagement staff, to develop volunteer recruitment targets for each campus and each portfolio organization, with an emphasis on non-profit organizations and universities
- Steward and support the development of city-wide and state-wide partnerships with nonprofits and civic organizations (e.g. science, finance, law, health, technology) interested in volunteering with Citizen Schools
- In partnership with the Charlotte Manager of External Engagement, work with the national Civic Engagement department and Civic Engagement colleagues in other regions to develop deep multi-location partnerships that advance Citizen Schools’ program and civic engagement goals (e.g. partnerships related to STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
- Plan and execute a variety of public events, including WOWs and off-campus student field trips to the business community to increase awareness and cultivate volunteers
Marketing and Communications
- Design and implement communication and press campaign strategy to reach targeted audiences
- Create and expand opportunities to publicize support from key partners and funders
- Identify and leverage best strategies to increase efficacy of social media outlets (e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- Initiate and maintain relationships with local press representatives in print and television news media
- Plan and execute a variety of public events to raise awareness, build buzz, and cultivate stakeholders
Qualifications
All candidates should have demonstrated leadership skills, a passion for education and community, and effective collaboration skills. Other qualifications include:
All candidates should have demonstrated leadership skills, a passion for education and community, and effective collaboration skills. Other qualifications include:
- Fundamental belief in the ability of all children to achieve excellence in school and in life on an absolute scale, and in the Citizen Schools model as a catalyst for transforming schools and communities
- 3-5 years professional experience; experience with fundraising preferred; experience with sales or business development required in the absence of fundraising experience
- Experience and/or strong interest in communications and social media
- Familiarity with legislature and state policy making process particularly access to streams of public funding
- Outstanding project management skills with a demonstrated ability to ensure on-time completion of long-term projects
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills and comfort with public speaking
- Advanced proficiency with PowerPoint and Excel
- Creative ability to develop attractive and compelling marketing materials for a variety of audiences
- Strong team orientation, interpersonal skills, judgment and ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
- Sense of humor and enthusiasm
- Knowledge of the Durham business landscape and community leadership a plus
- Creativity, initiative and entrepreneurial zeal
- Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary
- Willingness and ability to travel to community events and partners throughout the Durham area, as well as 1-2 annual conferences in Boston
- Ability to model & internalize Citizen Schools’ core values: Pride, Joy, Respect, Courage, Teamwork, Perseverance, and Vision
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required
Compensation and Benefits
Salary will be commensurate with experience. Full benefits include health care, 403B, three weeks’ vacation, and professional development opportunities.
Next Steps
Please complete an online application (including cover letter and resume) at www.citizenschools.org/careers. Candidates will be reviewed on an on-going basis.
Salary will be commensurate with experience. Full benefits include health care, 403B, three weeks’ vacation, and professional development opportunities.
Next Steps
Please complete an online application (including cover letter and resume) at www.citizenschools.org/careers. Candidates will be reviewed on an on-going basis.
Citizen Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status.
