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Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
Policy & Advocacy · Seattle, Washington
- Place of Performance: Seattle, Washington
- Supervisor: Co-President, External Affairs
- Term: Limited term – expires December 2024
- Status: Full Time, Exempt
- Travel Requirements: Moderate in state travel, minimal national travel
- Salary Range: $99,500 – $124,000
WHO WE ARE
WA Charters knows that communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, low-income communities, and individuals living with disabilities disproportionately shoulder the burden of the impacts of inequitable access to high-quality public schools. Working for and in partnership with impacted communities is a critical priority of our technical assistance, legal, advocacy, communications, and engagement work to support charter public schools at every stage of their development. By doing so, we believe charter public schools will be a lever to improve educational outcomes across charter and traditional schools for all students.
Washington is the 42nd state to open its public education system to charter public schools and the charter public school law puts a strong emphasis on ensuring that its charters are high-quality options for students that don’t have access to them currently. The Washington State Charter Schools Association (WA Charters) is a non-profit organization that advocates for and develops high-quality charter public schools that meet the needs of systemically underserved students.
POSITION OVERVIEW
While the primary focus of this position is to build relationships with community-based organizations, create strategic partnerships, and strengthen stakeholder engagement to advance WA Charters legislative priorities, all positions at WA Charters contribute to our broader goal of advancing equity in Washington State’s public schools.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Build broad community partnerships 40%
- Identify potential community partnerships; serve as a liaison to other parent organizing bodies, education service organizations, advocacy organizations, and community-based organizations.
- Coordinate/oversee partnerships with community-based organization activities, including:
- In partnership with WA Charters organizing staff, work with school-based parent groups and family and community engagement school staff
- 1-on-1 meetings with community-based organizations to identify potential partnerships, build relationships, and understand issues of concern in Global Majority communities.
Coalition building 30%
- Manage and build relationships with civil rights organizations, parent organizations, and other community-based organizations (CBOs).
- Support coalition building by serving as liaison between WA Charters, CBO partners, school community engagement leads, and parent advocates.
- Under supervision of Co-President, External Affairs, lead community mapping to identify, track, and prioritize relationships with stakeholders and influencers in school communities, in service of relationship building for schools and WA Charters.
- With support from WA Charter staff, provide “charter 101” trainings for interested community-based organizations.
- Coordinates with WA Charters’ communications team to highlight community stories including expand coalition of families, advocacy partners, and community-based organizations ready, willing, and able to advocate on behalf of charter public schools.
- Manage advocacy contracts and subgrant agreements
- Oversee and coordinate advocacy-focused contracts and subgrant agreements with consultants and advocacy partners.
- Track deliverables, monitor progress, and communicate regularly with consultants and partners about status of the work.
Legislative advocacy 25%
- Participate in legislator advocacy meetings (with WA Charters staff and stakeholders during interim; with parents in district during interim; with parents in Olympia during session).
- Manage, facilitate, and co-host legislator and community-based organization school visits
- Participate in advocacy team strategy meetings, weekly calls, etc.
- Participate in development of advocacy goals, strategies, and tactics for legislative session.
Contribute to WA Charters Strategy: 5%
- Work with the entire team to uphold equity throughout every aspect of work including external engagement, strategy, advocacy, communication, school services, operations, and development.
- Participate at two school or community events in support of our broader community each year.
- Provide additional support across the organization by leading and participating in additional projects as needed.
WHO YOU ARE
WA Charters is seeking a team member that has the following essential skills and experiences:
- A resolute personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Willingness to be an active voice for equity
- Willingness to share own ideas amongst staff, stakeholders, and board members
- Excited by prospect of creating a continuously improving a program, at times working independently and at others with a team
- 5 to 7 years of experience building coalitions and community partnerships preferred
- This position requires flexibility to travel to work site a valid Washington Driver’s License and proof of minimum state required insurance
- Experience and relationships with Global Majority (people of color) led community-based organizations
- Policy and advocacy experience preferred
- Experience with charter schools and/or state legislature preferred
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
- Hybrid virtual and in-office work environment
- Open office workspace, with frequent sitting, occasional standing and/or walking and urban noise
- Frequent computer use
- Occasional local travel outside of the office, driving own vehicle or public transit
- Occasional need based irregular hours outside of the standard workweek (e.g. nights and weekends)
- Occasionally lift/carry up to 25 pounds
- Occasionally push/pull up to 25 pounds
- Note: WA Charters will make accommodations where necessary
WHAT WE OFFER
- A chance to transform Washington State’s public education to create broader equitable outcomes and policies for all students in Washington State
- A passionate, fun, fast-moving, and collaborative team. Salary range of $99,500 – $124,000 depending on experience. Salary range represents the minimum to mid-point of the WA Charters Director salary band. We typically set initial salaries between the minimum and .95 of the mid-point, to allow for growth over time. Exceptions can be made for individual with more-experienced hires.
- Medical, dental, vision, and Rx benefits; and life insurance (details provided upon request)
- 401(k) Plan with an employer match
- PTO days, unlimited sick time, and paid federal holidays
HIRING PROCESS
- To apply, please upload your resume and complete the companion application through the BambooHR portal
- The position will remain open until filled; however, anyone interested in the position is encouraged to apply early in the process, as the preferred start date is August 2022.
- If your skills are a match, we will contact you to schedule a phone interview, followed by an interview with members of our team
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
WA Charters is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.