Chief of External Affairs

Chief of External Affairs

Start Date: Immediate

Role Type: Full-Time, 12 month

Location: Washington, DC

FLSA Status: Exempt

WHO WE ARE

DC Prep is a high performing network of public charter schools serving over 2,100 preschool through 8th-grade students across six campuses in Wards 5, 7, and 8. We're proud of the high bar we set for ourselves to achieve results-our students deserve our best! We recognize that how we support our students to be successful is just as important as the results we achieve, which pushes us to reflect on questions such as:

• How can we facilitate our students' academic, social, and emotional development?
• How can we support our team members' professional growth and personal ability to do this work long-term?
• How can we engage our students' families as our own?

While this work is hard, it's worth it - we believe in the transformative power of education, the can-do-itness of our students and staff, and the joy that comes from engaging in meaningful work with people we care about and trust!

Here's how we drive results:

• Rigorous academic focus. Our Preppies receive the highest level of academic preparation through standards-based instruction, daily targeted interventions, and meaningful assessments.

• Social-emotional learning. We have always had a dual mission of academic and social-emotional skill development. Our research-based SEL curriculum is integrated into daily instruction, helping students leverage their personal values to strengthen their self-awareness, social awareness, and responsible decision-making skills and create a school-wide culture of empathy and reflection.

• Commitment to reflection and refinement. Our results tell us that we are moving in the right direction, but there's further to go to ensure that every student receives a transformative education. As a team, we regularly reflect on our programmatic model to see what's working and where we can get better.

Are you interested in learning more about the DC Prep Way? If so, check out our website to find out more about what we're working towards and how we're doing it.

WORKING AT DC PREP

DC Prep's faculty and staff are passionate, talented, and uncompromising with a mission to make sure all students succeed at a high level. Every aspect of our organization and program is designed - and continually refined - to ensure that goal. DC Prep students spend approximately 25% more time in school than other DC public school students. DC Prep's supportive, stimulating, and professionally rewarding learning environment continuously develops and motivates high-performing educators. DC Prep's staff and school leadership promote meaningful relationships between faculty and students, enable excellent teaching, and foster professional collaboration. The end result: great outcomes for students.

THE POSITION

As a member of DC Prep's executive team, the Chief of External Affairs is DC Prep's lead storyteller for all external stakeholders- prospective families, prospective staff, donors, government officials and community members. The Chief of External Affairs provides strategic direction and oversight for DC Prep's work on Development, Communications & Student Recruitment, and Advocacy. The Chief of External Affairs will be responsible for ensuring that DC Prep meets our annual fundraising goals and maintains our brand integrity in all written communications and across all digital platforms. In addition, the Chief of External Affairs will design and lead the strategy to share DC Prep's impact with families across Washington, DC, ensuring that DC Prep meets our student recruitment goals. Finally, the Chief of External Affairs will lead DC Prep's advocacy and community engagement work in pursuit of our mission of providing quality public education for all students in DC. This role reports to the CEO and directly supervises the Director of Development and the Director of Communications & Student Recruitment.

The Chief of External Affairs is a member of DC Prep's Executive leadership team, providing input on organization-wide decisions and strategic planning. A full-time, 12-month role, the nature of this role requires travel throughout the Washington, D.C., area, and a willingness to attend events and meetings in the evening and on weekends. This is an exempt role (i.e., not eligible for overtime).

WHO YOU ARE

You are a problem-solver, and a do-er. You have a deep curiosity for why things are the way they are, and what it would take to make them better. You like puzzles, and excel at breaking complicated issues into solvable parts-- you ask questions, seek advice, and create a plan to act on what you've learned. And once you've decided you're going to solve a puzzle, you stick with it- you know that puzzles take patience, persistence, creativity and a sense of humor!

You've earned a reputation as a thoughtful and savvy communicator, and are awfully good at influencing people to get work done because you understand what matters to them and address it! People trust you-- you're experienced, do the work to ensure you're well-informed on issues, "tell it like it is," treat others with respect and caring, and do what you say you'll do.

You have good judgment. You think in "systems," consistently identifying the far-ranging implications of individual decisions.

You are an effective manager and coach and are regularly sought out by current and former colleagues for work advice. You take pride in the work you've done to build high-performing, cohesive teams.

You believe deeply that all students deserve an excellent education, and that too few receive that today. You're open to feedback, eager to grow, and bring your best to everything you do.

THE DAY-TO-DAY

Responsibilities of the Chief of External Affairs will include but are not limited to:

• Organizational Leadership
• Serve as a strategic member of the executive leadership team, contributing to the overall strategic direction of DC Prep
• Ensure DC Prep's Board can be strong ambassadors for our students
• Advise DC Prep's executive team on strategic communications, including crisis communications
• Student Recruitment & Communications
• Lead the creation & implementation of DC Prep's branding, marketing and communication strategy in light of our strategic plan (Five Year Plan, Annual Plan), goals, and competitive position
• Lead the creation & implementation of DC Prep's student recruitment strategy, in light of long-term demographic trends, Vision and Values
• Determine the resources required to maximize the reach & impact of DC Prep's marketing efforts
• Supervise and support the Communications & Student Recruitment team to execute the Communications & Student Recruitment strategies, ensuring that we achieve our annual goals
• Expertly utilize a range of channels - including social media and earned media - to maximize the reach and impact of key messages with target audiences
• Development (i.e., "fundraising")
• Lead DC Prep's efforts to create a fundraising strategy and meet our fundraising goals from a combination of competitive government grants, foundation gifts, and support from a strong network of individual donors and corporate partners
• Supervise and support the Development team to execute DC Prep's fundraising strategy
• Cultivate relationships with major donors and philanthropic organizations; ensure DC Prep secures a high percentage of our "asks"
• Oversee applications and reporting requirements for all government and private grants and ensure compliance with all applicable fundraising regulations
• Facilitate the Development Committee and manage Board to support prospecting and cultivation

• Government and Community Relations
• Develop and implement strategies for government relations, advocacy, and community engagement to advance DC Prep's mission and policy priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, government agencies, community groups, and other key stakeholders.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments.
• Represent DC Prep at public hearings and meetings.
• Oversee community engagement initiatives and partnerships.
• Serve as a liaison between DC Prep and community organizations.
• In partnership with the CEO, manage and respond to community concerns and feedback.

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational background and work experience

• At least 8 years of experience in development, communications, government relations, or community engagement
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively larger management or leadership experience, including managing a team of 3+ individuals
• Bachelor's degree required

Required Skills and characteristics

• Unwavering commitment to DC Prep's Vision, Mission, and Values
• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills; willing to stick with challenges and try new approaches to get the right outcome!
• Persuasive communicator; demonstrated track record of creating alignment on shared goals
• Outstanding judgment; demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of independence
• Proven track record of coaching, mentoring and effective collaboration with direct reports, peers, and senior leaders

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Report in person to any of DC Prep's physical campuses, as needed.
• Additional responsibilities may arise during the school year. This could include: promoting DC Prep at on or offsite events, providing classroom support at critical times of the year, or supporting school operations at a DC Prep campus, as needed.
• This list is not exhaustive. DC Prep will communicate mandatory events outside of school hours with ample notice.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and environmental conditions described below are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. All of these physical requirements must be able to be performed with clarity, coherence and connectedness to DC Prep's vision. A reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals who have an ADA qualifying disability to perform these essential functions which include:

• Must be able to sit and work at a desk/computer for extended periods of time
• Must be able to spend the majority of the day standing or mobile throughout the classroom, as well as talk, hear, grasp, reach and lift up to 30lbs with or without accommodations
• Ability to concentrate in active and noisy environments such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, stairs and playgrounds, classrooms and large group professional settings
• Must be able to walk, stand and monitor crowded hallways, gymnasiums, cafeterias, stairs and playgrounds.
• Must be able to climb stairs throughout the day and escort students to and from class
• Must be able to have repetitive wrist/hand/finger movement to work on computer and/or related office equipment
• Ability to handle potential high stress conditions

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Highly competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability insurance; maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; and a 403b retirement plan

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. They may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

JOIN US

Do you believe that Learning Has No Limits? Are you eager to join a supportive, innovative, and collaborative community of educators? Are you committed to growing your strengths as an educator through individualized professional development and coaching? Apply today!

We're an equal opportunity employer and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.