Position Summary:

Mastery Charter Schools seeks a highly skilled leader and manager to serve as the Deputy Chief of External Strategy (DCES). The DCES is a senior leader who works closely with the CEO to partner with external constituents and further Mastery's mission. The DCES manages a Development team, Communications team, and Parent Advocacy team to accomplish four key bodies of work:

Create and implement a development strategy

Communicate Mastery's program and impact to policy makers and parents

Manage relationships with external policy makers to support Mastery's mission and work

Organize parents to support Mastery's mission and work

The DCES role is a high impact position within the organization and among our external constituencies, reporting directly to the CEO. The ideal candidate must be both a visionary leader and an outstanding team manager. The DCES will create and implement the strategies that position Mastery to thrive in the donor community, with policy makers, and with our parents. Accordingly, sky-high standards and intense focus on executional quality are prerequisites for the position.

About Mastery:

We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child - academically and emotionally - matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.

Mastery Charter Schools http://www.masterycharter.org/ is a nonprofit network of more than 20 schools http://www.masterycharter.org/app/uploads/2017/12/MCS.Locations.and_.Map_.2017.pdf serving over 13,500 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.

We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our building can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.

Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Development

The DCES will manage a 3 person development team to create and implement a development strategy aimed at doubling our annual giving to more than $2 million annually. Doing so will require the DCES have deep knowledge of Mastery's program and be able to communicate how our work positively impacts the larger education field. The ideal candidate will develop and manage relationships with major donors and national foundations. The team is responsible for executing an impactful stewardship program; ensuring donors are informed and emotionally engaged in Mastery's work. The team will also monitor State and Federal policy initiatives and ensure Mastery meets the grant reporting requirements. Finally, the DCES will manage the Mastery Charter Schools Foundation, the non-profit that supports Mastery fundraising and accepts donations on Mastery's behalf.

Communications

The DCES will lead a two person team responsible for communicating Mastery's message and brand to parents, policy makers, and prospective employees. The DCES will oversee a re-branding process that is currently underway. S/he will ensure that the brand is effectively communicated through a variety of media channels. Ultimately, the DCES is responsible for ensuring that parents are informed and emotionally engaged in Mastery's mission, policy makers are compelled by Mastery's work, and prospective employees understand Mastery's value proposition. Finally, the DCES will represent Mastery Charter Schools in variety of public forums.

External Relations

The DCES will build and manage relationships with key constituencies and policy makers to ensure school district policies are supportive of Mastery's work. The DCES will supervise a five person advocacy team that is dedicated to organizing parents - both to address issues in their communities and public policies that impact Mastery's mission.

The DCES is a member of Mastery's senior leadership team. S/he may manage special projects/program innovations with a goal of developing those projects into implementable programs that can be funded and scaled.

Qualifications:

Excellent team management and supervisor experience - can manage a team effectively and coach team members to grow professionally

Strategic thinker- able to understand the interests of others and how to position and idea to move the ball forward

Analytical thinker- able to analyze programs and understand what drives program effectiveness

Relationship builder - can build relationships with donors & external constituencies. Able to see the world from the point of view of our constituents

Organized and Execution Obsessed - focused on execution and quality

Exceptional project manager -- understands how to get things done and scale programs across large organizations. A wizard at implementation and planning. Can take complex problems and break them down to implementable steps

Fantastic communicator - can communicate effectively & persuasively in writing, tell a compelling story, and present effectively in-person

Smart: quick learner who is insatiably curious and able to figure it out

Resilient and Adaptable - doesn't get stuck by obstacles and resource constraints

High Expectations: demands quality in his/her work and throughout the organization

Personable - able to build relationships with multiple stakeholders including network support leaders, principals, and teachers

Self-Aware-has the ability to reflect and adapt to diverse environment

Education and Experience:

Minimum 7 years of senior project management and leadership experience

Experience in consulting or large organization environment is desirable. Experience in an educational setting is a plus, but not required

A proven track record of achieving measurable results

Experience managing teams and driving organizational change

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Unwavering commitment to students' success and belief in Mastery Charter Schools' mission
Primary Location:
Central Office
Salary Range:
Per Year
Shift Type:
Full-Time