Senior Director of Strategy, Impact and Outreach

The Public School Forum of NC is seeking a full-time Senior Director of Strategy, Impact, and Outreach to lead key areas of the Forum’s work:  Strategic Planning and Impact, Communications and Outreach, and the Community Schools strand of work.  The ideal candidate will have experience as a dynamic, effective non-profit senior leader and is a passionate and driven team player with a deep commitment to educational equity & opportunity and public education. The Forum fosters a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive culture. 

Organization and Background
Founded in 1986, the Public School Forum of North Carolina has served as an indispensable and nonpartisan champion for better schools.  For nearly 40 years, the Forum has worked to advance equitable educational opportunity through research, policy work, programs, advocacy, and continuing education for educators and policymakers.  We are a nonprofit partnership of leaders from business, education, and government that makes significant contributions to K-12 public education in North Carolina.  In addition to research and analysis in the public policy arena, the Forum runs multiple centers, including the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity (Flood Center), the NC Center for Afterschool Programs (NC CAP),  and the NC Center for Resilience & Learning. 

Job Summary and Description
The Senior Director of Strategy, Impact, and Outreach reports to the President and Executive Director and is a member of the Forum’s leadership team. The Senior Director works closely with the Forum’s Center and Team directors and staff to lead and manage organization-wide efforts in the following areas to advance the Forum’s mission and vision.  

Communications and Outreach (40%)

• Lead and manage, with the Communications Manager, the strategic vision, strategies, and approaches for communications and outreach at the Forum.
• Co-supervise the Communications Manager with the Sr. Director of Policy & Research.
• Monitor and set goals for increasing reach and engagement through media and social media channels ensuring messaging reaches intended audiences. 
• Develop protocols for sharing the work of the Forum, including reports, events, and other Forum efforts, to ensure consistent, targeted, and widespread distribution to increase impact.

Strategic Planning and Impact (30%)

• Manage and lead cross-team collaboration and implementation/progress tracking for measures and goals outlined in the strategic plan and organizational effectiveness assessment. Present to the Board of Directors annually. 
• Develop tangible ways to measure impact with the Forum team in alignment with the Strategic Plan and work with Center and Team leaders to develop more tangible metrics and measures for bodies of work and specific projects, including grants.
• Oversee and serve as the leadership liaison to the Equity Team and DEI efforts for the Forum. 

Community Schools (30%)

• Lead the collaboration across the Policy Team, the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity, The NC Center for Resilience & Learning, and the NC Center for Afterschool Programs in the ongoing visioning and implementation of the Community Schools model across NC.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Forum, the NC Community Schools Coalition, and Duke University. This will include interfacing and collaborating with regional and local partners.  
• Work with the individual Team/Centers at the Forum to ensure they have the resources and support they need to implement the Community Schools model. 
• Coordinate grant reporting to Duke University for quarterly and other reports.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required with an emphasis in organizational management/effectiveness, K-12 education, policy, or communications.  
• 10+ years in leadership positions in a non-profit or commensurate experience with demonstrated success in organizational management including strategic planning, strategic communications, and outreach.  Ideal candidate has at least 5 years’ experience in a senior leadership position. 
• Commitment to supporting public education and ensuring educational equity, access, and opportunity for all students. 
• Experience managing staff members and working collaboratively across teams and with leaders to ensure a positive impact on students, communities, and/or schools.
• Commitment to, appreciation for, and understanding of organizational values around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience taking an idea and making it into a tangible, funded effort that has a positive impact on students and schools. 
• Experience in bringing partners together to achieve a common goal despite unique audiences and missions. 
• Experience with Community Schools (or closely related community-engagement program model), including understanding the possibilities, goals, and potential challenges of implementing a community-centered model.
• Experience managing and supporting diverse teams so that individuals and the team can thrive.
• Experience convening diverse stakeholders, understanding their needs and prioritizing initiatives; and how to engage the diverse stakeholders in an inclusive way. 
• Strong communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to operate with purpose, in a fast-paced environment. 
• Excellent organizational skills; self-starter; exceptional attention to detail.  
• Flexibility, drive, and willingness to work as a team player to meet organizational goals.
• Demonstrated ability to work on several simultaneous tasks and projects.
• Strong writing skills and effective communication skills. 
• Computer, web, and social media proficiency. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

Itis the policy of the Public School Forum of NC to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all personals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, 

marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.