Director, Education Partnerships (Boston)

THE OPPORTUNITY

For over 25 years, Citizen Schools has been a pioneer in educational equity. Since opportunity, unlike talent, is not equally distributed, we have provided hands-on learning experiences that ignite curiosity, build confidence, and expand horizons for over 50,000 underrepresented middle school students. Together with our partners, including 25,000 career mentors, we have exposed students to ideas and connections, helping them access even better opportunities than previous generations.

Today, we engage students of color and students within low-income, under-resourced, and immigrant communities in hands-on learning, both in school and out-of-school. Our students are creators and problem-solvers, not just consumers. They become scientists, artists, mathematicians, engineers, writers, and programmers. We also apply best practices from our direct service work to systems-level advancement and learning by working with communities.

Together, we are transforming education in school, after school, and across communities.

THE ROLE

As the Director of Community Partnerships (DCP), you will be part of a dynamic relationship-building partnership team focused on engaging communities to enhance the education experience of young people across the country. Reporting to the Managing Director of Community Partnerships, you will support the earned revenue model at Citizen Schools within your core market.

This is a position located within the Greater Boston Area. You are not required to work within an office building, and you have the flexibility to define your ideal work environment as long as you have physical access to Greater Boston for community engagement.

10% - 20% travel required to attend in-person meetings and/or events, and to visit schools/districts/community partners.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnership Development: (65%)

• Develop a strategy for identifying and sourcing promising RFPs/RFAs related to Citizen Schools' services; and take the lead on, or support with, the writing of grant proposals and reports
• Develop and sustain the pipeline process by sourcing prospects and cultivating relationships with school, district, community, and system leaders; responding to inquiries regarding partnerships with Citizen Schools; leading sales conversations with potential partners; and executing follow-up with potential partners.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure contracts with district, city, state, federal, and nonprofit organizations (in collaboration with the Philanthropy team as necessary)
• Upon contract being secured, steward the transition of partners within the Citizen Schools ecosystem of programming
• Manage a portfolio of strategic partnerships to provide important inputs into the success of our business development model
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with key organizations that can lead to joint contract opportunities
• Partner with the team to adapt program design to meet community needs
• Represent Citizen Schools in collaboratives, networks, learning communities, etc.
• Serve as a panelist at events to elevate the work of Citizen Schools and our theory of change
• Build market awareness by representing Citizen Schools at conferences, trade shows and other events to secure and cultivate leads; including planning and coordinating exhibits/booths as necessary
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Programs, Philanthropy, and Operations) in the development and writing of partnership messaging, including marketing collateral, digital communications, blogs, and social media.
• Serve in a thought leadership role and represent the organization at external events, panels and initiatives
• Track and report sales activities through the use of SalesForce

Strategy & Execution: (20%)

• Support the development of the earned revenue strategy aligned with Citizen Schools strategic vision
• Develop and lead strategic approach to generating earned revenue to address the needs of districts, nonprofits and other community organizations seeking to benefit from our services and products within target geographical area
• Conduct ongoing listening tours with key partners within target geographical area, to continually assess community needs
• Establish and maintain partnerships with organizations that can inform our business development strategy and opportunities

Market Research & Analysis (15%)

• Conduct landscape research to identify new market opportunities and identify community needs; including extrapolating key information from district and school strategic plans
• Track and monitor competitor organizations to inform our community partnership development strategy
• Stay informed of policy and program evolution in target market to best position Citizen Schools' continued and future engagement

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• 4+ years experience in education as an educator, or education/school-related fields. Preference for existing understanding of and connect to the Greater Boston education landscape
• 2+ year experience in partnership development/fundraising. Experience in non-profit is preferred
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to convey complex ideas in a simple and understandable manner
• Proficient in adapting writing style and tone for various audiences and purposes
• Strong proficiency in crafting persuasive and engaging content
• Desire and excitement to model Citizen Schools' core values: Confidence, Curiosity, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Perseverance and Teamwork
• The fundamental belief that all students can achieve academic and professional success

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary for the Director of Community Partnerships is $86,000. You will also receive a robust benefits package that offers medical, vision, and dental insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match, Flexible Paid Time Off (plus 15 days of org-wide holidays), and more.

Note: Citizen Schools does have a COVID vaccination policy for positions based on whether the role is fully remote or requires some in-person support. Due to the nature of this position, you will be required to demonstrate proof of vaccination as part of your onboarding. If you have questions about this policy or wish to confirm an accommodation to this policy you may reach out to hr @ citizenschools.org at any point in the hiring or onboarding process if selected for the role.

ABOUT CITIZEN SCHOOLS

Citizen Schools helps all students to thrive in school and beyond through hands-on learning and career mentors. Our vision is that all students have experiences and career mentors that ignite curiosity, build confidence, and help them develop into the next generation of leaders. Together we are transforming education in school, after school, and across communities.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.citizenschools.org.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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. Citizen Schools is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team. If specific accommodations are needed, please contact us and we will work to accommodate your needs.