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Form of workAbout Roger Williams University:
At Roger Williams University, students are prepared to be thinkers and doers ready to solve challenging problems with innovative solutions. RWU offers 50 majors and robust offerings of graduate and professional programs across eight schools of study including Rhode Island's only law school, with campuses on the coast of Bristol and in the heart of Providence, R.I. With small classrooms and a focus on undergraduate and graduate research and community engagement, a Roger Williams education blends the strength of liberal arts and professional studies, providing all students with the depth and breadth of interdisciplinary thinking and well-rounded knowledge necessary to succeed in our interconnected, global world. RWU is committed to strengthening society through engaged scholarship so that students graduate with the ability to think critically and apply the practical skills that today's employers demand.
Roger Williams University seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value diversity, equity and inclusion and respect for all races, genders, identities, and abilities. RWU is committed to creating a thriving community that encourages lifelong learning, professional development, and academic innovation. To learn more about Roger Williams University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please visit https://www.rwu.edu/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion.
Job Description:
CYCLE is hiring! We are excited to announce that CYCLE is hiring for a new Program Managerwho will join our Organizing Strategy & Training team to support and lead important work with a range of youth, parent, district, and community partners engaged in our CYCLE Strategy Institute. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to join a dynamic team and growing organizational effort.
ABOUT CYCLE
CYCLE partners with youth, families, educators, and other stakeholders to build collective power and fight for educational justice. We envision a future when public schools are centers of strength for the communities they're in.
CYCLE is committed to building collective power and fighting for educational justice by: creating spaces for learning, strategy, and leadership development with and for those most impacted by educational injustices; supporting community partners in constructing a shared understanding of and approach to solving the problems we face; and providing tools for community-driven research, advocacy, and organizing.
At its core, CYCLE's work is aimed at connecting schools and communities so that young people are nurtured to learn and thrive, families are engaged as educational partners, and communities find strength in the schools that serve them. We believe that building the schools our communities deserve requires collective power derived from shared leadership and trusting relationships between youth, families, and educators. Educational justice requires the prioritization of the needs, vision, and influence of those most impacted by the lack of democracy, dollars, and dignity in our current public education system?namely, youth and families of color, low-income communities, and oftentimes frontline educators and school staff. To do this work, we turn to the theories and practices of community organizing to lay the foundation for our approach to any project. For us, that translates to three key principles we strive to keep in mind when developing our work: whether our work is directly engaging in organizing campaigns, doing community-driven research, or convening partners to learn and build with each other, we seek to develop relationships, grassroots leadership, and shared analysis to build collective power and fight for educational justice.
Learn more about what we do at our website: https://cycle-rwu.org/
ABOUT THE CYCLE STRATEGY INSTITUTE
One of the programs that CYCLE sees as helping us achieve our mission and vision is the CYCLE Strategy Institute (CSI). Launched in 2019, CSI is a collaborative learning environment that blends skills training, knowledge sharing, and group discussion to help organizers develop a solid theoretical and practical foundation for winning progressive change, educational equity, and building sustainable, grassroots power. Through CSI, CYCLE shares proven community organizing approaches that (1) incorporate tools for issue campaign planning and evaluation, (2) challenge dominant, oppressive worldviews, e.g. racism, classism, commodification, etc, and (3) follow a disciplined, systematic approach to organizing.
Beginning in 2024, CSI will shift from a short-term training project that runs for a few months out of the year, to a standing community of practice designed to help participants organize to (1) secure equitable funding for public schools in their respective communities, districts, and states, and (2) ensure those funds are allocated or spent in an equitable way so that those most in need receive the most support.
POSITION SUMMARY
Supported by and reporting to the Associate Director of Organizing Strategy & Training, the Program Manager will co-lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of a forthcoming network of organizations in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT). Work will fall into three, broad categories: Network & Community Building; Organizing Capacity Development; and Knowledge Sharing. Position responsibilities are approximately as follows:
- Identify and engage a universe of past CSI participants and leads from partners to secure commitments to grow the equitable finance network in New England.
- Convene and collaborate with participants to co-design agendas and session focus areas, and identify training needs of the network/community.
- Engage with community/network members to assess how well CSI is helping: (1) foster a sense of community, build trust, and support the professional growth and organizing capacity of participants; (2) participants articulate the role of equitable finance in their work; (3) develop or deepen participants' understanding of their organization's political landscape; and (4) improve the effectiveness of participants' organizing capacity resulting from the successful implementation of CSI organizing tools.
- Document progress and contribute to the writing and editing of newsletters, blog posts, or other publications to share lessons learned with the broader field.
Reporting to the Associate Director, CYCLE, the Program Manager, CYCLE is responsible for the design, implementation, and ongoing management of one or more of CYCLE's team-based, educational equity programs that support CYCLE's strategic goals.
Essential Functions / Characteristics
- Design, implement, and manage community power-building programs and projects.
- Coordinate the flow of work associated with programs and projects.
- Set agendas for and facilitate program team meetings with relevant staff and stakeholders.
- Communicate progress to the Associate Director or designee.
- Delegate tasks to CYCLE staff assigned related to programs and projects.
- Consult with the direct supervisor of assigned CYCLE staff regarding their performance, as well as supervising community volunteers, interns, and contracted consultants.
- Provide and coordinate technical assistance to program stakeholders.
- Design and facilitate meetings, workshops, planning sessions, training sessions, and other forms of engagement with stakeholders.
- Coach stakeholder leaders and decision makers and provide thought partnership.
- Coordinate, lead, and support CYCLE staff, community volunteers, and others assigned to the program.
- Design and coordinate the design of materials and content associated with the program.
- Coordinate and align project activities across multiple sites, as needed.
- Participate in program evaluation activities.
- Assist with the writing, proofreading, and editing of reports or publications related to the program.
- Represent CYCLE at local, regional, and national conferences and meetings. Present/co-present with community members and organizational partners, when required.
This is a grant-funded position that is contingent upon the existence and availability of external funding. This position is full-time, 40 hours per week, with occasional evenings and weekends.
The position will be open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Requirements:
- Master's degree in education or related field, or equivalent experience.
- Five years of experience in the fields of education, youth development, community organizing, and/or social change work.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience leading complex projects with multiple team members and partners.
- Ability to plan and manage work effectively and efficiently while managing multiple projects and responsibilities.
- Experience facilitating and training in the fields of education, community-engaged research, youth development, community organizing, and/or social change.
- Experience working with racially and socioeconomically diverse communities and multiple stakeholders, including youth, parents and caregivers, community leaders, teachers, school and district personnel, and policymakers.
- Experience working with communities and schools from an asset-based orientation with a demonstrated commitment to educational equity and social justice.
- Knowledge of education reform history and current education policy, particularly as they relate to equity-focused reform and the role of parents, youth and community members in school reform, and/or knowledge of the theories and strategies of community and youth organizing and up-to-date knowledge of the education organizing field.
- Valid driver's license and willingness to travel, as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Multilingual fluency, especially in Spanish.
At the University's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be accepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the University, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Roger Williams University is an equal-opportunity employer. Candidates with backgrounds in the fields of community organizing, labor organizing, education policy, or public education are strongly encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be comfortable with:
- Providing leadership and reaching a consensus
- Working through periods of ambiguity
- Experimentation/trial-and-error
- Making mistakes
- Receiving and giving constructive feedback
- Building consensus among a diverse group of people who may have competing or differing opinions, objectives, and levels of experience
People of color, women, LGBT people, formerly incarcerated people, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND SCHEDULE
The physical and mental well-being of our employees is of the utmost importance. Job functions will be conducted in accordance with CDC/RIDOH/RWU COVID safety protocols, and a generous benefits package provides ample paid time off for vacation and employee illness. This position is available in Work From Office (WFO - in accordance with COVID protocols), Work From Home (WFH - pending approval by the Supervisor, Executive Director, and RWU Human Resources), or Hybrid WFO/WFH (pending approval by the Supervisor, Executive Director, and RWU Human Resources).
Additional Information:
Roger Williams University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable state and federal law. For information on our Non-discrimination policy, visit here.
RWU prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and its implementing regulations not to discriminate in such a manner. Complaints of Title IX sexual harassment should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at the contact information listed below. Details regarding the formal complaint process can be found here: Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures. All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and responded to promptly. TITLE IX COORDINATOR: Dr. Jen ...
