ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPEN POSITION - INDIANAPOLIS DIRECTOR

LOCATION:Indianapolis, Indiana

REPORTS TO:Indiana Executive Director

POSITION AVAILABLE: Immediately

Stand for Children – a bold independent voice for public education reform – seeks an exceptional and driven leader to drive critically important work to improve student outcomes withinIndianapolis.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The next leader of Stand for Children’s Family Engagement and Organizing program in Indianapolis will have the opportunity to lead an organization that is truly making a difference to improve educational outcomes for students in some our highest-poverty neighborhoods in Indianapolis.

Through our grassroots organizing and leadership training program for parents in struggling public schools, Stand Indiana has built a network of parent advocates who are actively pushing for key improvements in their school and schools across their community. Through the political advocacy arm of Stand Indiana, the affiliate has played key roles in helping elect education champions at the local level, as well as pass innovative new laws that give public school districts more tools to turn around low-performing schools and better serve kids in poverty.

Key wins for children have included:

  • A parent-led campaign to bring a data-proven turnaround model to their failing school;
  • Support and advocacy for a one-of-kind state law that allows Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) to attract top programs and models to improve results in challenged schools;
  • A successful campaign that defeated three incumbent school board members and provided IPS with a leadership team committed to improving results for students; and
  • Impactful lobbying efforts to strengthen school accountability and improve teacher preparation and training.

Through the implementation of these reforms, and the continued work to activate a strong network of parents in struggling public schools, Stand for Children Indiana is working to ensure every child, regardless of their background, has access to a high-quality education.

THE ORGANIZATIONS

Stand for Children is a powerful voice for students. Our mission is to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, graduate from high school prepared for, and with access to, a college education. To date, Stand for Children’s eleven state affiliates (AZ, CO, IL, IN, LA, MA, OK, OR, TN, TX, and WA) have impacted the lives of millions of children through their state and district level work.

The Stand for Children family consists of two separate organizations—Stand for Children, a grassroots membership lobby for children exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, and Stand for Children Leadership Center, a leadership development organization exempt under section 501(c)(3).

Stand for Children and the Stand for Children Leadership Center work together to:

  • Educate and empower parents, teachers, and community members to demand excellent schools; and
  • Advocate for effective local and state education policies and investments and ensure that those policies impact classrooms and students.

Separately, Stand for Children works to elect courageous leaders who will stand up for our priorities.

We stand for achievement by all students, through quality early childhood education, effective, empowered and supported teachers and principals, engaged families with high expectations, and other strategies that provide students the tailored instruction and support they need to graduate high school ready for college.

We stand for access to high quality schools for all students, especially students in poverty, students of color, and students learning English. To expand access to all students, we advocate for effective educational leadership at all levels, sufficient and effectively spent school funding, and clear, accurate information about how schools are performing for parents, educators, and the community.

We believe all children deserve an equal opportunity to succeed in life. Education is the key that unlocks the door to success, but far too many children, through no fault of their own, aren’t getting the education they need to make it in life. We are passionately committed to righting this wrong.

THE POSITION

Stand for Children seeks an outstanding leader, strategist, and manager to lead the Indianapolischapter as the IndianapolisDirector. The primary objective of the IndianapolisDirector is to improve student outcomes in IndianapolisPublic Schools by employing a variety of strategies and tactics to achieve tangible progress for disadvantaged students.

Stand for Children’s next city director will have an opportunity to build on the previous success and take the organization to the next level of capacity at a critical time for students. S/he will: ensure effective collaboration with district leadership, as well as city, neighborhood, and constituency groups; organize parents, teachers, and community-members motivated to help improve Indianapolisschools; andmanage the execution of state and city-level strategic electoral and legislative advocacy plans. The IndianapolisDirector will work in partnership with the organizing team to achieve measurable outcomes and expand the work in Indianapolis. S/he will alsoensure the program’s sustainability by fundraising the Indianapolischapter budget through maintaining support of existing donors and enlisting additional local donors. The IndianapolisDirector will report to Stand for ChildrenIndiana’sExecutive Director and will be based out of Indianapolis, Indiana.

The IndianapolisDirector will be joining a national team of professionals committed to improving children’s lives. Stand for Children’s managers are empowering, entrepreneurial leaders who are committed to providing outstanding supervision in order for staff to develop as professionals and grow within the organization.

Responsibilities will include:

Community Organizing, Policy, & Advocacy

  • Building and maintaining strategic and collaborative relationships with district leadership and key stakeholders, including community members, business leaders, elected and appointed decision makers, and others, in order to identify and propose advocacy opportunities in alignment with Stand for Children’s policy agenda and Stand for Children members;
  • Partnering with the organizing teamand National Organizing Director to ensure community organizers successfully build and mobilize the Indianapolischapter to advance its goals to improve outcomes for students;
  • Executing a Indianapolisadvocacy strategy in conjunction with staff and chapter leadership; making strategic decisions about which tactics will best advance the goals of the chapter to improve outcomes for students;
  • Recruiting, developing, and electing school board members who will champion policies that will improve student achievement,and advising and supporting them after their election;
  • With support from the Indiana Executive Director and National Organizing Director, facilitating the development of action campaigns by working with allies to develop highest leverage action, playing a key strategy development role (for both mobilization and campaigns) and managing execution of the strategy;
  • Maintaining an accurate read on the local political context in order to ensureStand for Children always has the right strategy for achieving the greatest potential impact for students, has a set of clear objectives to achieve the strategy, and has a strong campaign plan to achieve the objectives; and
  • Continuously building knowledge around educational best practice and what will improve outcomes for students locally; using that knowledge to craft and execute thoughtful annual plans;learning and staying abreast of what is working across the state and country to improve public schools.

Developing and managing a high performing team

  • Overseeing the IndianapolisOrganizers by coaching the team to thoughtfully and effectively utilize Stand for Children’s organizing model in order to ensure the development of a broad base of Chapter teams across Indianapolis;and
  • Building and maintaining a disciplined, collaborative, supportive team culture.

Fundraising

  • In partnership with the IndianaExecutive Director, developing and managing IndianapolisChapter budget;
  • Raising the IndianapolisChapter budget in partnership with the IndianaExecutive Director; and
  • Cultivating and maintaining key donor relationships in order to grow and sustain the Indianapolisprogram.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Passionate and unwavering belief in and alignment with Stand for Children and Stand for Children Leadership Center’s shared mission to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, graduate from high school prepared for and with access to a college education;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the history and political landscape of Indianapolisand its constituencies, including the students and families served by Indianapolis’schools;
  • Significant and impactful experience working closely with community members or parents including teaching, community or political organizing, advocacy, or relevant leadership experience; campaign experience a strong plus;
  • A proven leader with a demonstrated track record of results.
  • Significant management experience, including hiring, supervising, and developing a team of direct reports within a high performing, results driven culture, and developing and executing annual plans;
  • Knowledge of and interest in education policy;
  • Track record of success in maintaining strategic relationships and working collaboratively with diverse organizations and constituencies, including, but not limited to, government bodies, businesses, and funders;
  • Existing relationships with key stakeholders in the education community in Indianapolisstrongly preferred;
  • Demonstrated success with fundraising strongly preferred;
  • Strong interpersonal, communications, and team-building skills; and
  • Availability to manage a flexible and independent schedule, including attending key community events as needed.

COMPENSATION

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience. Stand for Children is proud to offer excellent benefits: health and dental coverage; life insurance, and short- and long-term disability; 401K with a match plan; flexible spending/benefits plan; holidays and vacation accrual.

TO APPLY

Stand for Children and Stand for Children Leadership Center are equal opportunity employers and candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply. To apply for this position, please go to submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter. No calls please.