KIPP NYC Director, Community Engagement, External Affairs - KIPP NYC Public Schools

About KIPP NYC

KIPP NYC Public Schools is a non-profit network of 18 free, public charter schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. We partner with families and communities to create joyful and rigorous schools in pursuit of a more just world. In 1995 we started our first middle school, KIPP Academy, in the Bronx, with a vision that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. Today, our network consists of eight elementary schools, nine middle schools, one high school, and KIPP Forward, a comprehensive program to support our students and alumni in choosing and preparing for the educational and career paths that fit their goals and sense of purpose. KIPP NYC currently serves more than 11,000 students and alumni, has a staff of more than 1,000 (11% of whom are alumni), and continues to grow.

Position Overview:

The Director of Community Engagement will be an essential member of the regional External Affairs team. The Director will work with our families and communities to identify the best strategies to recruit new KIPP NYC students and strengthen family engagement across KIPP NYC. As such, the Director will manage the Ambassador Program team, composed of families and alumni –who are best positioned to demonstrate KIPP NYC as the number one school choice for our families. The Director will also be responsible for executing the vision for impactful family and community engagement in our schools and with our regional teams. The position will include significant time interacting with school staff, parents, KIPP NYC leadership, and external partners in order to ensure positive and productive relationships between KIPP NYC and local elected officials, Community Education Councils, Community Boards, and local community partners through active and engaged parents. The Director of Community Engagement will report to the Chief External Affairs Officer.

This position may include after-hours commitments such as attending school-based events, hosting info sessions, attending community board meetings, calling families, that require in-person support during critical times of the year. Any events that take place outside of standard business hours will be communicated and scheduled in advance.

Responsibilities (not limited to):

• Lead and strategically manage the Family Ambassadors program to drive KIPP NYC student application goals. Cultivate and leverage high-level family relationships and business referrals to enhance recruitment efforts and meet organizational targets.
• Partner closely with the KIPP NYC Student Recruitment & Enrollment (SRE) team to design and implement innovative family and student recruitment and outreach strategies. Ensure alignment with broader organizational objectives and regional goals.
• Lead the KIPP NYC Family Regional Advisory Council. Provide leadership in guiding discussions, setting agendas, and driving actionable outcomes at monthly meetings. 
• Strategic External Affairs Support: Collect and strategically organize family testimonials to bolster External Affairs campaigns. Use these testimonials to shape and influence public relations and advocacy efforts while utilizing family feedback from Possip to drive cross-functional initiatives and improve family engagement practices. 
• Facilitate engagement opportunities across regional teams, including partnering with Student Support Services. Utilize family feedback data from Possip to drive cross-functional initiatives and improve family engagement practices.
• Direct Parent Engagement: ensure team coverage at school-based family meetings to directly engage with parents, solicit feedback, and provide critical updates on student application goals, upcoming events, and collaborative opportunities. Ensure these interactions are impactful and aligned with organizational goals.
• Implement a comprehensive organizing program to train, support, and activate school-based advocacy point people who will support the regional plan day-to-day in each KIPP NYC school and program and meet the regional goals.
• Support school-based parent/alumni groups to ensure they are meeting regularly and engaging in varied advocacy actions.
• Coordinate KIPP NYC participation in sector wide advocacy actions including leading logistics for all mass actions including preparing communications, briefings, and resources to ensure maximum participation.
• Manage and analyze civic engagement data through Murmuration. Provide regular, comprehensive reports on engagement progress and ladder of engagement metrics to inform strategic decision-making.
• Serve as the regional liaison to the KIPP NY Alumni Association, fostering strong relationships and collaboration to enhance alumni engagement and support and partner with the KIPP Forward team as they launch the KIPP NYC partnership with LEE.
• Travel and Advocacy: Engage in local travel to KIPP NYC schools and evening community events. Represent the organization at advocacy events in Albany and other key locations, effectively advocating for KIPP NYC’s mission and goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, with 5-8 years of experience in family engagement, civic engagement, community organizing, or program management
• Executed successful community engagements campaigns that drove influence in public relations and advocacy efforts
• Strong relationship building skills, particularly with families and business referrals. 
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish highly preferred, written and verbal communication
• Strong organizational skills and ability to keep track of deadlines and communications using shared platforms, including Asana, Google Drive, CRM database tools
• Experience managing programs with direct reports and multiple stakeholders across various sites
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships with stakeholders across functional and organizational lines
• Creative, analytical thinker with meticulous attention to detail, able to quickly implement thoughtful solutions in a fast-paced environment

Compensation and Benefits:

KIPP NYC offers a competitive salary ranging from $115,360 - $132,870 per year. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience relevant to the role, NYS initial or professional certification, and longevity within the KIPP network. KIPP NYC will evaluate a candidate’s years of experience, certification, and longevity at point of hire to determine the step/level a new hire will be placed within our teacher salary scale.

KIPP NYC offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:  

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision. 
• Generous Time-Off including 5 school vacation weeks, sick and personal days, and an extended summer break. 
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave. 
• Bright Horizon Back-up Child and Elder care.
• Employer paid Life Insurance  and Short term/Long term disability.
• Employee incentives including 8 Weeks paid Sabbatical after 10 years, annual professional development funds, and tuition reimbursement.

This description is intended to describe the type of work being performed by a person assigned to this position.  It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by the employee.

This role is based in NYC and will require travel to our schools. If you relocate outside of a commutable distance or out of the state of NY, your employment will be subject to review, which may include separation from KIPP NYC. It is important that you notify HR if you move or have plans to relocate.

KIPP NYC LLC does not offer visa sponsorship or work authorization. 

KIPP NYC LLC is an anti-racist organization that believes in the importance of being diverse, equitable, and inclusive. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment that includes employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving students and families throughout New York City. BIPOC, women, gender expansive, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

KIPP NYC LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP NYC LLC is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment.