Community engagement manager

Reports to: Director of Community Engagement

Location: Bruce C. Bolling Municipal 2300 Washington Street Roxbury, MA 02119

Position Summary:

The Office of Family and Community Advancement (OFCA) mission is to become a capacity-building catalyst for authentic, and effective partnerships among students, families, schools and the community to ensure student readiness and achievement from pre-entry to post-graduation. OOE seeks a Community Engagement Manager, who is a skilled community organizer, with an understanding of the history of public education in Boston and the current climate and context.

As BPS seeks to make improvements to benefit all students, we must deeply and authentically engage stakeholders in the process. The BPS strategic plan has an express goal to amplify all voices and this work will be led by the Community Engagement team. Community Engagement Managers play a pivotal role in shaping and managing the strategic direction for public dialogue, listening to and valuing the expressed needs of a diverse community of parents, school leaders, students and other stakeholders.

CE Managers will design authentic community engagement processes, systems and structures that allow for stakeholder input in district decision making and policy changes. Under the direction of the Director of Community Engagement, CE Managers will develop relationships with a regional portfolio of organizations, building trust and creating the space for collaborative work with the district. They will thrive in an adaptive environment requiring agility, have the ability to work and connect deeply with a diverse set of stakeholders, and be comfortable with running campaigns. Community Engagement Managers work closely with the Communications Office to shape and support proactive communications for BPS stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal and communication skills; and the ability to design, facilitate, and manage community-based models of engagement. S/he will be flexible, an excellent strategic thinker and project manager. The Manager will pay keen attention to detail, have excellent organizational skills and a high bar for quality. Community Engagement Managers also must be a critical thinker who displays sound judgment in strategizing and prioritizing tasks.

Responsibilities:

• Promote the BPS vision for family, community and student engagement within the Boston Public Schools and greater Boston community
• Develop a deep understanding of the city of Boston, its people, and every community including the needs, successes, challenges, and priorities
• Develop and manage relationships with a regional portfolio with a broad base of constituents and stakeholders, (including faith-based institutions, public officials, local government agencies, social service agencies, teachers and school leaders) in ways that engender trust and a spirit of collaboration, and build awareness and knowledge of BPS efforts and initiatives
• Partner with BPS departments seeking community input to prioritize and establish clear engagement goals, develop and execute an initiative specific engagement plan, track deliverables, and assess the effectiveness of engagement processes to make adjustments and improvements
• Support development of and recruitment for the district’s Community Engagement Advisory Council
• Attend parent leadership organization, community and neighborhood meetings to develop a deep understanding of stakeholder needs and concerns, build partnerships and trust, hear community concerns, raise awareness of BPS proposed policy changes, and provide information about BPS community engagement and OFCA programs
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with advocacy and communications counterparts within the Boston education community
• Develop continuous process for building public understanding of proposed district changes and policies including quarterly public forums
• Conduct and report on impact analysis of pending district shifts on the various communities and populations of Boston
• Prepare briefs representing community voice to assist office and district leadership in making decisions, and monitor and report on progress to all stakeholders
• Support the capacity building efforts at the school and community level to create an inclusive and welcoming meeting environment to engage diverse stakeholder groups in dialogue and informational conversations, in order to gather feedback on issues and policy changes;
• Collect and maintain data and accurate records regarding participant demographics, feedback, outcomes, and follow-up required; and respond to both immediate and longer-term requests for data analysis and reporting of key departmental data
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Director
  
  

Qualifications - Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or commensurate experience working in an urban educational environment
• Strategic, analytical and critical thinker with an ability to understand and navigate in a political environment
• Ability to drive change in and with others without a direct reporting relationships, and the skill to build the relationships and trust needed to push back against colleagues and leadership
• Effective community organizing skills and understanding of organizing and mobilizing principles
• Highly organized with demonstrated ability to simultaneously balance several tasks and projects in a fast paced, entrepreneurial role within a bureaucratic environment
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, cross departmentally and independently to get results
• Act as a resource between BPS departments and community stakeholders to translate information and data into user friendly reports and presentations
• Strong time management, project management and organizational skills with a detail and deadline orientation, and focus on quality and mission critical priorities
• Innovative problem solving skills to address roadblocks and barriers
• Proactively seeks, accepts and uses feedback as a continuous learner for personal professional growth and improvement of the work
• Strong drive and motivation to take initiative
• Ability to thrive in a high pressure environment
• Good sense of humor, diplomatic, and cooperative spirit
• Passion for community engagement
• Deep commitment to and enthusiasm for Boston Public Schools’ goal of ensuring that all children are college, career and life ready
• Excellent and concise communicator, both in writing and in speaking with respect to a diverse population
• Demonstrated cultural proficiency and awareness and ability to see other points of view
• Computer proficiency and experience using MS Office Suite, online survey and communications tools, and relevant analytical software
• Ability to work nights and some weekends
  
  

Qualifications - Preferred:

• Master’s degree
• Five or more years working in community engagement and organizing, particularly in an urban public education setting
• Bilingual or multilingual
  
  

Terms: Managerial, C42. This position requires flexibility that includes frequently working evenings and some weekends .

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record, physical or mental disability, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, natural or protective hairstyle, military status, immigration status, English language proficiency, or any other factor prohibited by law in its programs and activities. BPS does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to work or learn. If you require an accommodation pursuant to the ADA for the application process, please contact the Accommodations Unit at [email protected].