Director of Network Engagement

School Boards for Academic Excellence (SBAE) is a brand-new national capacity-building organization dedicated to ensuring that every school board member in this country has a strong professional school board association in their state empowering them to advance sound achievement-focused education policy and equipping them to serve as effective advocates for the children and parents in their community.

SBAE is rooted in the idea that education is an issue best addressed at the local level. We believe that well-informed, well-trained local school board members, committed to working closely with the parents and teachers in their community, can restore academic excellence to our nation’s schools and ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, receives the education needed to reach their greatest potential.

Recent years have seen a wave of new school board members elected across the country. These private citizens – many of them parents increasingly aware of how the education system is failing their children – have come into office deeply committed to improving academic achievement, encouraging healthy parental involvement in education, and serving as faithful stewards on behalf of the communities they serve. Yet, to be successful these school board members must have support. They need to be equipped with the training, tools, and unbiased information necessary to challenge the education status quo and once again restore academic excellence and student achievement to the forefront of America’s education system.

In state after state new school board associations and resource centers are emerging to equip these school board members to succeed, and SBAE is developing a suite of practical services and resources to support and strengthen their efforts. We are helping leaders build durable, impactful school board associations in their states, and ensuring that these individual state-based associations are closely connected to one another.

Through the SBAE Network, the associations are learning from and inspiring one another, ensuring that good ideas and lessons learned are quickly spread from one state to another, new tools and resources are leveraged, and the perspective and voices of achievement-focused school board members and their constituents are amplified.

Though we are just getting started, SBAE is already actively engaged with new state-based school board associations and resource centers in over 25 states across the country. In states where an association does not yet exist and where achievement-focused school board members are not getting the support and resources they need, SBAE is identifying and engaging leaders interested in launching a new school board association, providing guidance and resources to help them get started and positioning them for impact.

There is already enormous energy and interest in the SBAE Network and the important work these state school board associations are doing. There is great opportunity for the Network and its impact to grow quickly, and SBAE is looking for an entrepreneurial self-starter to join our team and take the lead in helping to build out and support that Network.

About the Opportunity
SBAE’s new Director of Network Engagement will be responsible for identifying and engaging new prospective members of the SBAE Network, while actively supporting current members of the Network in advancing their missions. As SBAE Employee #2, the Director of Network Engagement will also work closely with the Executive Director to help implement the overall organizational strategy of the start-up organization.

The right candidate will be excited about the idea of rolling up their sleeves and helping to build a national organization and a network from the ground up. They will be passionately dedicated to advancing academic excellence in America and ensuring that every child in our country, regardless of circumstance, has access to the quality education they deserve. The Director of Network Engagement will be a natural bridgebuilder and connector who finds deep satisfaction in helping others achieve their vision.

The ideal candidate will understand education policy as a local issue and have an appreciation for the experience of local school board members and the challenges and opportunities they face.

SBAE is a virtual organization. The Director of Network Engagement can be based anywhere in the U.S. but must be willing and able to travel as needed to continue growing and nurturing the SBAE Network. The position will report to the Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities

  • Network Building: The Director of Network Engagement will be responsible for the continued growth of the SBAE Network, including identifying and engaging new potential Network Partners, as well as identifying and supporting stakeholders interested in establishing a new association in their state. The position will be responsible for continuing to build bridges to national partner organizations and other potential allies.   
  • Program Development: The Director of Network Engagement will be responsible for building strong relationships with existing SBAE Network Partners, understanding how SBAE can best support their efforts in the states, and building effective programming that meets their needs and advances SBAE’s mission.
  • Communications: A key component of nurturing a thriving Network is facilitating robust communication channels and platforms that help members of the Network remain closely engaged with one another and with SBAE. The Director of Network Engagement will be responsible for developing and maintaining effective communication channels and platforms for SBAE Network Partners, as well as national partner organizations.
  • Tracking & Reporting: The Director of Network Engagement will be responsible for developing and implementing effective processes for measuring and tracking the growth and impact of the SBAE Network, including creating reports that help evaluate and assess the impact and efficacy of SBAE programming.

Key Competencies & Characteristics

  • A strong commitment to SBAE’s mission and to helping SBAE Network partners succeed
  • 3-5 years of experience in outreach, member engagement, or a similar field, with demonstrated relationship-building skills
  • Knowledge of education reform efforts nationwide and the issues and challenges state-based school board associations and their members are facing
  • Ability to find deep satisfaction in the success of others
  • Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) and an engaging personality
  • Entrepreneurial attitude and strong commitment to excellence
  • A self-starter who is comfortable working independently as part of a virtual team
  • Adaptable; willingness to enthusiastically take on the day-to-day challenges of a start-up organization. (Willing to get their hands dirty)
  • Willingness to travel. (approximately 20%)

Application Instructions
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

  • A cover letter detailing your interest in the position and SBAE’s mission; an explanation of why you would be the best candidate for this position; and your salary requirements.
  • Resume
  • Links to at least two examples of your communications skills. This can be written products or videos.

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Stephanie Keaveney, Senior Manager of Outreach at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: Stephanie@talentmarket.org.

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.