About the Director, Fellows and Leaders Opening:
The Director, Fellows and Leaders, oversees the visioning, development and implementation of Foundation for Excellence in Education’s programming to support mid-level professionals on their path to leadership positions in state education policy and advocacy. The Director is responsible for driving the organization’s fellowship recruitment strategy, program development, execution and evaluation, relationship management, fellowship experience and growth and job placement. The Director serves as a boundaryless partner, collaborating with the organization’s policy and advocacy programs to develop the next generation of education policy leaders and influencers.
This position is responsible for launching a new talent pipeline initiative that creates and cultivates effective future leaders in education policy and requires a passion for student-centered education policy as well as a strong interest in public policy and public service. This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact on education policy and develop the next generation of state-level education policy and advocacy leaders.
About Foundation for Excellence in Education:
Being a part of Foundation for Excellence in Education means serving at one of the nation’s foremost education policy organizations and joining a high-performing and motivated team of education advocates with a shared belief that every child deserves a quality education. Team members are committed to our core values of service, integrity, collaboration, expertise and making a difference. Our organization sets big, hairy, audacious goals and works tirelessly to support states in transforming education through student-centered policies that increase student learning, expand education opportunity, eliminate inequities and ready students for college plus careers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategy and Planning
- Leads and manages the development and implementation of the overall strategy and vision for Foundation for Excellence in Education’s Policy Fellows Program.
- Leads and works collaboratively with a project team to develop a two-year curriculum of impactful programming and experiences that builds comprehensive education policy and advocacy skills, knowledge, and abilities within program participants.
- Develops a program playbook with timelines and an annual calendar that documents program guidelines, expectations, and milestones for program participants and administration.
Recruitment and Placement
- Establishes a recruitment and selection process to attract and hire high-potential program fellows.
- Develops and leverages Foundation for Excellence in Education’s network and partnerships to identify high-potential program candidates.
- Manages and leads a fellowship recruitment and selection process, including conducting the screening process and initial screening interviews, establishing and executing interview panels, organizing discussion questions, and extending offers.
- Upon program completion, supports fellows with job search and placement in education leadership positions within state government, philanthropy, education policy advocacy, and other aligned opportunities.
Program Management
- Serves as the primary point of contact for the Policy Fellows and their professional development needs.
- Plans and facilitates events, workshops, roundtables and other experiences that provide networking opportunities as well as professional development, exposure and growth.
- Manages and provides mentorship to each cohort of Policy Fellows.
- Develops, directs, and supports the Fellows in completing work assignments, which could include research, white papers, model policy, convenings, policymaker engagement, and policy-advocacy.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of the program and identifies areas for improvement.
- Collaborates with the Chief Operations Officer to develop and manage a program budget.
- Collaborates with the communications and administration teams on design and implementation of a program marketing strategy.
Other Duties
- Supports implementation of Foundation for Excellence in Education’s professional and leadership development programs for current team members, which may include program content development, workshop and experience design and implementation, mentorship and customized professional growth plans.
Requirements:
- 10+ years of professional experience, which should include managing programs and teams.
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education, public policy or a related field.
- Master’s degree preferred.
Preferred Skills/Qualifications:
- Ability to forecast program opportunities and challenges and contribute to developing long range goals and meeting strategic objectives.
- Demonstrated program management skills with the ability to execute a strategic plan, meet deadlines, manage multiple projects and effectively support a highly productive team.
- Superior organization and event management skills.
- Agile manager and creative problem solver with excellent judgment.
- Proven success as a collaborative partner and influencer within and across teams to drive results in matrixed environments.
- Ability to thrive with ambiguity, drive change, manage relationships and handle complex work assignments.
- Highly self-motivated with the ability to execute with timeliness, accuracy and efficiency.
- Broad knowledge and understanding of state government, policymaking processes and political environments.
To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Cover letter addressing your interest in Foundation for Excellence in Education’s mission and your salary requirements
- Résumé
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link:
https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/
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.
Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Director of Outreach, at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected]
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.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.
