Director, External Strategy

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

A strategic, organized team member who can effectively set vision for and execute on varied and high-leverage external affairs initiatives and special projects.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead key strategic org-wide initiatives from start to finish: set the scope, project timeline, and deliverables
• Head research efforts, collecting data and conducting internal and external interviews, draw insights, and make recommendations, often presenting to leadership
• Manage team members (when applicable) and interface with other teams to implement recommendations.
• Develop, in conjunction with Chief External Officer, the vision and strategy for Uncommon’s external presence and functions.
• Lead the coordination and alignment of all external facing teams (marketing, media, development, external affairs and enrollment) with regard to vision setting, annual planning and goal setting and on-going tactical management.
• Support Chief External Officer with determining strategic priorities and initiatives for external functions and workstreams and make recommendations for execution and implementation.
• Create internal and external presentations: build slides, conduct research, draft talking points, lead logistics, and analyze feedback.
• Identify and codify areas of alignment and overlap in work of Uncommon’s regional external affairs teams; lead and implement plans to build efficiencies and improve support of regions.

• Demonstrated ability to build, communicate, and effectively execute on a vision and strategic plan
• High level of analytical thinking and problem solving; ability to analyze broad data sets and make sound recommendations
• Excellent project management skills with ability to organize, prioritize and implement with appropriate sense of urgency and a “whatever it takes” attitude
• Strong relationship building skills to effectively engage with senior level stakeholders (including board members) through polished and compelling presentations
• Ability to build consensus among departmental leaders with potentially conflicting priorities
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-change organization, work autonomously, and be flexible in a dynamic role.
• Strong work ethic and dedication to high standards of excellence and continuous improvement and growth
• Excellent technical skills and knowledge of Tableau, Excel, Monday, in addition to Microsoft Office and Google suite of products

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent. [same for all roles]

Compensation 

Compensation for this role is between $116,800 to $146,000. 

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. If you meet all job description requirements you will likely receive an offer of $131,400. 

Benefits

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].