State Director, Louisiana

The Education Trust is a national nonprofit that works to close opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income families. Through our research and advocacy, Ed Trust supports efforts that expand excellence and equity in education from preschool through college; increase college access and completion, particularly for historically underserved students; engage diverse communities dedicated to education equity; and increase political and public will to act on equity issues. For additional information on The Education Trust, please visit www.edtrust.org.

Management Structure

• Lead the identification, development and execution of strategic policy goals to advance Ed Trust’s impact in the state with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Recruit, develop, and manage a high impact Louisiana-based team in a supportive and healthy work environment.
• Direct the management of a high impact team to support Ed Trust’s agenda in Louisiana who can:
  • establish and advance a regional strategy for achieving educational equity;
  • support advocacy partners and stakeholders in elevating statewide policy positions consistent with Ed Trust research and policy agendas; and,
  • generate visibility for such priorities through convenings and multiple communications efforts.

Coalition Cultivation and Expansion

• Cultivate and expand membership in a diverse partnership of Louisiana advocacy organizations and stakeholders working to increase educational opportunity and achievement among historically underserved students.
• Regularly convene and facilitate partners to identify shared priorities and plan for action to advance those priorities based on local opportunity and context, and reflect key equity-advancing issues such as:
  • Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) implementation, evidence-based school improvement, resource equity, teacher diversity and quality, high-quality early childhood education, access to and success in rigorous coursework, effective, equitable discipline and student supports, and successful transitions from PreK-12 to college and careers;
  • Access, quality, accountability, and completion in areas related to college and career readiness.
  • Access to effective and diverse educator workforce.
• Ensure participation of advocacy organizations and education stakeholders in Ed Trust-led multi-state network coalitions, such as in-person meetings and webinars.
• Support advocacy organizations and education stakeholders in taking concrete, strategic advocacy actions (e.g., providing testimony, meeting with state policymakers, designing and executing communications campaigns, stakeholder mobilizations; leadership development, etc.) to advance policy priorities.

Policy Agenda

• Lead the identification and development of an equity-based PreK-12 and higher education policy agenda with partners that reflects the needs of students of color and students from low-income families in the state.
• Oversee the development and dissemination of policy content that is aligned with the Education Trust values and reflects the needs of students of color and students from low-income families in the state.

Development

• Identify funding opportunities with Chief Development Officer and cultivate in-state funding relationships to secure a sustainable funding stream for ET’s presence in Louisiana that supports the work of the partner-driven policy agenda.
• Initiate and respond to grant opportunities that will support ET’s agenda in Louisiana.
• Manage and report activities and deliverables based on grant deadlines and agreements.

• At least 3 years of experience and a demonstrated track record of advocating for opportunity and achievement for low-income students and students of color;
• At least 7 years of experience executing fundraising strategy with strong results that lead to program sustainability
• At least 7 years of management experience which includes:
  • Cultivating a strong sense of organizational culture that centers diversity and equity and is consistent with our mission and values
  • Leading a team to successful organizational outcomes
  • Overseeing performance evaluations and professional development that encourages goal setting and values employee participation
  • Creating and managing large project budgets
  • Identifying and responding to grant opportunities

Masters, PhD, or other advanced degree & 7+ years of relevant work experience OR Bachelors & 10 years of relevant work experience + leadership certification OR 10+ years of relevant work experience + leadership certification.

• Strong relationships with leaders in Louisiana and New Orleans advocacy, education, and policy worlds, and the ability to leverage those relationships for action.
• Significant experience working in coalition, or strong working relationships with a cross- section of civil rights, education, and business groups, including playing a leading role, as well as leading from behind.
• Demonstrated success in communicating to a range of audiences, including policymakers, media, advocates, educators, families, community members, and business leaders.
• Demonstrated success working with the local media in a manner that will advance Ed Trust research and policy agenda.
• Demonstrated success designing and executing advocacy campaigns.
• Knowledge working with online project management and customer relationships management tools (i.e., Asana, Salesforce, EveryAction).

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.  The Education Trust offers a comprehensive benefits package.