Director of Civic Engagement, Philadelphia Education Fund

Posted by on May 27, 2005

May 20, 2005

The Philadelphia Education Fund is seeking a Director of Civic Engagement to lead the organization?s engagement of the public in pursuit of issues that are key to quality education in the region. The Director will manage current initiatives and develop new ones.

The search for the Director of Civic Engagement will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled.

Eligible candidates may submit an application letter, a resume and the names and contact information of three professional references to:

Carol S. Fixman
Executive Director
Philadelphia Education Fund
7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
cfixman@philaedfund.org

Philadelphia Education Fund
Job Description
Director of Civic Engagement

Summary

The Director of Civic Engagement is responsible for leading the Philadelphia Education Fund?s engagement of various segments of the public in the pursuit of issues that are key to quality education in the region. This includes facilitating conversations among different stakeholders, providing stakeholders with information related to education reform issues and interacting with relevant organizations to improve the educational achievement of underserved youth in the Philadelphia region. The Director will manage current initiatives and develop new ones.

Specific Responsibilities
? Serve as staff to the Education First Compact, a broadly diverse group of citizens committed to supporting and improving public education in Philadelphia.
? Plan and implement the Distinguished Educator Lecture Series, a variety of presentations, briefings and seminars to help citizens learn about education-related developments on the district, state and national levels.
? Serve as the lead Ed Fund staff on a small schools initiative that will develop community input into high school design in West Philadelphia and Kensington.
? Develop and implement a series of activities designed to bring information about key educational issues to a broad audience. Vehicles may include regular briefings in appropriate venues, follow up information on the Ed Fund website, public testimony and collaboration with other organizations to pursue topics in greater depth both in a printed form and through in-person events.
? Develop new civic engagement initiatives and collaborate with other Ed Fund staff to identify potential funders and prepare proposals to support these initiatives.
? Prepare reports to funders and others as needed.

Qualifications
? A strong commitment to and a broad understanding of public education
? Experience in community engagement on behalf of education related issues
? Bachelor?s degree or the equivalent thereof.
? At least 7 years of professional experience on a significant level of responsibility
? Excellent communications skills, both oral and written, supported by a facility in using technological tools.
? Excellent interpersonal skills, particularly with diverse groups
? Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work quickly under deadline and the ability to handle many tasks at one time.
? Ability to work independently and as part of a team
? Successful fundraising experience

Reports to:
The Director of Civic Engagement reports to the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Education Fund and serves on the Leadership Team of the organization.