Development and Communications Coordinator, Philadelphia School Partnership

Posted by Philadelphia School Partnership on June 25, 2018

The Philadelphia School Partnership (PSP) works to give every child in America’s fifth largest city the opportunity to attend a great school. We invest philanthropic funds in high-impact schools so they can serve more low-income students—whether they be in the traditional public, public charter or private sectors. Our aim is to catalyze the creation or transformation of enough schools to ensure better options for 50,000 students, or nearly one in four of all Philadelphia schoolchildren. Since 2011 PSP has invested in more than 50 schools, creating new educational opportunity for 25,000 students. PSP also works to create the conditions that enable great schools to grow and thrive, including a strong pipeline of qualified teachers and principals, resources and initiatives to empower parents and families, and policies that enable entrepreneurial school leadership and create opportunity for high-performing schools to grow. Additionally, PSP invests to catalyze collaboration, facilitating the sharing of best practices among schools and support organizations. Nonpartisan and data-driven, we work with government officials, business leaders, education leaders and practitioners, and community groups to pursue the promise of a great school for every child.

PSP believes that in a city as large as Philadelphia, there is not one best or right kind of school. Two hundred forty thousand children need a wide variety of schools from which to choose. The city has numerous examples of high-performing schools, and they span all three primary sectors: charter schools, district schools and private/Catholic schools. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of quality options in all three sectors. More than 35,000 students sit on waiting lists for the city’s best schools—which include private, charter, district magnet, and district neighborhood schools. Our work centers on leveraging philanthropic capital to attract entrepreneurial leadership and overcome inertia and financial and political barriers so that Philadelphia can have more great schools.

Like all cities, Philadelphia has finite resources for K-12 education. PSP believes the route to effectively educating all of the city’s children lies in fomenting and sustaining an educational ecosystem that steers resources toward effective schools, regardless of sector or type of school, so they can grow; increases equity of access to all school choices for families; and utilizes multiple measures of school performance to hold schools accountable for outcomes, thus ensuring support and—if necessary—intervention for struggling schools.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Development and Communications Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day efforts of the Development Team. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively communicate with donors, schools, team members, Philadelphia School Partnership constituents and others primarily in writing (grant applications, correspondences with constituents, reports to donors) and sometimes orally. The Development and Communications Coordinator should love writing and be a stickler for details relative to everything from branding and communications to the maintenance of constituent databases. The Development and Communications Coordinator will report to the Senior Director, External Affairs and work closely with the Communications Team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Write and edit grants and reports
• Process gifts and write/send acknowledgement letters
• Manage and maintain database of donors, prospective donors and gifts
• Coordinate event planning
• Create and update copy for website, annual report, and other materials
• Draft press releases, email blasts, newsletters, and other communications
• Prepare research reports for individual, corporate and foundation constituents
• Assist with additional special projects
• Any additional duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
• Commitment to the mission of the Philadelphia School Partnership
• Thrives working in an outcomes-focused, goals-driven organization
• Ability to create compelling written communications at a fast pace
• Ability to serve as editor for organization’s communications
• Ability to pay attention to details while working on complex projects
• Track record of meeting or exceeding ambitious measurable goals
• Strong sense of personal responsibility; self-motivated and goal-driven
• Demonstrated resourcefulness and creativity in an entrepreneurial setting
• Confidence working under pressure of deadlines
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and desire to work as part of a team
• Ability to work independently, solve problems and be flexible
• Experience developing and leading projects that involve multiple stakeholders
• Willingness and desire to participate in unexpected projects
• Strong research skills

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s degree required, relevant advanced degree a plus
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience including creation of written communications
• Experience in education communications a plus, but not required
• Experience in and/or willingness to master PowerPoint, Excel, Word; Salesforce and Wealth Engine are a plus

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required such as:
• Traveling to schools – valid driver’s license and/or access to transportation when necessary
• Functioning in office space – reaching file cabinets, filing, faxing, scanning, coping, typing, mailing, making phone calls
• Must be able to sit for up to two hours looking at a computer monitor, using a keyboard/mouse and typing

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Email cover letter and resume to Molly Farley, Human Resources Consultant, at [email protected]

Salary commensurate with experience, along with excellent benefits.
A modest relocation package may also be available for out-of-state candidates.