Director Of External Affairs

TITLE: Director of External Affairs

WHO WE ARE:

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is a student-focused, innovative educational organization committed to academic excellence. Our mission is to empower and educate all students to think critically, creatively, and responsibly, to embrace diversity, and to pursue their dreams with a purpose. We are a family of excellent public schools in which every student has the opportunity to succeed and the power to create their own future.

Led by forward-thinking leadership and our commitment to prioritizing students, racial equity, and authentic engagement with our families, team members, and communities, our staff have diverse opportunities to develop their careers in a challenging but rewarding environment. We are an organization for people who are passionate about education and who are committed to the Indianapolis community.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

The Director of External Affairs has accountability for developing, maintaining, and leveraging IPS' relationships with key stakeholders including governing entities, policy makers, IPS partners, and other community organizations, including public education, neighborhood, and business entities. The Director of External Affairs will be responsible for supervisory leadership over the strategic partnerships team. The Director of External Affairs will report to the Deputy Superintendent and will serve as a member of the district leadership team.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify, establish, and maintain ongoing relationships with individuals, groups, and organizations in the IPS community

• Lead the districts strategic partnerships team and actions aligned with a broader vision for partnership

• Contribute to the preparation of advice, briefing material, presentations, and speaking notes for IPS leadership in their engagement with external audiences in alignment with department of communications' strategy

• Operationalize the Deputy Superintendent's vision for district-wide strategies of advocacy, community engagement and board management

• Collaborate to identify issues in local, state, and federal policy that could benefit or harm Indianapolis Public Schools and advocate and or address as needed; determine how to strategically mobilize key constituencies to achieve desired outcomes

• Develop and execute a yearly legislative agenda

• Direct external outreach, engagement, relationship building efforts to establish community and stakeholder partnerships on behalf of Indianapolis Public Schools

• Collaborate with the IPS Communications department, and community organizations to facilitate external outreach efforts for existing partners and to assist with organization wide marketing efforts to increase the IPS' visibility

• Where pertinent, oversee federal advocacy efforts, determining IPS participation in federal advocacy and serving as external spokesperson for federal relationships

• Develop and oversee the organization's civic engagement strategy around district-wide issues.

• Lead all aspects of the development of the External Affairs division budget

• Lead, manage, and/or contribute to cross-functional special projects as needed

"Day in the Life" Overview

On a regular day, as the Director of External Affairs, you might:

• Accompany Deputy Superintendent to legislative session to discuss the IPS' education advocacy platform

• Lead a conversation with the our governmental affairs and lobbyist around the execution of our advocacy platform

• Meet with the strategy team to review community engagement impact on the district's strategic plan operations

• Meet with Communications department's family and community engagement liaisons to create align a community outreach event calendar for the district

• Review IPS' Rebuilding Stronger plan with community partners

WHAT YOU'LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Positive and engaging attitude with excellent written and verbal communications skills

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to garner the stakeholder engagement of diverse groups

• Experience in advocacy, community outreach, marketing, or strategic communications

• Experience managing partnerships

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Ability to multitask and prioritize work effectively in a fast pace, ever changing landscape

• Ability to interact with diverse populations

• Autonomously present on behalf of the district at evening and weekend engagements pending event/outreach needs.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree with at least 3-5 years of communications, public relations, marketing, external affairs, or policy experience (ideally experience in advocacy and or issue management).

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

Eligible

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EEOC STATEMENT:

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

DISCLAIMER:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function.

For benefits information, please see Employee Benefits - Indianapolis Public Schools (myips.org)