ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP FOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS

Launched in 2007, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools’ mission is to transform schools to revolutionize school systems, empowering all students with a high-quality education. The Partnership is a non-profit, in-district partner to LA Unified, not a charter network. As an independent nonprofit organization, the Partnership serves 13,550 students across 20 LA Unified schools in Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. The Partnership works within the LA Unified School District context, which includes honoring all collective bargaining agreements for its teachers and school staff. To learn more about the Partnership, our mission, and how we approach our goals, please visit our website.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Partnership is seeking a strategic, relational, and high-capacity Director of Strategy for the Revolutionize Systems team. The Director of Strategy will serve as a key thought partner and support to the Chief External Officer (CXO), providing counsel and direct support in managing the Revolutionize Systems team that consists of communications, policy and advocacy, and fundraising. The Director of Strategy will lead the creation of an internal communication structure across the organization’s key teams to move our mission of transforming schools and revolutionizing school systems forward. The Director will manage several projects with the ability to incubate, delegate to teams, and manage multiple processes effectively. The ideal candidate is an excellent relationship-builder with a history of developing trust across lines of difference, as well as a strategic problem-solver who can assess and present strategic solutions while guiding diverse groups to consensus. This is a full-time, year-round position. 

The Partnership is committed to continuously building an anti-racist culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classrooms and in our home office. The Director of Strategy, Revolutionize Systems, will be someone who is committed to implementing these values in creative ways when executing day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership & Collaboration (50%)

• Serve as the chief thought partner to the Chief External Officer (CXO), providing strategic direction and insightful guidance to the Revolutionize Systems team
• In collaboration with CXO and Executive Associate, plan and execute monthly team and leadership meetings and quarterly retreats while fostering an environment of collaboration
• Drive annual team strategic planning and monitor progress and alignment toward organizational goals 
• Provide support to team leads and managers within Revolutionize Systems to facilitate high-quality strategic planning and team development
• Champion effective meeting practices to optimize team collaboration and productivity

Cross-Functional Leadership, Relationship-Building, and Stakeholder Engagement (30%)

• Build relationships, collaboration, and coherence across Transform Schools Team (Transform) and Revolutionize goals
• Lead collective-impact projects and initiatives with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with organizational strategies
• Serve as the Revolutionize representative on cross-functional events and committees, such as Teacher Appreciation, Summer and Winter Institutes, Fall Welcomes, and annual Listening Sessions
• Support Revolutionize teams in advocacy, fundraising, development, and communications to elevate the work of Partnership schools
• Build systems and structures for cross-collaboration and strategic work between Model Areas in service of Revolutionize goals 

Special Projects & Events (20%)

• Collaborate with members of the Transform team to identify and pilot innovative projects in line with each team’s goals
• Provide strategic guidance on public affairs initiatives fostering relationships with LAUSD and grasstop leaders
• Assist in planning and execution of key influence events to connect and elevate Partnership work with diverse stakeholders
• Provide thought leadership and strategic advising as needed on new projects within the Revolutionize team

POSITION FIRST-YEAR PRIORITIES

A successful first year in this role will look like:

• Build relationships with school-site leaders, teachers, and key Partnership school-site teams (e.g. Attendance teams, Family Action Teams)
• Build relationships and collaborate with Partnership staff and external partners
• Work with the Chief External Officer to develop and implement a scope and sequence for Revolutionize team meetings
• Understand the core strategies and processes of Revolutionize and Transform teams to foster alignment and collaboration across teams
• Lead and/or co-lead 2-3 “Spark” initiatives or projects that address a complex problem across Model Areas through collaborative action for more impactful change
• Build a sense of community by implementing educator and community-focused events and initiatives that align with Partnership’s values and model in collaboration with Transform teammates
• Facilitate professional learning opportunities for Revolutionize team members on a variety of key topics (meeting facilitation, landscape mapping, etc.) 

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience, ideally in one of the communities we serve (Boyle Heights, South LA, and Watts) or similar communities
• Progressive experience with collaborative planning, strategic planning, systems designing, and project planning in the public sector
• Experience working in a fast-paced, mission-oriented environment
• Adaptable when managing shifting and competing priorities
• Critical and systems thinking skills with a lens toward equity
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail
• Authentic and demonstrable relationship-building skills that cultivate trust and understanding with key stakeholders and team members
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and authentically to diverse stakeholders
• Ability to work collaboratively with other experienced professionals, colleagues, Board members, external partners, and colleagues of various functions and expertise
• Ability to travel between school sites and home office regularly
• Spanish language fluency (spoken and written), preferred
• Working understanding of K-12 public education sector, preferred
• A deep belief in the power of our communities, the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values
• A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all team members
• A willingness to learn, grow, and model the Partnership competencies: Anti-racism, root cause analysis, long-term thinking, teaming and collaboration, psychological safety, and learning and growth

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The starting salary range for external candidates is $109,375-$117,188. The Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our compensation practices. Our goal is to ensure that salaries are fair for all staff members who hold many intersectional identities, and we set salaries based on a robust compensation model grounded in consistency and transparency. The exact salary for this position is dependent on the relevant skills and experiences that the candidate brings to the role.

The Partnership also offers a robust benefits package including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents; a 403(b) retirement program with employee match and vesting; parental and sabbatical leaves; a professional development allowance; and generous paid time off. Details can be found here.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Please prepare your resume and a cover letter tailored to this position. You will submit your documents and application via this link.
 

Research shows that women and individuals from systemically marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications. While this job description outlines the major responsibilities and requirements to be successful in this role, the Partnership is committed to considering all applicants who are passionate about our mission and can see themselves excelling in this role – including those with diverse and non-traditional work experience.

For technical assistance or support for applying with a disability, please contact the Home Office Talent Team.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to – and actively pursues – diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The Partnership prohibits discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race such as hairstyle), creed, color, religion, registered domestic partner status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, age, military and veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy or childbirth, physical disability or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. The Partnership also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, training, transfer, wages, benefits, termination, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.