Manager of Communications and Development

Manager of Communications and Development Location: National Office, Boston, MA
Organizational Overview: Founded in Boston in 2005, The Achievement Network (ANet) is an entrepreneurial, rapidly expanding nonprofit organization on the cutting edge of education reform. ANet partners with schools serving low-income students to build their capacity to use data effectively to dramatically improve student achievement. ANet recognizes that the effective use of student achievement data is critical to a school’s efforts to close the achievement gap. ANet offers a comprehensive solution to boost a school’s capacity to adopt a data-driven approach, involving three key strategies:
I. Implement standards-aligned quarterly assessments and user-friendly data reports to determine which standards students are mastering and also where there are gaps in student learning. II. Provide intensive coaching to help schools use the data effectively to create action plans to address gaps in learning and to re-teach concepts that students have not yet mastered. III. Facilitate a peer network of leaders and teachers for best practice sharing and collaboration to accelerate improvement in schools across the network.
ANet has experienced tremendous growth over the last four years, and now serves over 350 schools educating 100,000 students in Massachusetts, Chicago, Newark, New Orleans, New York City, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. Across our national network, our partner schools are outperforming their peers, with schools in most of our networks achieving twice the gains of non-ANet schools. Our strategies and services have consistently helped schools – whether district or charter, new to ANet or long-time partners – achieve breakthrough results for their students.
ANet has received a prestigious Investing In Innovation grant from the federal government as well as New Schools Venture Fund’s “Organization of the Year” award in 2011. ANet is an innovative organization experiencing tremendous growth; by 2017 ANet expects to reach 250,000 students while continuing to deliver breakthrough results for schools. Position Overview: We are seeking an excellent writer to serve as ANet’s Manager of Development and Communications. In this role, he or she will help build ANet’s visibility as a leader in the world of education reform and raise the funding needed to support ANet’s growth. This individual will develop case studies, blog content, and other materials that showcase the success of our school partners and highlight the practices they are using to increase achievement for their students. He or she will also be responsible for using data and stories to build ANet’s relationships with funders, key thought leaders, and other stakeholders. This position will require first rate writing skills to create both strong analytical prose that builds the case with funders and creative, accessible prose that can capture the attention of educators. High levels of organization to manage multiple projects and the ability to interpret data are also important. This role will report to the Managing Director of Business Development and work closely with colleagues on both the operations and program sides of the organization.
Responsibilities: Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Develop stories that showcase school success and position ANet as a thought leader in education • Work with ANet’s Network Learning and Development team to identify trends and best practice across schools, districts, and our network • Work with our program team to capture insights and synthesize lessons learned from our work with schools so that they can be shared with external audiences • Create content to showcase ANet’s knowledge and the successes that our partner schools are having, including case studies, blogs, tool kits, interviews, videos, presentations, and other forms • Stay up to date on the most important trends in education (such as the transition to the Common Core, implementation of teacher evaluation systems, the development of new technologies, etc) and identify opportunities for ANet to add to the debate • Work with colleagues in Business Development to develop and execute a strategy for distributing stories to build awareness of ANet in the education community • Manage fundraising operations and create fundraising materials • Conduct research to understand funder objectives, priorities, and requirements and think strategically about their fit with ANet’s priorities • Develop content for grant applications and other pitch materials based on a strong understanding of ANet’s program and strategy • Compose grant reports and support regular meetings with funders to report on progress through development of presentations and planning of funder interactions • Refine and maintain ANet’s system for tracking fundraising pipeline, application deadlines, progress against development goals, and reporting requirements
Required Skills and Characteristics: In order to be successful in this role, the ideal candidate must be able to write in a way that sticks, develop events that inspire, and think strategically about how to reach a wide audience. In particular, she or he will demonstrate the following: • Belief in The Achievement Network’s mission and strategy • Demonstrated ability to write in a compelling manner, with prose that captures the audience’s attention and clearly communicates relevant content • Ability to synthesize lessons learned and best practices by interviewing educators from our school, coaches from our network, and other key stakeholders • Demonstrated creativity in communicating with others, including the ability to grab the attention of many types of stakeholders with differing priorities and points of view through • Ability to write concisely • Ability to manage time, organize multi-part projects, and collaborate with colleagues across tenure and geography • Knowledge of social media and enthusiasm for technology • Ability to analyze data and uncover insights
Experience and Educational Background: • Significant experience in an education organization or knowledge of education landscape; experience having written professionally about education strongly preferred • Two to four years of relevant experience at a high-growth, multi-site organization • Experience in development preferred but not necessary • Bachelor’s degree, with advanced degree preferred
What We Offer: ANet is a dynamic, entrepreneurial, team-oriented organization that is committed to the professional development of all staff members. Individuals who join ANet have the opportunity to join an exceptional team of colleagues committed to helping schools to close the achievement gap. ANet offers a comprehensive benefits plan including health and dental insurance; a 401(K) plan; 10 paid holidays as well as paid days off between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays; three weeks vacation (four weeks after two years with the organization); and short and longterm disability coverage.
Salary: Salary for this position is highly competitive and is based on prior experience and qualifications.
How to Apply: The Achievement Network is soliciting applications for this position immediately.  To apply, please visit our website, http://www.achievementnetwork.org/careers/ and click the “Apply Now” button.  You can review our positions, create an application, and upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling and urgent basis.
The Achievement Network is committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization.  We are an equal opportunity employer and seek individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply to this position.