The Opportunity

Senator Chris Murphy said, “There’s no denying that voters care about education…But in order to make lasting change, there needs to be a movement of people pushing for it. This is the moment to turn the passion behind education issues into a political movement with the power to ensure policymakers prioritize education and hold them accountable when they don't.”

With the goal of building such a movement in mind, the recognition that people are our most valuable resource, and the knowledge that education and politics are driven from localities and states, the Education Champions’ mission is to provide the connective tissue to:

• Strengthen the capacity of public education advocacy organizations, locally, in states and nationally.
• Mobilize citizens as informed voters, who engage in society with a sense of shared responsibility. And
• Build a network of advocacy organizations who advance catalytic education policies and $100s of billions of increased federal funding for education – birth through career.

These coordinated strategies have the objectives of ensuring:

      1. Robust investments in public education, especially for disenfranchised

         communities—Black, Latinx, Indigenous, frontline, rural and other. And

      2. Policies support parents, educators, and students, from birth through career.

This new project is hiring its first full-time professional leader. Education Champions seeks an entrepreneurial and talented organizer who is passionate about public education and equity. Candidates should have significant experience in the space to be ready to step into the leadership role of project director and work with the founding partners to build a catalytic organization to advance a national education movement serving every American.

In 2020, founders Dan Leeds and Elizabeth Sullivan, working part-time, launched Education Champions. Working with leading policy consultants, The Raben Group, and well-respected pollsters, they organized multiple polls, events, and meetings with national and state leaders to research the public landscape for opportunities to catalyze a movement.

The existing stakeholders bring extensive expertise and connections to potential partners, including national networks of education funders, advocacy organizations in other states, and federal education policy experts. Dan and Sunita Leeds have committed to providing access to $2 million, over the next 5 years, in seed money to make Education Champions a national movement. Read more at https://edchampions.org/.

The Position—Project Director and Chief Organizer

The Project Director will provide strategic and forward-thinking leadership to leverage the preliminary, formative work into implementation for building a national movement. The Project Director’s responsibility includes developing and leading a team to implement all programs, services, fundraising, and advocacy with support, oversight, and collaboration from the Founders and fiscal sponsor.

The Project Director will:

• Develop and drive the overall organizational strategy and program in partnership with state and national advocacy groups and funders.
• Build the operational team, organizational infrastructure, and program to effectively implement the project.
• Build and actively maintain relationships with a diverse group of community leaders, state and national education advocacy organizations, and funders.
• Build a catalytic network of thousands, even millions, of voters willing to act for public education at the state and national level.
• Develop fundraising programs and successfully raise sufficient support for Education Champions and the work of the movement beyond the initial seed funding.
• Develop and build brand equity for Education Champions, public education, and the movement that supports it within legislatures, capitols, the media and the public consciousness.
• Support campaigns and organizers in amplifying the issues facing public education.
• Ensure key data are tracked, timely reports are prepared for stakeholders, the organization is in compliance, and public-facing stories are built to support Education Champions and the work.
• Travel willingly and frequently (post pandemic) to engage with members and stakeholders of the Education Champions network, and represent Education Champions at key conferences, meetings, and convenings.
• Serve as an ambassador for Education Champions, credibly representing the organization in the national education advocacy and philanthropic arenas, and with state-based leaders, as well as effectively conveying Education Champions’ vision, mission and value proposition.

Position Qualifications

While no single candidate will have all of these qualifications, the ideal candidate will have:

• Integrity.
• At least 7 years of experience in progressive non-profit or organizing space.
• Experience managing a highly creative, entrepreneurial, and flexible process.
• Ability to effectively work and manage staff remotely.
• Demonstrated ability to develop a strategic issue campaign or program and implement it, including creating a network, and comprehensive elements such as communications, digital engagement, and research.
• Experience building and managing a budget.
• A track record of donor engagement and fundraising.
• A passion for and familiarity with the political and policy issues around public education.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends occasionally.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to working with people from a variety of backgrounds, especially ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is also helpful to have experience working with people from different religious, education, generational, and gender identity backgrounds as well as persons with physical disabilities and those from the LGBTQ+ community.
• An understanding of the differences between 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and other types of nonprofit organizations and how to maximize the effectiveness of each.
• Organizing skills to create the tools and services that will best support the members of the network succeed and thrive.
• A sense of humor.

Key metrics for success in this role include:

➢ Partnering effectively with the founders, staff, fiscal sponsor, philanthropic partners, civic engagement practitioners and infrastructure organizations to evolve Education Champions’ strategy and achieve great organizational impact.

➢ Setting goals and milestones with Dan and Elizabeth, and then surpassing those goals.

➢ Renewing the strategy to accelerate the organization’s impact.

➢ Raising the funding, with the support of Dan and Elizabeth, necessary to succeed and make the organization sustainable.

•  Successfully building and managing Education Champions as a good place to work and grow, including: o Ensuring Education Champions’ values and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice remain a focus of the organization internally and in the community to advance democratic outcomes nationally. And
• Along with the founders, developing a staffing structure and hiring, managing and supporting Education Champions staff, to advance the mission.

Position Details, Application Process and Timeline to apply:

Education Champions values having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by our issue. We encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities to apply.

At this time, EC is a virtual organization; the position can be conducted from anywhere with excellent access to the internet and transportation, in the US. 

The salary range for this position is $80,000-120,000. The Project Director will report to the Founders, fiscal sponsor and an Advisory Board (under formation).

Resource Impact is the 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor for Education Champions. Resource Impact tackles 21st-century social challenges by helping today’s progressive leaders learn from the past, plan for the future, and execute on strategies that bring about beneficial social change.

To apply for this role, please submit a resume and cover letter in PDF format to DirectorSearch@EdChampions.org. If making a recommendation, please submit the name, email, and briefly describe the qualifications of the potential candidate. All inquiries and discussions are considered strictly confidential. Education Champions will begin reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on April 1st and the position will remain open until filled. If selected for an interview, candidates will be asked for references and work samples in advance.