TEACH, Vice President, External Relations

ORGANIZATION

TEACH was founded by the US Department of Education in 2015. Its mission is to end the national teacher shortage and help talented people from all backgrounds enter the teaching profession. TEACH serves as the recruiting arm of the teaching profession, partnering directly with State Departments of Education, school districts and teacher preparation programs. TEACH accomplishes its mission with an innovative program model, which includes:

• Rebranding the teaching profession through an ongoing PSA ad campaign;
• Deploying a comprehensive recruiting system, based on best practice research;
• Supporting prospects to get over hurdles and barriers that would stop them from becoming teachers; and
• Meeting young people where they are - i.e. online, on their phones and on social media.

TEACH currently partners with State Departments of Education, universities and schools in ten states/ metropolitan areas. Partnering regions include New York, Connecticut, South Carolina, North Carolina, Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth.

To learn more about TEACH, please see these slides. Because our website is our “product” (i.e., the toolset we provide to prospective future teachers), it does not have much information about the organization for potential future teammates. In lieu of a public-facing website, this document is designed for that purpose.

OPPORTUNITY

TEACH is seeking its inaugural Vice President, External Relations. As an organization that is 80% supported through earned revenue contracts with State Departments of Education (also known as State Education Agencies or SEAs), TEACH’s funding strategy is largely led through these ongoing partnerships. This individual will be responsible for building and maintaining these external relationships and partnerships that ensure the organization meets its annual revenue goals. TEACH offers a fully remote working environment, with a culture of care and support for every staff member. The organization is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and works to ensure its programs, operations and decision making are aligned to these core values.

This is an exciting opportunity for a savvy partnership manager and skilled relationship builder to help propel TEACH into its next chapter, by growing its reach to new communities, and strengthening its depth in the communities it currently serves.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Vice President, External Relations are:

Business development for new states (50%)

• Developing TEACH’s “new state business development pipeline,” including:
• Building connections to get initial meetings and pitching TEACH to new partners.
• Developing the strategy and actions to build new relationships and secure ongoing contracts.
• Overseeing the processes and systems to enable TEACH’s new business development work.

• Setting up and overseeing a system to track legislation and state budgets to identify opportunities for partnership.

Raising TEACH’s profile and reputation among decision-makers (of any potential contract with TEACH) and people/organizations who could influence said decision-makers (10%)

• Overseeing a process to track and get TEACH to speak at industry conferences.
• Meeting with advocacy groups and getting TEACH on the radar of advocacy groups, so that the organization’s model is included in their public and private recommendations about how to address teacher recruitment.

Maintain and renew existing funding (25%)

• Track all contract renewals and ensure that there is an effective strategy for securing ongoing funding.
• In states where TEACH does not yet have legislated funding, oversee the strategy and process to secure legislated funding (including potentially managing a lobbyist).
• In states TEACH has legislated funding, oversee the process to protect, maintain, or increase that funding (including potentially managing a lobbyist).

Fundraising from foundations (15%)

• Secure grants to support general operating funds, funds for special projects, or funds to subsidize SEA contracts.

Requirements:
In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal VP, External Relations candidate will be/have:

• A compelling communicator to external audiences; able to effectively share TEACH’s mission and model and inspire involvement and allyship from a number of different audiences, including leaders in State Departments of Education, other policy makers, funders, advocates, and elected officials.
• An accomplished relationship manager with 3+ years of success in building partnerships for nonprofits, government agencies, or other mission-driven entities.
• A builder of authentic relationships with community partners, policymakers, funders and other supporters, able to engage with a variety of individuals and speaks in a clear and compelling manner about the organization’s goals and priorities.
• A demonstrated commitment to TEACH’s mission and vision for attracting and keeping new, diverse talent in the teaching profession.
• Culturally competent and a self-reflective leader who understands the effects of race, class, ethnicity, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and other issues of difference in society and is able to lead direct conversations about them.
• Strong writing and editing abilities, especially as it pertains to writing compelling grant proposals and reports, as well as persuasive documents of all kinds.
• Strategic thinker, problem-solver, and understanding of how to manage an organization’s profile and reputation among target audiences.
• Demonstrated success raising dollars from foundations is preferred.

Benefits:
This position offers a competitive salary range of $150,000 - $170,000, and robust benefits including medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, retirement, monthly home office stipend, and an annual professional development (PD) fund. More details can be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://apply.workable.com/j/A25F04A38B/.

TEACH is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.