Senior Manager, Schools and Talent

Note: The Senior Manager, Schools and Talent is expected to work locally in Washington, DC; our office is on a hybrid work schedule. 

The Challenge & Opportunity

Over the past two decades, DC has made real, measurable progress in public education to become the fastest-improving urban school system in the country. A strong system of public school choice, greater accountability, and sustained investments have created real results. However, today, only about a quarter of students from low-income households attend high-performing schools. Achievement gaps persist as federal funding and our local economy remain uncertain. Without continued strategic investment and a trusted partner, gains could stall or worse. DC students’ futures are at stake.

Now is the moment to accelerate DC’s progress to fulfil the promise of an excellent education for every student. DC already has high-performing schools that are changing outcomes for students who need the most support. Expanding and improving educational experiences to ensure more students are prepared for bright futures requires investment, partnership, and citywide coordination.

The Organization

Education Forward DC (Ed Forward DC) is a nonprofit organization that combines strategic grantmaking and hands-on partnerships to ensure a great public school for every DC student. Working across both traditional public and public charter schools, we invest in school quality, developing outstanding leaders and teachers, and advancing the policy conditions that make progress possible. Education Forward DC aims to ensure that 40% of students designated as economically disadvantaged attend high-performing schools by 2029. DC has proven that citywide improvement is possible. Education Forward DC exists to accelerate it and close the gaps that remain.

The Person 

As a Senior Manager, you will play a leadership role on our Schools and Talent team by shaping strategy, leading grantmaking workstreams, and providing high-impact strategic support to organizations across our portfolio. You will drive due diligence, make grant recommendations, and contribute to the development of team-wide priorities.

In particular, you will guide work focused on school talent, ensuring that students have the leaders, teachers, and other school staff that they deserve. To achieve our goals for strong school leadership and a well-trained, effective, and satisfied teacher workforce across the city, you will play a key role in: refining and deploying our strategy; leveraging grantmaking, hands-on support, and management assistance; and building a strong community of visionary education leaders. Over time, you will define goals for this work, analyze impact, and dynamically adjust strategy to meet these goals.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Grantmaking

• Lead due diligence on prospective grantees, including assessing impact and business plans against our grantmaking criteria and market research, while generating insights that inform both grant recommendations and the team’s broader strategy for talent
• Synthesize findings through written analysis to inform recommendations and develop materials that support internal decision-making, including at the team and leadership levels
• Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including forecasting school academic performance, talent data, financial modeling, program evaluation, and organizational health
• Source and cultivate new grants to meet the goals of our talent strategy

Management Assistance

• Support grantees by helping to identify priorities, providing guidance on key strategic issues (e.g., financial model, fundraising, organizational structure, growth plans), and connecting grantees to resources while using influence to drive action and results
• Build strong relationships with grantees, potential grantees, and other diverse stakeholders at all levels, including citywide leaders
• Lead internal and external meetings with grantees and other key stakeholders, adapting communication to navigate differing perspectives, deliver difficult messages, influence decision making, and build alignment toward shared goals
• Organize school leader and non-profit events (including the annual School Leader Retreat) to foster collaboration and innovation among partners and grantees, while building an external network and seeking partnership to advance Ed Forward DC’s work
• Build on individual relationships and analyses to develop approach and strategy for individual and portfolio-wide management assistance

Knowledge Sharing and Leadership

• Develop polished materials that synthesize analyses for a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including board members and funders, and deliver compelling messages that inform strategy and decision-making
• Lead project management related to investments or convenings, setting goals and metrics, tracking progress, and adjusting course as needed
• Represent Ed Forward DC at education events, acting as an ambassador and speaking credibly about the organization’s work to a range of audiences
• Support internal and external partners, delegating effectively, and giving and incorporating feedback to produce high-quality work

Skills and Qualifications 

• A strong candidate will demonstrate an unwavering commitment to educational equity and improving public education in DC
• Deep knowledge of schools and the conditions that drive strong academic outcomes, including the levers for creating a high-quality school
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to frame and solve complex problems using data and insight, and think strategically about resources and how to deploy them effectively
• Superior quantitative and financial analysis skills; proficiency in financial modeling and financial statement analysis valued
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex ideas and communicate them clearly in written and oral formats and develop high-quality professional materials (e.g., spreadsheets, memoranda, presentations) with meticulous attention to detail
• Effective project manager with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive work to completion in ambiguous environments
• Strong interpersonal skills, presence, and communication skills and ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholders including experience advising or supporting leaders, with the ability to influence decision-making and drive results
• Self-directed, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for high-priority work
• Humble and responsive to feedback, with a commitment to continuous learning
• Excellent technical skills, including fluency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

Education and Experience 

• Minimum six years of experience with K-12 public education, teaching, leadership within a school or education organization, and/ or consulting experience
• Classroom experience preferred
• Experience with talent, particularly including developing, coaching, and/ or supporting school and organizational leaders to strengthen performance and outcomes (distinct from traditional HR functions)
• Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree in business, education and/or public policy highly valued

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The Tangible Good

The salary range for this position is $104,000 – $156,000. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including a 401(k) program with a 4% match that is fully vested day one and 100% of health/dental/vision premiums fully covered.

We are Deeply Committed to Equity & Diversity  

We are on a mission to build a team that reflects DC’s students and strongly encourage candidates of color to apply. Education Forward DC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood.

Research suggests that qualified women and people of color are less likely to apply for opportunities if they don’t believe they meet 100% of the requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.