Posted: October 20, 2010

The New Teacher Project (TNTP) helps school districts and states fulfill the promise of public education by ensuring that all students—especially those from high-need communities—get excellent teachers. A national nonprofit organization founded by teachers, TNTP recognizes that although teachers matter more than any other school factor in student success, the nation’s education systems are not aligned with the goal of an effective teacher in every classroom. In response, TNTP develops customized programs and policy interventions that enable education leaders to diagnose their teacher quality challenges and find, develop and keep great teachers. Since its inception in 1997, TNTP has recruited or trained approximately 33,000 teachers—mainly through its highly selective Teaching Fellows™ programs—benefiting an estimated 4.8 million students. TNTP has also released a series of acclaimed studies of the policies and practices that affect the quality of the nation’s teacher workforce, most recently including The Widget Effect: Our National Failure to Acknowledge and Act on Differences in Teacher Effectiveness (2009). Today TNTP is active in more than 25 cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, New York, and Oakland, among others. For more information, please visit www.tntp.org.

We are currently seeking a Site Manager of Communications and Engagement for our Louisiana Foundations Team in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana. The Site Manager will be a TNTP employee based in a school district office in the Greater New Orleans area. This position is available immediately.

Louisiana Foundations Team, Greater New Orleans

Research has shown that effective teachers are the solution to increasing student achievement in under-resourced schools. As a result, TNTP has always focused on increasing the concentration of highly effective teachers in high-need classrooms. We have done this primarily by strengthening the pipeline into schools through our Teaching Fellows Programs, Model Staffing Initiatives, and Training and Certification programs.

In order to achieve our vision of a human capital system that revolves around the objective of an effective teacher in every classroom, we not only need to create a supply of effective teachers, but to help school districts and states optimize the effectiveness of the teacher workforce overall. School districts must focus not only on teacher recruitment, selection, training, and certification, but also on components like teacher performance evaluation, compensation, and school-level human capital management (the ability of principals to manage and keep highly effective teachers). In short, all aspects of the human capital strategy within a school district must be focused on the following metrics: increasing the percentage of new teachers that are effective at increasing student achievement, retaining the most effective teachers, outplacing the least effective teachers, and improving the overall effectiveness of the teachers in the district over time.

To help urban districts attain this vision, TNTP is launching the comprehensive Louisiana Foundations Initiative, in which we provide consulting and deep technical support to a district on its human capital efforts. Through this initiative, we aim to prove that through comprehensive human capital reform, a district can increase the concentration of effective teachers and substantially improve the academic achievement of students in that district.

Role and Responsibilities

The Site Manager of Communications and Engagement helps ensure the success of this initiative by leading the communications and engagement strategy for the Louisiana Foundations Team. Specifically, he or she develops communications messages for all key stakeholders, including team members, clients, union representatives, community members, teacher and school leaders; develops communications policies; and ensures the communications strategy is implemented consistently. The Site Manager of Communications and Engagement will report to the Senior Partner and will serve as a resource to other staff members on their work. The Site Manager of Communications and Engagement will manage a Communications Associate. Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Design stakeholder management and communication plans to inform and invest stakeholders (principals, district employees, clients, funding representatives, teacher and principal associations, elected officials) in the Louisiana Foundations Team's goals and processes
• Build and apply deep understanding of New Orleans’ education community, including stakeholders, priorities, and historical challenges by:
o Attending and/or representing TNTP at local community and statewide meetings and events
o Researching district history, legislative underpinnings, and portfolio of schools
• Create all messages for the Louisiana Foundations Initiative; customize these messages based on client need by consulting and collaborating with key stakeholders, including the Team's Oversight Committee, principal and teacher advisory groups, and district leaders
• Revise and approve all communications for teachers and school leaders, including newsletters, training and orientation materials, speeches, etc.
• Ensure that messaging is consistent and effective by convening focus groups, conducting surveys, etc.
• Work with all site staff to ensure that high-quality messages are consistently delivered to all stakeholders
• Oversee third party vendors on development and production of marketing materials
• Cultivate and manage relationships with local media outlets; pitch stories and respond to press inquiries
• Collaborate and support other Site Managers with all communications and reporting needs, including training materials for teachers, school leaders, and other district employees
• Support the Senior Partner and other site staff members as needed

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who believe deeply in our organization's mission and who display a record of achievement. Successful candidates will also demonstrate:

• Degree in communications, journalism, or related field (highly preferred)
• Political campaign or community organizing experience (highly preferred)
• Outstanding communication and writing skills
• Ability to translate complex, nuanced program messages into clear, concise writing
• Ability to synthesize large amounts of information effectively and strategically, and create messages and materials for diverse audiences
• Excellent critical thinking skills
• Significant prior experience with client management
• A record of setting and achieving ambitious goals
• Superior project management and organizational skills
• A commitment to producing consistently high quality work
• The ability to identify challenges and actively work to find solutions
• The ability to work effectively with others at all levels of an organization and to consistently display a high level of professionalism in all interactions
• The ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously and meet timelines in a fast-paced environment
• The ability to work well independently and with others
• Extraordinary attention to detail
• Flexibility
• Superior computer skills, specifically Microsoft Office suite
• Willingness to work non-standard hours and/or weekends

Compensation

The annual salary for this position is $70,000 or commensurate with experience. We also offer a motivated team of colleagues, a collegial atmosphere that values professional development, a comprehensive benefits plan effective on the first day of employment – including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, and a 403(b) plan with matching – as well as the opportunity to impact the direction of a growing, mission-driven company that is committed to the success of our nation’s children.

To Apply

Please submit your resume and a tailored cover letter online at http://tbe.taleo.net/NA5/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=THENEWTEACHERPROJECT&cws=1&rid=564

We review applications on a rolling basis – so it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible. We will not consider applications without a cover letter tailored to this position, which can be addressed to the Human Capital Team. The New Teacher Project is committed to fostering and capitalizing on 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.