Chief Member Advocacy and Engagement Officer

California Charter Schools Association; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 174,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Chief Member Advocacy and Engagement Officer to lead advocacy efforts for charter schools in California. This pivotal role involves building sustainable member engagement, enhancing advocacy initiatives, and driving policy change to support educational equity. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in political advocacy and community building, with a passion for empowering members and amplifying their voices. Join a collaborative team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the education sector, while enjoying the flexibility of a remote work environment within California.

Benefits

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401k eligibility

Generous paid time off

Qualifications

• Proven track record in political advocacy and community engagement.
• Strong leadership skills to inspire and manage diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead advocacy initiatives to support charter schools and educational equity.
• Foster member engagement and build relationships with key stakeholders.

Skills

Political Advocacy

Community Building

Leadership

Communication Skills

Data-Driven Decision Making

Education

12+ years of experience in policy and advocacy

Job description

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Chief Member Advocacy and Engagement Officer

Department: Local Policy and Member Advocacy

Position: Chief Member Advocacy and Engagement Officer
Location: Remote, must reside within California

The Opportunity

We are seeking a relationship-driven, strategic leader to join the CCSA team and serve as Chief Member Advocacy and Engagement Officer (CMAEO). This leader will play a critical role in building sustainable authorizer ecosystems and enhancing member engagement to protect the freedom of school choice across California. They will set the strategy for advocacy initiatives based on direct feedback from our members, and align communications to garner political support for favorable legislation, better funding, and improved access to resources and facilities. The CMAEO will oversee three teams: Local Advocacy, Communications, and Membership. They will manage and work alongside a team of regional leads to support campaign efforts at the local and state level.

Reporting to the President and CEO, the CMAEO will play a pivotal role on the Executive Team to spearhead the next phase of the organization's multi-year strategic plan. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in political advocacy, building staff capacity, member engagement and retention, making data-driven decisions, implementing efficient systems, and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. They will elevate the voice of members and harness multimedia platforms to tell the charter story. They will also lead effective regionalized collective action strategies to support fair and collaborative charter school authorization.

What Does Success Look Like

• Maintain and increase membership market share with a high member satisfaction rate on our annual member survey;
• Effectively execute regional supports to increase member value and secure local strength;
• Deliver renewal supports leading to successful renewals for member schools;

Passion for the Mission

As the Chief Member Advocacy and Engagement Officer, your passion for our mission will be the driving force behind our success. You'll spearhead initiatives to engage and empower our membership, amplify our message through strategic communications, and advocate tirelessly for policies that support charter schools and educational equity. Your success will be measured by the impact of your efforts in increasing membership engagement, enhancing our communications reach and effectiveness, and driving meaningful policy change at the local level.

Core Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Provide leadership and direction to the Local Advocacy, Communications, and Membership teams, fostering a shared vision and culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Inspire and energize the team by encouraging a sense of adaptability and resilience, steering team members to embrace innovation and results-driven performance.
• Foster a team culture that is equity-driven, relies on effective systems thinking, shared accountability, and continuous improvement, and thrives at setting and achieving ambitious goals.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to enhance the teams' skills and capabilities in reaching membership retention and revenue goals.
• Ensure team members are developed, feel valued, and impactfully contribute to the organization’s mission.

Community Activation & Advocacy

• Build relationships with key stakeholders including regional policymakers, community leaders, and advocacy organizations to amplify the voice of charter schools in local communities and statewide.
• Drive local advocacy initiatives to ensure that charter schools have a voice in policy discussions and decisions at the community level.
• Ensure CCSA understands our members’ and stakeholders’ concerns and priorities and that membership, communications, and advocacy efforts are responsive to their feedback.
• Serve as a thought leader on charter school advocacy and education policy, contributing insights and expertise to public discourse.
• Represent CCSA at conferences, forums, and other public events, sharing best practices and advocating for policies that support the growth and success of charter schools.
• Develop and implement a forward-thinking statewide strategy for regionalized advocacy campaigns and supports, communications, and membership engagement that align with CCSA’s mission.
• Lead CCSA’s efforts to advocate for policies and initiatives that support charter schools and advance educational equity.
• Lead teams to responsive actions that solve immediate policy or political problems.
• Build infrastructure, communications, and resources to engage parent, teacher, and alumni stakeholders.

Membership Engagement & Sustainability

• Lead teams and initiatives to foster a sense of belonging and ownership among members.
• Seek opportunities for cross-functional local and statewide collaboration to maximize the impact of CCSA’s work.
• Deepen member engagement to amplify statewide impact by elevating their voices.
• Increase member engagement rates on CCSA’s digital platforms every year.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of membership and advocacy efforts.

Communications & Public Relations

• Lead the team to develop successful communication strategies that attract new members and retain current members.
• Partner with the membership communications team to shape and implement member engagement campaigns.
• Model and set a positive tone for strong communication internally and externally.
• Work alongside the team to amplify local charter school stories in media markets across the state.

Skills, Knowledge, and Qualifications

• 12+ years of aligned experience in policy, advocacy, community building, and/or systems leadership.
• Strong belief in and advocacy for public charter schools’ ability to prepare all students for success.
• Deep understanding of the intersections of policy, race, gender, religion, and social justice issues.
• Proven track record of leadership in advocacy for policy change and organizing key constituencies.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience leading high-impact, complex organizations impacting several stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams to achieve.
• Some travel is expected within the state; required travel is not expected to exceed 40 percent of the time.

Application and Hiring Process

We are excited to review your application! To apply, please submit a resume to [e-mail]. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so it is in the candidate’s best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Our interview processes are holistic and value diversity. We are constantly reviewing our hiring criteria to ensure it is centered on equity and inclusion. Bilingual and BIPOC candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation, Benefits & Location

The starting annual salary range for this role is $174,000 to $212,500, based on relevant experience. CCSA offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k eligibility, and generous paid time off. This is a full-time, exempt position with the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere in California.

About California Charter Schools Association

California Charter Schools Association’s (CCSA) vision is to build great public schools of joy and rigor that prepare all California students for success in college, career, and life.