Director of Family and Community Engagement (FACE)

Description

Key components of this position : Student Admissions and Enrollment, Recruitment, and Community Engagement

About The SEED School of Washington, D.C.

The SEED Foundation (www.seedfoundation.com) was created in 1997 to establish college-preparatory urban boarding schools that prepare secondary students both academically and socially, for success in college and beyond. In 1998, the Foundation opened The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C. – the nation’s first public college preparatory boarding school. The school currently serves 250 students in grades 9-12. In 2015, 100% of SEED’s seniors were accepted to a four-year college or university.

All SEED students live on campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon when they return home for the weekend. The dormitories are organized into small “houses” of an average of 15-18 students per resident advisor for afternoon and evening routines such as academic study hall, house meetings, SPARKS and other structured activities. We provide a safe and caring 24-hour boarding experience. Our relationship with parents / guardians is essential to the success of their scholar while at SEED.

About The SEED Network

SEED is the pioneering national network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools, offering a unique 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. Our tuition-free schools, the first of their kind in the U.S., are intentionally designed to serve traditionally underserved students. Supported by The SEED Foundation, we operate in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, and Los Angeles. The Foundation’s College Transition & Success (CTS) team provides comprehensive support to SEED graduates from junior year through college graduation. SEED’s success has gained recognition from media outlets like 60 Minutes and The New York Times, and former President Obama has lauded it as "a true success story." Learn more at www.seedfoundation.com.

Position Overview

The Director of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) oversees all aspects of admissions recruitment and directs the admissions process from inquiry through enrollment. The Director will lead a collaborative effort to develop and implement both short and long-term recruitment strategies to ensure SEED DC meets enrollment objectives. The Director is also responsible for comprehensive strategy and implementation of all family and community engagement initiatives within and on behalf of SEED DC. These initiatives include direct family outreach programming, support for school-based family outreach, coordination of partnerships, and parent leadership and advocacy. The Director is the primary liaison for family and community engagement work with the organization, as well as an ambassador for SEED DC externally. The Director is responsible for facilitating and maintaining strategic programmatic partnerships and for participating in community-based collaborative networks. The ideal candidate will be a data-driven decision maker, an experienced and creative leader in admission, recruitment and retention. The Director will develop and lead inclusive outreach efforts to draw diverse families to the school and ensure that SEED DC continues to enroll promising students who both thrive as part of the school community and in turn contribute to the community.

The Director should be a team player who has a warm collaborative nature, positive energy, superior organization and prioritization skills, and is self-motivated in the completion of his / her work. The Director should possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills including outstanding writing and public speaking skills and the ability to interact comfortably with a diverse group of people. The Director will have a genuine empathy for prospective families and an awareness of the needs and sensitivities of parents, students, faculty, staff and administrators and ultimately be able to manage expectations and deliver admissions decisions in a manner that is honest, caring, and diplomatic.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Represent SEED DC and serve as the primary point of contact with the broader community and with prospective families while communicating the mission.

Engage and inform prospective parents and students about SEED DC and the benefits of the various programs and services.

Inspire the community to actively participate in admissions events including individual and group tours, student shadow visits, curricular information sessions, student observations / testing / interview, parent-to-parent connections, and individual family conversations.

Establish and maintain positive relationships with area educational constituencies including area schools, consultants, admissions directors, and organizations and create networking opportunities.

Lead and develop a communications plan with prospective families to move them from inquiry to enrollment.

Oversee and participate in the development of admissions materials, events and marketing practices.

Coordinate systematic and efficient handling of applications and communications with parents of student applicants so that the process supports and honors the student and their family.

Manage parent and student expectations and deliver admissions decisions in a manner that is honest and diplomatic.

Oversee the selection process of new students including the work of the admissions committee and maintain school’s historic admissions statistics.

Lead retention efforts and follow-up accordingly.

Manage strategy for maximizing utility of school-based partners through directing FACE Specialist, especially with college access partners, after‑school programs, and agencies and organizations that support students’ socio‑emotional needs.

Manage and support policy decisions, messaging / communications, award review meetings, and efforts with community partners.

Manage admissions staff including providing clear communication regarding responsibilities, practices, and feedback.

Facilitate trainings and ensure compliance with OSSE and Charter School Board standards.

Manage the FACE budget and oversee the other grant processes and implementation.

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited university, preferred in education, policy / government, or management. Master’s degree preferred.

Minimum of 3 to 5 years of school administrative, staff supervisory, and budgetary management experience required.

Experience leading in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment; adaptable when managing multiple, shifting priorities; ease at managing competing demands and determining priorities independently.

Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to work under pressure and manage projects with a high degree of accuracy and limited direction.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to communicate complex ideas simply and succinctly.

Strong computer and technology skills; proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, familiarity with Google docs, and interest in and ability to learn new platforms.

Team‑player capable of working both collaboratively and independently.

Customer‑focused approach, interpersonal flexibility and ability to multi‑task.

Self‑starter and demonstrated resourcefulness.

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Strong judgment and collaborative decision‑making skills.

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