Job Description

Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. (AFC) seeks a full-time Education Specialist for its Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline. The Education Specialist must be able to gather information from the diverse group of people who reach out to our Helpline, quickly analyze facts to identify issues and provide information regarding the broad spectrum of issues facing students and families in the New York City school system, and work with other projects at AFC to help address the underlying problems.  The position also involves identifying trends and emerging policy issues in NYC public schools. Please see below for a more detailed description of the job responsibilities.

 

The Helpline has five full-time staff, including a Supervisor, three Education Specialists, and one Educational Specialist/Administrative Coordinator.  The Education Specialist reports to the Helpline Supervisor. The Helpline team works collaboratively with each other and with other projects throughout the office.  The Helpline team has biweekly team meetings to review questions and identify trends.

 

AFC is a not-for-profit organization that strives to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success, focusing on students from low-income backgrounds. AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency, sexual orientation, gender identity, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide information and guidance to families and service providers on a wide variety of school-related issues.
• Conduct initial intakes, gather documents, and assess cases for legal representation.
• Maintain clear and accurate records of all calls and activities in case management database (Salesforce).
• Develop a strong understanding of DOE regulations and protocols, and stay on top of new developments in public schools.
• Maintain updated information and referral sources for AFC guides and tip sheets. Review and update internal documentation for Helpline staff.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Fluency in Spanish or Mandarin is required.
• Commitment to increasing access to quality education for all children in New York City.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and resourcefulness.
• Ease and comfort with technology.
• Must have the ability to learn complex material and explain it clearly and simply.
• Strong multitasking skills
• Familiarity with the New York City public school system (especially with discipline or special education issues), a history of working with parents, prior hotline experience, and experience with Salesforce are all pluses, but not required.

Compensation:

The salary depends on experience and includes generous benefits.

How to Apply

Please e-mail a cover letter and resume to educationspecialist@advocatesforchildren.org with “Helpline Education Specialist” in the subject line. Candidates should highlight in their cover letter any personal or professional experience that demonstrates their connection to the populations that AFC serves. No phone calls, please. Only candidates being scheduled for interviews will be contacted. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This position is available immediately, and candidates are encouraged to apply as quickly as possible. AFC is an affirmative action employer that actively encourages applications from a broad spectrum of people, including people of color, with disabilities, and of diverse religions, national origins, ages, gender identities, sexual orientations and socioeconomic backgrounds.  

Bureaus: New York. Job Categories: Full-Time. Job Types: Research and Policy.