School Network Staff Executive Director
Job Description
The Opportunity
Teach For America is seeking its next Executive Director (ED) to lead the Indianapolis region. Over the last decade, Indianapolis (affectionately known as “Indy”) has risen as a national leader in P-12 education innovation and with among the strongest conditions for transformative change in student outcomes today. More than any other city in the country, you’ll find schools, communities, nonprofits, government entities, companies, and foundations working together towards a common vision and broad strategy for systemic change. TFA Indy’s Executive Director will work shoulder-to-shoulder with existing partners and enlist new ones to work collectively to fight inequities in education. The next leader will lead a strong and accomplished regional team at a dynamic time, where TFA Indy will also live more fully and in collaboration with key citywide partners towards shared goals for student outcomes, including TFA Indy’s 2030 Goal. The new ED will understand a city- and region-wide strategy to strengthen and effectively execute the unique and critical role that Teach For America must play to reach the 2030 Goal. While Teach For America Indianapolis has had strong success in helping to create strong educational policy, conditions, and systems-change leaders and enable meaningfully improved student outcomes, the work continues – in classrooms and every sector and field that shapes the broader systems in which schools operate and through partnerships with nearly 800 TFA corps members and alumni in the region.
The incoming ED will succeed our current ED who has been leading the region since 2016.
The Team
Since its creation in 2008, Teach For America in Indianapolis has become one of our strongest regions, working collectively with schools as well as leaders in every sector and field that shapes Indianapolis education to realize education equity and excellence in our community. The Executive Director will lead a team of 16 staff; support a total TFA network of nearly 800; and develop, maintain, and support a strong Advisory Board to accelerate the impactful work of Teach For America Indianapolis.
Primary Responsibilities
Our new Executive Director will deeply believe in our vision – with an empowering education, all children will lead lives of their choosing and collectively contribute to a vibrant and just Indianapolis. The next ED will:
- Set vision and strategic direction for Teach For America Indy: Engage and invest internal and external stakeholders (staff, corps members, board, alumni, families, community, etc.). Leverage, build upon, and effectively implement a defined strategy to continue to further system-wide collaboration and execution of TFA’s and partners’ shared goals, including TFA Indy’s 2030 Goal. Lead a team and engage with system-wide partners to successfully realize the 2030 Goal.
- Ensure the organization is part of a broad and diverse coalition for change: Understand and engage in the education and policy ecosystem and partnerships across all education sectors – ensuring that TFA Indy is a contributor, key partner, and thought leader in coalitions that are fighting on behalf of our students and families in the Indianapolis community.
- Secure resources to ensure the financial health of the organization: Direct and oversee engagement, investments, and fundraising efforts, stewarding and engaging long-time supporters while identifying and enlisting new supporters.
- Serve as the cultural leader at Teach For America Indy and develop and retain a high-performing team: Mentor, empower, and supervise members of a 16-person team, providing them the guidance and resources they need to succeed in their roles and responsibilities.
Experience & Competencies
- 10+ years of professional experience; at least 2-4 years at a senior level managing and leading high-performing teams to outcomes with a focus on examining race, class, and power structures
- Professional experience aligned to the mission and values of Teach For America Indianapolis; this may include: a current or former staff member, a TFA alum, a non-profit or school leader, state education leader, an organizer or advocacy leader directly involved or adjacent to education and issues impacting the communities we work alongside
- Experience developing deep and influential relationships with current and prior stakeholders, mobilizing them to create champions in our work
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and desire to develop and maintain deep relationships with a variety of diverse constituents to fight educational inequity
- Understanding of the complexity of the local political climate; skilled at navigating the political landscape and broader ecosystem that impacts Teach For America Indianapolis
- Proven track record of achieving outstanding results through strategic clarity, operational and organizational excellence, high-performing teams, and an ability to navigate decision-making with strong judgment and integrity in ambiguous, complex, and high-stakes situations
Personal Characteristics
- Dedicated to pursuing meaningful impact through accomplishing goals and objectives
- Relational leader who leads with a people-first orientation
- Practice and ability to speak to their own pursuit of anti-racist leadership and management
Commitment to Equity and Racial Justice
- Critical consciousness of issues of equity, structural racism, personal privilege
- Demonstrate alignment to Teach For America’s mission, theory of change, and core values
- Professional commitment to educational equity
Executive & Collaborative Leader
- Executive-level experience, confidence, and passion for educational equity with an ability to inspire, collaborate, and build trusting relationships with a diverse group of internal and external audiences/stakeholders (staff, students, families, national network, funders, alumni, key education leaders, political, opinion leaders, advocates, skeptics, etc.)
- Strengthen and effectively implement TFA Indy’s regional impact strategy in pursuit of the 2030 Goal, engaging stakeholders and partners in the effort
- Operate as a peer, support, and/or guide high-performing leaders both internal and external, as needed
- Participate in and lead community coalitions, advance shared goals, and build new ones to advance regional work
- Expand, evolve, and sustain TFA Indy’s fundraising base
Visionary & Systems-Level Strategist
- Compellingly articulate TFA Indy’s theory of change and its talent, leadership development, and institutional strategy to realize the 2030 Goal
- Lead as a systems-level strategist who can make sense of complex, dynamic, nuanced information about regional, state, and national education policy, research, stakeholders, and systems
- Analyze and synthesize multiple perspectives and inputs to develop an integrated systems-level view of how to best advance systems-level change (city, region, state, national) and TFA regional impact
- Drive outcomes alongside and through the members of their team and broader coalitions and partnerships
- Make sound decisions and strategically manage competing priorities between TFA nationally and the region to ensure effective use of time and resources
- Advocate for, leverage, and be a good steward of both national and local resources to advance regional priorities
Policy Advocate
- Strong understanding of local, statewide, and national policies and how they influence and shape the educational ecosystem where TFA Indianapolis operates
- Strong political acumen and awareness of power and political dynamics; work across political lines of difference to advance education policy and 2030 shared goals
- A respected voice; influence and shape the regional/state education agenda and position TFA as a key actor and partner in the work
People Developer
- Hire, manage, lead, retain, and empower a diverse and high-performing team enabled by a culture rooted in TFA’s Core Values and DEI Commitment to achieve regional outcomes
- Lead and create policies and practices that foster diversity, equity, and inclusiveness to ensure inclusive and equitable staff experiences
- Invest in talent to build successors for key roles, contributing to the sustainability of the regional team and organization
- Align resources and leadership, coach and manage high-performing teams, and facilitate and manage the day-to-day operations to ensure success and impact
Benefits
Benefits and Salary
The salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included. Learn more at www.teachforamerica.org/about-us/careers/employee-benefits.
Commitment to Diversity and Equal Opportunity Employment Policy
Teach For America is committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization and encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this position.
Teach For America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
This job description reflects Teach For America’s assignment of essential functions and qualifications for the role. Nothing in this herein restricts management’s right to assign, reassign or eliminate duties and responsibilities to this role at any time.
