Senior Director, Advocacy Partner Engagement

### THE ORGANIZATION

Guided by the belief that all children deserve the opportunity to live a fulfilling life, the Flamboyan Foundation works to ensure every child in the US and Puerto Rico receives an outstanding education. In Puerto Rico, we are focused on improving reading proficiency for students in the early grades and revitalizing the island by making strategic investments in arts, culture, and education. Our work in Washington, D.C. centers on strengthening effective family engagement in schools and school systems across the country through trainings, fellowships, and school-based partnerships.

### THE ROLE

The Senior Director, Advocacy and Partner Engagement position in the Puerto Rico team is responsible for championing Flamboyan’s vision for K-3 Reading with external stakeholders, including its policy recommendations for strengthening K-3 Reading in public schools. The person in this position develops advocacy strategies, maintains relationships with stakeholders across Puerto Rico, and establishes new partnerships to make this vision come to life with an intentional equity-centric, anti-racist lens within the Puerto Rico context. The Senior Director partners with stakeholders to ensure they have the information and assistance required to support and promote the implementation of research-driven public policy recommendations that are designed to improve K-3 Reading outcomes in Puerto Rico schools. The person in this role is a strong external influencer and effective at collaborating internally across teams to ensure coordination and effective messaging.

### THE REQUIREMENTS

This role could be right for you if you have demonstrated and consistent experience in these seven areas:

#### Strategy + Influence

Maintain ongoing knowledge of relevant subject matter including various components of K-3 Reading content and general education policy. In partnership with the SMD Education Programs, develop advocacy strategies to promote the adoption and implementation of the policy recommendations included in the Road Map Todos a Leer! and lead its execution and evaluation. Develop and secure agreements with external partners to collaborate with Flamboyan and to support the implementation of policy recommendations. In coordination with the Senior Managing Director, Education Programs, manage and maintain relationships with leadership at the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) to implement Flamboyan’s policy recommendations to strengthen K-3 reading in alignment with the best practices for K-3 reading instruction. Work with the Senior Director, K-3 Reading to establish scope and identify resources for technical assistance to support PRDE in implementing policy recommendations and ensure colleagues from the K-3 reading program have the resources they need to provide ongoing technical assistance to partners. Establish relationships with and influence key policymakers to implement policy recommendations and ensure PRDE and other governmental entities (e.g., U.S. Department of Education and local legislature) are held accountable for the K-3 reading initiative. Lead, facilitate, and support the advocacy efforts made by the Coalición Todos a Leer! In partnership with Programs team colleagues, convene and facilitate a working group that provides ongoing research and evidence-informed guidance to the PRDE around K-3 reading, including professional development, curriculum, and assessments.

#### Partnership + Engagement

Establish relationships with nonprofit entities, the business sector, media, PRDE, and other agencies to help grow and solidify the Coalición Todos a Leer! so that they can develop reading initiatives island-wide. Establish relationships and partnerships with education organizations, including teacher preparation programs, to strengthen and align their work with the best practices for K-3 Reading. In collaboration with the SMD Education Programs and External Affairs colleagues, establish the strategy for and coordinate forums to advance Flamboyan’s K-3 Reading vision, including webinars, summits, and learning exchanges.

#### Leadership + Project Management

Partner closely with the Communications and External Affairs team to establish an effective communication strategy to share the vision for K-3 Reading and adapt to key audiences, including policymakers and other relevant stakeholders. Provide regular reporting on milestones and strategy to the SMD Education Programs, Senior Leadership Team, and Board of Directors. Set project timelines and plans in order to ensure timely execution. Ensure ongoing tracking and knowledge management of outreach efforts, including effectively using the organization’s Client Relationship Management (CRM) system to track partners and manage relationships.

#### Organizational Stewardship

Serve as an ambassador for Flamboyan’s organizational K-3 Reading and Coalition brand. Model and foster the Flamboyan core values of People, Impact, Catalytic Action, and Equity. Responsible for stewarding financial and human resources. Continuously deepen your expertise and readiness to assure an equity-centered focus to our programs, and to be self-aware, inclusive in your work, and an agent of change.

#### Self-Awareness + Maturity

You carry a strong sense of your authentic self. You can acknowledge and correct mistakes without ego. You have a willingness to learn and grow. You understand where your strengths and growth areas are. You are not afraid to proactively upward manage. You carry high self-efficacy and ownership of goals. You are discrete and trustworthy, able to handle confidential information with care and grace. You have high emotional intelligence and can navigate nuance.

#### Anti-Racist + Bias Competence

You actionably live your commitment to social justice. You can confidently speak openly and courageously about your own equity journey. You are willing to confront your own biases and hold yourself accountable for disrupting them. You ask who is not at the table. You build time into projects to prioritize the voices that are not historically heard or valued.

#### Collaboration + Influence

You are a skilled collaborator and look for ways to include internal and external stakeholders in your work. You know how to get results by leveraging the power of your expertise and informal authority to influence internal and external stakeholders, and you have discernment to know which to use and when.

### THE QUALIFICATIONS

– At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, including experience in local advocacy and/or in a leadership capacity within a public agency.
– Demonstrated track record of results, particularly through the ability to influence and negotiate with others.
– Exceptional interpersonal abilities and emotional intelligence.
– Ability to collaborate and work in partnership with others.
– Ability to manage multiple time-sensitive projects effectively, including delivering results within established timelines.
– Superior skills in written and verbal communication.
– Proficiency in English and Spanish.
– Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

### THE LOGISTICS

#### Start Date

August 2024

#### Location

This position is based out of our Puerto Rico office located in 800 RH Todd Avenue, Santurce. Flamboyan has a hybrid work schedule which is 4 days in the office and 1 day remote each week along with 1 fully remote week quarterly. Our in-person workplace design is based on our belief that being physically present with colleagues internally and partners externally is essential to building relationships and optimizes our ability to achieve our individual and collective goals. Occasional travel may be necessary. All staff must be fully vaccinated and boosted as a condition of employment unless given an approved exemption by Flamboyan for a medical or religious reason.

#### Compensation

At Flamboyan, our starting salaries are grounded in four beliefs: that we are competitive, we maintain internal equity across roles, there’s room to grow, and salaries are aligned with the market. We avoid negotiating starting salary to create equity across our team and we construct our salaries in such a way that staff can increase their pay as they grow within their role over time.

The starting salary for the Senior Director of Advocacy Partner Engagement is $68,345.

#### Benefits

Flamboyan’s benefits are designed to help you sustain work-life integration. Assessed annually, we provide a host of comprehensive benefits to staff. Our current benefits include:
– Medical and dental health insurance.
– Generous leave package: 15 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 11 holidays, 3 bereavement days, full salary to be paid for the duration of services on petit and grand juries for Jury Duty, up to 2 days for approved professional development, Winter break office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day, 6 org-wide wellness days per year.
– Parental and medical leave.
– Retirement contribution with additional 3% match.
– Individual role and skill-building, and org-wide professional development opportunities.
– Long-term disability insurance.
– Cell phone reimbursement (specific roles only).

### THE TEAM

#### Reports To

Senior Managing Director of Education Programs

#### Manages

None

#### Closest Collaborators

Senior Managing Director of Education Programs, Director of Education Programs, Senior Director Education Programs, Communications and External Affairs, and colleagues in DC and Puerto Rico.

### THE PROCESS

Flamboyan Foundation is committed to being an inclusive organization that challenges historical inequity with a focus on dismantling systemic racism within our work. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation gender identity or expression, veteran status, or disability. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply.

#### Application Deadline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority review will be given to applicants submitting by July 3rd at 11:59 PM EST.

#### Application Instructions

Apply here. This application includes general and substantive short-answer questions and a resume upload. Pro-tip: complete your answers in a word processing document first and then copy them into the online application.

#### Interview Process

Interviewing at Flamboyan is an energetic and inclusive process that typically includes six steps: Application submission, phone screen, hiring exercise, panel interviews, executive interview (finalists only), reference and background checks.

#### Questions

Questions can be directed to [email protected].