Director of Family Engagement

Company: The College Crusade of Rhode Island
Location: Providence
Posted on: February 25, 2021

Job Description:

Primary functions and purpose of this position including overall objectives of the position Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Director of Family Engagement leads the College Crusade's work to engage parents and families and oversees strategy, program development and implementation, budget management, and evaluation for this department. The Director serves as the primary liaison between the Crusade and the families of students served by the program. The Director works with families, program staff and community partners to encourage and build the capacity of parents and family members to support their students' academic success and college preparation. The Director is expected to maintain knowledge of emerging research and best practices related to family engagement and to educate and train Crusade program staff on these topics. As a member of the Crusade's leadership team, the Director is also expected to contribute to organizational and strategic planning efforts. There will be supervisory responsibilities in this role, but the Director of Family Engagement will not have any direct reports initially. Requirements Oversee the design and implementation of family engagement programming and education.

• Plan and execute family engagement workshops, orientations, and other events in coordination with program staff and community partners.
• Develop grade-level specific family engagement objectives to increase parent and guardian knowledge around college awareness, college application, college success, student non-cognitive skills, financial literacy, and technology literacy.
• Communicate regularly with parents and other family members, school personnel and program staff to promote family engagement events.
• Conduct needs analysis to identify and develop programming and community partnerships to support program objectives.
• Develop and maintain resources including family engagement trainings, presentations, curricula, and other materials to be used in workshops and training sessions.
• Track and monitor assessment data to regularly gauge the impact of family engagement programming and make adjustments as needed.
• Work with the Director of Marketing and Communications and other staff to develop materials (electronic and print) and other communications that promote and increase family engagement. Direct the organization's efforts to meaningfully engage and support families.
  • Develop and lead professional development trainings for Crusade staff to build cultural competency and help them to understand the important role of the family in contributing to student success.
  • In conjunction with Directors of Middle School, High School, and Post-Secondary Success, develop expectations for family engagement for all advising staff.
  • Develop curricula and programs to help families support their children's education, whether in-person or via distance learning.
  • Stay abreast of current research and best practices related to family engagement, particularly with first-generation and low-income families.
  • Attend trainings, workshops and/or conferences focused on promoting parent and family engagement in student learning and college preparation.
  • Serve as a liaison between the College Crusade and community partners in areas such as housing, public health, food security, transportation, and other policy topics that affect the capacity of our families and students to be successful. Develop and maintain positive relationships with families of Crusade students.
    • Build and maintain relationships with Crusaders' families, serving as a liaison between the family and Crusade program staff working directly with students.
    • Establish an inclusive and supportive network for parents and families of Crusade students.
    • Encourage and build the capacity of parents and family members to take an active role in supporting their students' academic success and college preparation.
    • Engage one-on-one with Crusade family members as needed to address issues concerning students' health, well-being and/or academic needs.
    • Maintain a working knowledge of available College Crusade programs and resources as well as community resources and refer families to them as appropriate. Support the strategic direction, management, and overall health of the organization
      • Together with the Chief Executive Officer and Leadership Team, contribute to the overall development, strategic direction, program delivery, and management of the organization.
      • Attend and actively participate in Leadership Team meetings.
      • Facilitate cross-departmental coordination and communication in the interest of more seamless organizational integration.
      • Participate in the budget development process and maintain a high level of fiscal responsibility. Position Qualification and Competencies Essential KSOCs (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics)
        • Demonstrated capacity to engage at a community level, including collaborating with school districts, nonprofit organizations, and public-service agencies.
        • Commitment to parents and families as educators of and champions for their children.
        • Familiarity with research-based family engagement strategies and practices.
        • Demonstrated ability to work in collaborative teams within a service organization
        • Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact comfortably with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
        • Demonstrated understanding of and ability to employ interactive adult learning strategies through facilitation of workshops and trainings.
        • Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
        • High energy level, attention to detail, time management, ability to handle multiple tasks, and comfort with public speaking a must.
        • Proficient in Microsoft Office and able to learn and effectively use the latest software and technology systems employed by the Crusade. Education and Experience Requirements:
          • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g. human services, social work or education.)
          • A minimum of five years' relevant work experience.
          • Strong preference for bilingual English/Spanish speaker. Other Requirements
            • Schedule: Must be willing to maintain a flexible schedule, including some weekend and evening hours.
            • Each employee of the College Crusade is expected to demonstrate the following in the regular performance of his or her job duties:
            • Commitment to the vision, mission and values of the College Crusade.
            • A positive attitude and willingness to contribute productively to the success of each team and the organization as a whole.
            • An understanding of and commitment to the Crusade's core competencies of accountability, collaboration, communication, institutional values and service.
            • Active participation in efforts geared toward directing and improving the overall operations of the Crusade, such as strategic planning, organizational development and performance improvement.
            • Commitment to acting as an advocate and ambassador for the College Crusade.
            • Knowledge of the barriers and obstacles that low-income families and first-generation students encounter in the journey to higher education is preferred.
            • Sense of ownership and pride in personal performance.
            • Adherence to all existing organizational policies and procedures.

Keywords: The College Crusade of Rhode Island, Providence , Director of Family Engagement, Executive , Providence, Rhode Island