Community Engagement Program Coordinator

Overview

The School and State Finance Project (schoolstatefinance.org) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization that works collaboratively with policymakers, communities, and other key stakeholders to develop data-driven solutions that ensure all public school students receive equitable education funding that supports their learning needs.

Our Mission: To eliminate racial and economic disparities in Connecticut education funding.

Our Vision: All Connecticut students have equitable funding, access, and opportunities — no matter their race, socio-economic status, learning needs, or zip code.

Since our founding in 2015, we have secured an additional $526 million in need-based funding for Connecticut students, directly engaged nearly 15,000 community members, and led the effort to implement a comprehensive, student-centered funding formula.

We are an independent and trustworthy source of high-quality research and accessible analysis, and serve as a bridge between those who demand equity for all students and the elected leaders who are charged with making policy.

Although not a member-based organization, the School and State Finance Project actively works with a diverse group of stakeholders and communities across Connecticut. The School and State Finance Project aims to serve as a trusted resource for state and local policymakers, school district officials, community leaders, and all people looking for transparent, accessible, and approachable information about education funding and state finance.

The School and State Finance Project is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org).

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

Reporting to the Director of Community Engagement for the School and State Finance Project, the Community Engagement Program Coordinator will help develop and execute the organization’s community engagement programs, including: “ConneCTed for Change,” our small group initiative; our Youth Town Halls; and our workshops.

The ideal Community Engagement Program Coordinator will be a highly-skilled communicator, in both communicating out to target audiences through verbal and written forms, and listening to the needs of community members and internal staff. This is a great opportunity for an individual who is experienced in education, parent leadership, and/or community organizing.

Specific job responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Director of Community Engagement and Community Engagement Manager in developing and executing the organization’s community engagement programming by ensuring materials needed are up-to-date and available, spaces are coordinated, and partner needs are met;
• Working with the Director of Community Engagement and Community Engagement Manager to identify opportunities and needs in communities in order to produce and update community-specific materials about school funding (such as workshops, collateral materials, online needs, etc.);
• Collaborating with the School and State Finance Project’s communications team to ensure communication needs are being met for community members and partner organizations;
• Interacting with community members via email, phone, social media, or in person in formats that may include individual and small group connections;
• Developing curricular materials for ConneCTed for Change, aid in training facilitators, and provide ongoing support for facilitators;
• Providing on-the-ground support and coverage for ConneCTed for Change facilitators, youth town halls, workshops, and the organization’s State of the Student Conference as needed; and
• Other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Associate’s degree or greater required;
• 2+ years of experience working in community engagement
• Superb writing skills and ability to write for different audiences and knowledge levels;
• Exceptional ability to communicate (verbally, graphically, and in writing) complex issues in an approachable and easy-to-understand manner;
• Excellent organizational skills with demonstrated ability to “multi-task” and produce high-quality work in a timely manner;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, follow direction, and take and provide constructive feedback;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word and PowerPoint) as well as Google Workspace (Docs and Slides) required;
• Social media skills with a proficient knowledge of Instagram and Facebook;
• Strong ability to work with others to create and implement plans;
• Commitment to learn more about policy areas the organization is working on, and become well versed on the various subject issues; and
• Multilingual with willingness to leverage language skills (preferred).

Don't meet all the qualifications? That’s ok! Studies have shown individuals — particularly those who are women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, or have a disability — are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single condition. Our organization is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive culture of belonging, so if you're excited about this role but your experiences don't match every qualification exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or another role in our organization!

Special Requirements:

• Ability to travel throughout Connecticut;
• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed in Southington, CT with some remote work 

Compensation: The hourly pay range for this position is between $22.50 and $25.00 and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is not benefits eligible

Organizational Commitment to Equity

The School and State Finance Project was founded with the mission to mitigate inequity in education funding and provide opportunities to Connecticut’s public school students no matter their race, ethnicity, community, or background.

We recognize that within this work, systemic racism plays a powerful and harmful role in the creation of inequitably funded school systems and the outcomes of students. We also recognize this same systemic discrimination is deeply intertwined in our state’s economic policies.

We are committed to explicitly addressing how systemic racism and racial injustice intersect with our work. We will consciously use the independence and self-acknowledged privilege of our organization to call for equity and fairness in all facets related to our mission, and will actively listen to — and collaborate with — the historically underserved and disenfranchised communities we are working to strengthen.

We continually work to ensure this commitment is reflected in the diversity of our staff, the data we analyze, the policies we develop, and the conversations we have with policymakers, stakeholders, and community members across Connecticut.

We know as an organization, and as individuals, we will always have learning to do, room to grow, and ways we can be better allies. We hope you join us in this commitment to build a more equitable state for Connecticut’s students, families, and communities.

TSNE/SSFP strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/SSFP prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/SSFP celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/SSFP's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.