TEACH, Vice President, External Relations

ORGANIZATION 

TEACH was founded by the US Department of Education in 2015. Its mission is to end the national teacher shortage and help talented people from all backgrounds enter the teaching profession. TEACH serves as the recruiting arm of the teaching profession, partnering directly with State Departments of Education, school districts and teacher preparation programs. TEACH accomplishes its mission with an innovative program model, which includes:

• Rebranding the teaching profession through an ongoing PSA ad campaign;
• Deploying a comprehensive recruiting system, based on best practice research;
• Supporting prospects to get over hurdles and barriers that would stop them from becoming teachers; and 
• Meeting young people where they are - i.e. online, on their phones and on social media.

TEACH currently partners with State Departments of Education, universities and schools in ten states/ metropolitan areas. Partnering regions include New York, Connecticut, South Carolina, North Carolina, Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth. 

To learn more about TEACH, please see these slides. Because our website is our “product” (i.e., the toolset we provide to prospective future teachers), it does not have much information about the organization for potential future teammates. In lieu of a public-facing website, this document is designed for that purpose.

OPPORTUNITY 

TEACH is seeking its inaugural Vice President, External Relations. As an organization that is 80% supported through earned revenue contracts with State Departments of Education (also known as State Education Agencies or SEAs), TEACH’s funding strategy is largely led through business development with these partners. This individual will be primarily responsible for building new relationships that grow the number of states in the TEACH ecosystem and ensuring the organization meets its annual revenue goals. 

TEACH offers a fully remote working environment. The organization’s core values of Mission & Impact, Learning & Growth, and Care & Support are embodied through a generous benefits package, ways of working, and an ongoing commitment to ensure every individual is set up to thrive with a culture of care and support for every staff member. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic fundraiser and relationship builder to help propel TEACH into its next chapter, by growing its reach to new communities, and strengthening its depth in the communities it currently serves. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Vice President, External Relations are:

Business development for new states (50%)

• Developing TEACH’s pipeline for new business with states, including:
• Developing the strategy and actions to establish new relationships and secure ongoing contracts.
• Building connections to get initial meetings and pitching TEACH to new partners.
• Overseeing the processes and systems to enable TEACH’s new business development work.
• Designing and overseeing a system to track legislation and state budgets to identify opportunities for partnership.

Raising TEACH’s profile and reputation among decision-makers (of any potential contract with TEACH) and people/organizations who could influence said decision-makers (15%)

• Securing opportunities to elevate TEACH’s presence in relevant spaces, which may include: 
• Speaking and presenting at industry conferences;
• Publishing thought pieces;
• Enhancing our partner-facing brand;
• Creating and overseeing a process to track relevant events, publications, etc.
• Meeting with advocacy groups and getting TEACH on their radar so that the organization’s model is included in their public and private recommendations about how to address teacher recruitment.

Maintain and renew existing funding (20%)

• Partner closely with the VP of Regions to monitor all contract renewals and ensure that there is an effective strategy for securing ongoing funding.
• In select instances, lead the strategy and process for garnering or maintaining legislated funding for existing states (likely done in partnership with the Regions functions; may include the hiring and management of a lobbyist). 
• In select instances, lead the strategy and process securing philanthropic funding in existing states to complement or expand TEACH’s regional footprint.

Fundraising from foundations (15%)

• Secure grants to support general operating funds, funds for special projects, or funds to subsidize SEA contracts.
• Ensure strong and compelling grant reports are produced to enable recurring or expanded funding (this may require direct authoring and/or overseeing other contributing writers).

Requirements

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal VP, External Relations candidate will be/have:

• A compelling communicator to external audiences; able to effectively share TEACH’s mission and model and inspire involvement and allyship from a number of different audiences, including leaders in State Departments of Education, other policy makers, funders, advocates, and elected officials. 
• A strong track record of developing new business amongst government agencies (or similar), resulting in multi-year earned revenue contracts (includes a base level of understanding related to contracting).
• An accomplished relationship manager with 3+ years of success in building authentic partnerships with and for nonprofits, government agencies, community partners, policymakers, funders and other supporters.
• A demonstrated commitment to TEACH’s mission and vision for attracting and keeping new, diverse talent in the teaching profession. 
• Culturally competent and a self-reflective leader who understands the effects of race, class, ethnicity, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and other dimensions of identity in society and is able to lead direct conversations about them.
• Strong writing and editing abilities, especially as it pertains to writing compelling grant proposals and reports, as well as persuasive documents of all kinds.
• Strategic thinker, creative problem-solver, and understanding of how to manage an organization’s profile and reputation among target audiences.
• Demonstrated success raising dollars from foundations strongly preferred.
• Experience working with and/or managing lobbyists or policy advocates is preferred. 
• Understanding of state budget cycles and legislative funding processes is preferred. 

Benefits

This position offers a competitive salary range of $150,000 - $170,000, and robust benefits including medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, retirement, monthly home office stipend, and an annual professional development (PD) fund. More details can be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://apply.workable.com/j/A25F04A38B/.

TEACH is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.