Managing Director, Rural Teacher Corps
Location: This hybrid position will be based out of Columbus, OH, and requires 1-2 days a week in-person with RSC Executive Director.
Type: Full-time Exempt, Hybrid
Reports to: Executive Director
Expected Salary Range: $60,000 - $75,000, DOE
Travel: This role may include up to 50% travel, typically during the Monday-Friday work week
RSC Mission
Building sustainable rural communities through a keen focus on place, teachers, and philanthropy.
About RSC:
Launched in 2015, Rural Schools Collaborative (RSC) is a national nonprofit supporting rural school communities via a growing network of advocates. We believe a healthy American future must include a thriving rural landscape, and that strong schools and teachers are at the forefront of this effort. Learn more through our Theory of Change.
Our work is supported by a volunteer Board of Directors, a small staff, and rural partner organizations in the Regional Hub Network, serving 30+ states. Regional Hubs are essential to RSC’s work, and it is through these strong partnerships that RSC conducts its key initiatives:
- Rural Teacher Corps - addressing the rural teacher shortage through intentionally-rural teacher development and support;
- I Am A Rural Teacher - sharing positive rural teacher narratives and resources;
- Grants in Place - providing classroom grants to rural educators across the country to explore place-based projects that engage students and the local community;
- Impact Philanthropy - connecting local, regional, and national opportunities to our Regional Hubs, like the GRAD Partnership for Student Success.
RSC takes a collaborative, place-responsive, and asset-based approach to all of our work.
Position Description:
This role will lead RSC Rural Teacher Corps network and community partnerships. This includes interactions with organizational board members, staff, donors, grant recipients, funders, partners, and the general public. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and have a passion for education advocacy.
This position will lead high-profile, national projects and will act as a public-facing, highly visible representative of the organization, and ambassador for rural schools and communities.
Responsibilities include:
- Internal and external leadership of RSC Programs around rural teacher recruitment, preparation, placement, and retention, including the national Rural Teacher Corps Network Community of Learners grant project
- Own all project and grant budget management, milestone and deliverables execution, reporting, and metrics
- Public speaking, in-person and virtual event facilitation, planning and leading meetings
- Building positive relationships with and among RSC’s community partners
- Strategic communications and narrative features that celebrate rural places, teachers, and communities, including written and multimedia spotlights, that celebrate innovative rural education practices and replicable models on the national scale.
- Proactively holding self and others accountable to deadlines and commitments, while maintaining a flexible, nimble mindset to creatively solve problems for the best outcomes
- Foster collaboration by connecting teachers, schools, partners, and community members to resources, events, peers, and opportunities
- Good humor and humility, and excitement to support and learn from colleagues on collaborative projects
- Working closely with the Executive Director on progress, risks, and opportunities to deepen the organization’s impact
Other expectations will be within the typical parameters of nonprofit work and public service. This job description is not intended to be exhaustive - as a small team, we all pitch in to support one another and enact our mission.
Requirements:
- A passion for Rural Schools Collaborative’s mission and a sense of urgency around growing opportunities for rural communities and education
- Direct experience with education, and an understanding of teacher preparation, placement, and retention
- Masters Degree in Education or related field
- Highly organized with demonstrated project management skills
- Energetic, creative, trustworthy, and community-minded
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a knack for adapting storytelling across audiences and platforms
- Skilled in navigating ambiguity and diverse perspectives
- Proactive communicator and enthusiastic people person
- Humble, kind, sense of humor, and willing to learn from others
- Enthusiasm for regular travel, including remote locations
- Ability to work productively in a self-directed, remote environment
- Builds trust and relationships quickly, and brings authentic self into the workspace
- A high degree of technical and digital savvy
Preferred Experience:
- 5+ years of experience with PhD or above in Education or related field
- Professional experience in nonprofits, education (k12 and/or higher ed), philanthropy, advocacy, and/or community development
- A successful record of managing and supporting diverse teams and developing talent
- High level of financial acumen and experience managing complex budgets
- Knowledge of education policy related to the recruitment, placement, and retention of rural teachers
- Experience with Google Suite, Asana, Slack, Quickbooks, Website and Social Media
- Understanding of and interest in collective impact, place-based leadership, and/or network models
- Large-scale grant management and administration experience
- Experience and interest in rural and small town contexts
Benefits
- Unlimited/Flexible Vacation Policy
- 10 Personal / Sick Days
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Health benefit reimbursement QSEHRA plan
- 4% employer match 401k plan
- Employer-paid Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
How to Apply:
Please send a letter of interest and resume to RSC Executive Director, Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, at taylor[at]ruralschoolscollaborative.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a candidate is identified.
Not sure you’re a perfect fit, but passionate about our work? We want to hear from you!
All duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. RSC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RSC are based upon organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Those applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should contact a management representative.