Achievement First · 1 day ago
Managing Director of External Affairs, CT
Connecticut, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$150K/yr - $150K/yrAchievement First (AF) is a nonprofit organization supporting public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The Managing Director of External Affairs will partner with the Regional Executive Director to set strategy, engage external stakeholders, and enhance the organization's visibility and impact in the community.
Education
Responsibilities
Develop the strategic vision for external and community affairs for the region in alignment with AF’s organizational vision
Work closely with schools, families, and AF’s communications team to strategically share the impact that Achievement First has within the region and to narrate fuel the school’s successes and opportunities to external audiences
Collaborate with the communications team and regional leaders to surface moments that tell the story of the region and build the brand for both internal and external audiences through various communication channels including newsletters, social media and external news coverage
Establish, maintain, strengthen and leverage key political alliances to support and advance AF’s mission
Establish, maintain, and leverage partnerships with Connecticut Department of Education, local Community Based Organizations (CBOs), nonprofits, and other community partners to better support the regions’ schools and promote a better environment overall for students and families
Collaborate with schools to thoughtfully engage families in key network, regional, and school-based initiatives
Lead and manage the full lifecycle of four boards in Connecticut, including planning, sequencing, agendas, strategy-setting, drafting materials, and coordinating stakeholder alignment
Design a long-term governance vision that clarifies roles and positions boards as high-impact, informed thought partners
Collaborate with the CEO, Regional ED, Board Governance network team, Regional Superintendents, and Principals to ensure pre-read materials, discussion questions, and meeting design elevate meaningful strategic dialogue
Proactively identify opportunities to evolve board engagement, including optional primers, onboarding structures, pre-meeting alignment processes, and redesigned meeting arcs that focus on discussion—not presentation
Build and manage a cultivation strategy for current and prospective board members—tracking composition needs, sequencing prospects, nurturing relationships, and leveraging networks to strengthen overall board capacity
Ensure internal roles and decision-making pathways are clear, aligned, and efficient. Minimize redundant work, late-cycle revisions, and mis-sequenced review processes through strong project management and stakeholder coordination
Serve as a thought partner and external strategist to the Regional ED
Lead regional alignment across AF teams, ensuring Connecticut’s local priorities are understood, elevated, and supported by internal partners
Act as a central conduit for stakeholders—schools, Network Support leaders, advocates, elected officials, and boards—surfacing opportunities, risks, and needs as they arise
Represent the region with clarity, alignment, and credibility across sectors
Hold shared responsibility for regional fundraising, partnering with Team Development on strategy and solicitations while leading local prospecting and relationship-building to establish a new donor base
Lead proactive identification and cultivation of prospective funders, community leaders, and connectors who can open philanthropic doors in Connecticut, building a robust regional pipeline where one does not currently exist
Serve as a key relationship manager for select current and prospective funders, regularly meeting with them to share AF’s mission and impact, and ensuring strong handoffs and coordination with Team Development for solicitations
Qualification
Required
Hold a Bachelor's degree
Bring significant senior-level experience in education, nonprofit, government, advocacy, or a similarly mission-driven sector
Have prior experience developing Board governance strategy, including cultivating, preparing, and engaging high-functioning nonprofit boards
Executive-level stakeholder management across boards, senior leaders, elected officials, funders, and community partners
Political and organizational acumen, with the ability to navigate complex dynamics and sensitive contexts
Strategic planning and execution across multi-year, multi-stakeholder initiatives
Designing systems and processes that increase clarity, efficiency, and impact
Clear, compelling communication in high-stakes settings, including board meetings and public-facing forums
Strong ethics, judgment, and discretion, with the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
Confidence and credibility when interacting with and influencing senior leaders, board members, and external partners
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment—balancing autonomy with collaboration and direction
Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through across complex workflows
Proactive, precise verbal and written communication tailored to audience and purpose
Deep belief in Achievement First's mission, values, and commitment to partnership with families and communities
Preferred
Advanced degree strongly preferred
Spanish language proficiency is a plus
Benefits
Paid time off
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life insurance
A 403(b) retirement benefit package with match
Paid Family Leave
Company
Achievement First
Achievement First provides Education, Teaching, School Leadership, Data-Driven Instruction, Charter School and Instructional Coaching.
Founded in 2003
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Achievement First has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
2023 (1)
2022 (2)
2021 (3)
2020 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Neil Shah
Chief Financial Officer
Xanthe Jory
Chief Operating Officer
Recent News
Providence Business News
2022-04-20
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