ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Director of Community Mobilization is a key leadership role at the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) responsible for spearheading the organization's strategies aimed at fostering community-based cross-sector systems change across Michigan. Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Director of Community Mobilization serves as a pivotal organizational leader, driving the development and sustainability of highly structured local community alliances and legislatively created promise zones dedicated to advancing postsecondary attainment in alignment with MCAN’s strategic plan.
The ideal candidate is self-motivated, technically capable, detail-oriented, and can prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, innovative environment. Having a tolerance for ambiguity, risk-taking, and an adventuresome outlook will help ensure success within MCAN’s work and culture. A strong commitment and understanding of the role of college access and success in addressing racism and equity are required.
Essential to this role is an understanding of how local communities collaborate to address critical challenges facing their residents. The Director will work hand-in-hand with community leaders across the state of Michigan who are working toward increasing college readiness, access, and success in their communities through systems change. The concepts of entering and exiting communities respectfully will help MCAN build trust and strong relationships that are required to achieve our goals. As the person who leads MCAN’s efforts to invest money into local communities and organizations through grantmaking, an appreciation for the opportunities and the limitations of philanthropy is helpful. The director understands the pivotal role increasing educational attainment plays in transforming a community’s prosperity and an individual’s economic independence. This leader will have or develop a broad understanding of Michigan’s diverse communities and their differing needs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director of Community Mobilization Strategy performs a wide range of duties including, but not limited to, the following:
Strategic Leadership and Expertise
- Manage MCAN’s Community Mobilization Strategy Department: Support the build-out of the updated strategy and staffing structure and oversee the departmental budget.
- Lead efforts to achieve MCAN’s strategic plan goals focused on network development and the community system to increase college access and success.
- Gather and analyze pertinent data for decision-making, program design, and presentations.
- Work with the Deputy Director and Executive Director to ensure appropriate funding for the department and its programs.
- Advocate for the pivotal role of increased educational attainment in transforming community prosperity and individual economic independence. Leverage data and research to demonstrate the importance of postsecondary education in advancing communities.
- Cultivate strong relationships with community leaders and stakeholders across Michigan to foster collaboration and trust. Understand the nuances and dynamics of different communities, entering and exiting respectfully, to build lasting partnerships that support MCAN's goals.
- Oversee the responsible allocation of funds into local communities and organizations to support college access initiatives. Have a keen appreciation for the opportunities and limitations of philanthropy to drive meaningful change.
- Stay up-to-date on emerging trends and best practices in the fields of network development and systems change.
Programmatic Oversight
- Plan, build, and launch the next phase of MCAN’s work focused on engaging cross-sector leaders across Michigan’s communities in systems change efforts focused on increasing their community’s postsecondary educational attainment level.
- Facilitate the creation of new highly structured and effective community alliances, called Local College Access Networks (LCANs), throughout Michigan. These alliances focus on promoting college access and success through collaborative efforts involving K12, higher education institutions, businesses, non-profit organizations, government, and philanthropy.
- Develop, manage, and deliver a suite of training and professional development services to LCANs focused on cross-sector systems change and collaborative action and serve as the primary support to LCANs through coaching and technical assistance.
- Lead the design and execution of the LCAN grant portfolio designed to provide seed funding and support the sustainability of local networks.
- Manage and strengthen the work of MCAN’s Community Ambassadors - organizations across the state working to drive local engagement that supports increased college access and success through building relationships and facilitating participation in MCAN opportunities across their communities.
- Lead the design, outreach, and administration of the Innovative Program Grant portfolio focused on supporting innovative programming that increases Michigan’s postsecondary attainment rates, while leveraging unique partnerships to bring creative interventions to students and families across the state.
- Develop and execute a Promise Zone support strategy in collaboration with the Michigan Promise Zones Association, including grantmaking, capacity building, convening, professional development, and ongoing coaching and technical assistance.
- Provide guidance to the Michigan Promise Zones Association (MPZA).
- Work in close collaboration with MCAN’s other strategy directors to ensure LCAN, Promise Zones and Community Ambassador communities are sharing opportunities and initiatives across their networks.
Equity and Inclusion
- Help to build an anti-racist internal and external culture.
- Employ Targeted Universalism to move the needle on MCAN’s college access and success dashboard metrics.
- Lead in the development and continuous improvement of initiatives and strategies across the organization designed to focus on opportunity and systemic gaps, specifically those impacting low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.
Partnership and Coordination
- Build and maintain relationships with key national, state, and local partners.
- Strengthen and deepen relationships within communities alongside the Deputy Director and Executive Director.
- Lead a strategy focused on advocating, persuading, and convincing cross-sector community leaders to implement the systemic changes necessary to support students into and through college and into high-wage employment opportunities.
- Ensure programming and activity within the department are aligned, connected, and representative of the organization and its mission.
- Work with and support Local College Access Networks, Promise Zones, and other partner organizations to assist their efforts.
- Perform other duties as needed to advance the mission of MCAN.
EDUCATION, JOB KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate should:
- Hold a master’s degree.
- Bring five to eight years of progressive experience in community engagement, partnership development, or similar roles, preferably in the education sector or non-profit organizations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams, foster collaboration, and mobilize community stakeholders toward a common goal.
- Have an ability to collaborate across departments on multiple projects and timelines, and work independently with minimal management to effectively perform duties in a fast-paced environment.
- Have the ability to think critically to solve problems, pay attention to detail, and follow through on tasks assigned through completion.
- Work efficiently and adhere to established deadlines.
- Possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Have a passion for working in the nonprofit and education sector, especially for postsecondary attainment.
- Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
The ideal candidate must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
- Have a strong and demonstrated commitment to equity.
- Have a valid in-state driver’s license for regular local travel and national travel.
- Be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
Salary: $85,000 - $100,000
Benefits: Full benefits package includes platinum health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Also includes an education support program, employee development program, 403b retirement plan (with standard 4% employer contribution and up to an additional 3% match), 240 hours of PTO, paid holidays, paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave, employee assistance program (providing resources to support employees with finances, legal issues, mental health and more including free professional consultations), cell phone reimbursement, and a fun, engaging work environment.
Please provide a resume, cover letter and three professional references. To apply click on the link below:
https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment....