Sr. Specialist, Systems & Communications

Arlington, VA • Student Supports • Posted 07/05/2024

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WHO WE ARE

In 2020, 11.6 million children in the U.S.—16% of all children nationwide—lived in poverty, and those children were disproportionately children of color. Students living in poverty often have physical and mental health, social-emotional, cognitive, and identity development needs that schools are not equipped to support. Rooted in community for more than 45 years, Communities In Schools (CIS) strives to bring community resources inside public schools, where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable. CIS Co-Founder Bill Milliken said, “It’s relationships, not programs, that transform children. A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children.” 

Bill Milliken’s vision is alive through a strong network of trained CIS staff imbedded in schools nationwide building support and relationships inside schools. Today, CIS serves approximately 3,700 schools, the overwhelming majority are Title I-eligible schools across two channels: (1) independent affiliates and (2) licensed partnerships. Grounded in the power of transformative relationships to unlock a young person’s potential, CIS has a national, research-based history of delivering local results that support improved student relationships with adults, better-quality relationships with peers, and increased engagement and sense of belonging. These outcomes lead to improved attendance, improved academic success, and improved on-time high school graduation rates. In 2021, the overall CIS enterprise had revenue of $330 million, including roughly $300 million within its 110 independent affiliates. This nationwide network is supported by the CIS National Office.  

MISSION AND VALUES

Communities In Schools (CIS) is “all-in” for kids. It is our passion—it is our mission. At the National Office, CIS collaborates with local affiliate organizations to provide resources and create communities of caring adults who work hand-in-hand with educators to make sure young people have the tools they need to stay in school and achieve in life. We are the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, and we achieve our mission by hiring bright, creative, and innovative team members who demonstrate a passion for what they do. 

‘Within the national office, we foster a culture inspired by our mission, our values of integrity, accountability, equity, collaboration, and excellence, and a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our culture is centered on three core tenants:  

• We acknowledge contributions and perspectives. 
• We collaborate across roles and departments. 
• We honor a whole-person approach and encourage balance. 

We aim to create a psychologically safe environment where relationships matter, and mutual respect is paramount.  

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Sr. Specialist, Systems and Communications supports the Communities In Schools National Office in curating learning resource access and communications to a network of CIS practitioners across the country. The primary responsibility of this role is to develop, monitor, and enhance the CIS Community user experience for over 4,000 practitioners across the CIS network. This includes managing resources on the National Resource Center knowledge platform, CIS University learning system, and CIS Connect engagement platform. Additionally, the role involves overseeing the Learning and Practice communications strategy, supporting team strategies related to practice insights, and ensuring accurate user records and platform engagement through coordination with CIS Community Administrators.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, monitor, and enhance CIS Community user experience for 4,000+ CIS affiliate staff including oversight and management of CIS resources on the National Resource Center knowledge management platform, CIS University learning management system, and CIS Connect engagement platform.
• Oversee and implement the Learning and Practice communications strategy related to resource and learning opportunities promotion and engagement.
• Support the Learning & Practice team strategies related to practice insights including participation in check-ins with practitioners, participation in the Learning & Practice Steering Committee, and other projects as assigned.
• Oversee coordination and communication with CIS Community Administrators for network user records accuracy and platform engagement.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required skills & qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent years of experience) in a related field, education, communication, public administration, etc
• A minimum of six (6) years relevant professional experience including being adept at managing projects to completion
• Knowledge and experience in Agile Project Management methodology
• Fluent in user-centered design best practices
• Adept at handling and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data
• Knowledge of general data visualization best practices
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, time management, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to think critically and proven ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities
• Excellent Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Salesforce, Adobe software, and Zoom skills. Experience with Marketing Cloud, Agile, as well as LMS and AMS platforms is a PLUS
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as both a team member and independent contributor
• Plan, organize, and execute multiple projects deliverables with overlapping deadlines.
• Communicate technical requirements and easily identify the nuances/caveats within a project
• A willingness to learn and a flexibility to shift as priorities shift
• Ability to build positive relationships with your colleagues and external stakeholders and a willingness to help others
• Interest in working with people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives from your own

TRAVEL

Travel up to 25% is required, including travel in the domestic US with overnight stays.

ABOUT US

CIS staff continue to work in a virtual environment; however, the national office is open and available for staff to use as appropriate. 

To ensure the health and safety of staff and job applicants, all interviews will be conducted by phone and/or video conference.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Work that makes a difference—the opportunity to contribute to an important mission!

Competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Five weeks of Paid Time Off
• Generous 403b Retirement Savings Plan contribution
• 10 Paid Holidays
• 90% of employee health care premiums paid by the organization
• Summer Work Schedule and Winter Break
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term income replacement programs, and much, much more!

Communities In Schools is committed to a workforce that is representative of the varied communities we are privileged to serve. We provide a work environment that does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable law. CIS prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For more information on Communities In Schools please visit our website.