Organization Overview

Families In Schools (FIS) imagines a public education system where parents play a leadership role in their children’s learning and where students, particularly those farthest from opportunity, are set up to succeed in school and in life.

Founded in 2000, FIS is a nonprofit statewide organization based in Los Angeles, California, whose mission is to ensure student success by building authentic partnerships between families, educators, and system leaders, and through parent-led advocacy. In 2024, FIS enters a new chapter, marked by new leadership and a clear, unflinching commitment to excellence and impact. In this new chapter, FIS delivers on its promise to more intentionally connect family engagement as a strategy for improving student outcomes by elevating and addressing an early and critical milestone of student success: reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Both through capacity building efforts and advocacy, FIS will develop and lead an effort in Los Angeles to address the early literacy crisis in Los Angeles and the state.

Position Overview

We are launching the search for an integral teammate to our organization’s early literacy advocacy work. The Senior Campaign Director will lead the design, execution, and evaluation of ReadLA!, FIS’ literacy campaign, geared toward addressing the literacy crisis in Los Angeles and across the state. This individual is a mission-focused, dynamic, self-directed, and results-oriented professional with expertise in community mobilization and organizing; is passionate about reading as a right; and is committed to family and community engagement as a key strategy for student success and educational equity. This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the President & CEO.

The Campaign Director will focus on elevating early literacy as a top priority for the Los Angeles region, mobilizing school district leaders, parents, community organizations, city and county officials, business, media, philanthropy, and others. The Campaign Director will collaborate with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and others to help build the capacity of LAUSD parents as critical partners in the critical milestone of student success: reading proficiently by the end of third grade.

Key Responsibilities

The Campaign Director will work with a broad coalition of partners to develop and oversee a 4–5-year plan to help reverse the literacy crisis in Los Angeles and in California. Key responsibilities include:

Strategy Development & Implementation

Work closely with the CEO to develop the long-term vision and plan for a literacy campaign in L.A.
In collaboration with the FIS Advocacy Director, develop a parent leadership institute to build/enhance the advocacy skills of parents to ensure that children are receiving effective literacy instruction.
Utilize empathy interviews and focus groups, a review of existing literacy resources to understand how to best support families in ensuring their children have access to effective literacy instruction at school and have the tools to support their children at home.
Identify and oversee the production of tools and other creative and culturally relevant strategies to bring information of early literacy to parents (e.g., a family engagement literacy toolkit)
Oversee the production of an annual report that describes the early literacy landscape in Los Angeles in an effort to keep the issue of early literacy on the public’s radar and to measure its impact over time.
Track and measure impact on a regular basis. Pivot when necessary. Focus on results.

Coalition Building & System Collaboration

Catalyze a family-led literacy movement in LA through a robust advocacy strategy that advocates a broad coalition of at least twenty unique community organizations and 100 parent ambassadors.
Develop a literacy advisory group of early literacy and Science of Reading experts to provide guidance and expertise.
Establish and maintain strong systems of communication with school and community partners regarding student progress and the literacy campaign program implementation.
Collaborate with English Learner and special needs advocates to ensure that both the campaign, parent education efforts, and classroom instruction are equitable and inclusive of all children’s learning abilities.
Collaborate with regional and statewide leaders working on statewide efforts to impact policy on effective literacy instruction. Ensure that parent voice is at the table.
Develop fresh, creative ideas toward enlisting new partners in the campaign. For example, explore with City Neighborhood Councils a commitment to triple the number of free little libraries in every
neighborhood in Los Angeles.

About You

You have demonstrated experience in community organizing, movement building, and advocacy. You have a deep commitment to educational equity, family engagement, and parent power. You are passionate about the importance of early literacy and excited to lean into the exciting and hard work of launching a new strategic plan and set of goals.

Experience

5+ years of professional experience including experience in movement and/or coalition building.
Experience navigating policy change within local and statewide systems
A bachelor’s degree in public policy, education, social work, or related fields. An advanced degree is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Strong coalition building and mobilization skills
Strong understanding of and commitment to systems change
Skilled at navigating complex systems and agencies
Exceptional people skills and the ability to build trust and a sense of community among staff, senior leadership, and partners.
Culturally competent with the ability to seamlessly adapt in multicultural, multi-ethnic environments.
Strategic and creative thinker and problem solver
Strong project manager. Able to work independently, managing a variety of projects and tasks effectively, with minimal oversight.
Ability to communicate persuasively and excellent writing skills. Can oversee production of dynamic tools and reports.
Strong research and analytical skills.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, a plus.

Mindsets

Collaborative: Committed to collaboration, teamwork, and accountability to oneself and others. Committed to building positive relationships with all agency stakeholders, across levels, roles, and functions.
Learning Oriented: Demonstrate an openness to feedback and a commitment to learning and improving.
Flexible & Adaptable: Embraces change and ambiguity with a positive attitude. Willing to adapt to new situations, challenges, and information. Handles complex situations and environments with resilience.
Capacity Builder: Commitment to excellence in building the assets of underserved families and in building capacity of leaders in sectors/systems serving families and children/students.
Action Oriented: Ability to work in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment while maintaining quality attention to detail
Trustworthy: Ongoing use of good judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all professional matters. High degree of integrity, strong work ethic and commitment to the efficient and effective use of resources.

Additional Qualifications

Willingness to work weekends and evenings, and travel as necessary.
Access to a car, possession of a valid driver’s license, and proof of automobile insurance.

Working at Families In Schools

Families In Schools fosters a mission-driven, collaborative work environment where teamwork, communication, excellence, quality, integrity, inquiry, and commitment to community are highly valued. We provide employees with ongoing professional development opportunities through structured learning and training coupled with project assignments that maximize a diverse and high-functioning skill set.

Location: Los Angeles, California with some statewide travel. Our organization works a hybrid schedule, one day in the office and four days virtually.

Salary & Benefits: The salary range for the Senior Campaign Director is $100,000-$115,000 commensurate with experience. In addition, we offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

Company-paid health insurance for employees and dependents.
Vacation, sick and personal time.
401k with employer match.
10-paid holidays per year and a 5-day winter break during the last week of December.

Families In Schools

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Senior Campaign Director