Organizational Overview

The Ascend Learning college-preparatory school design couples the SABIS educational system with the No Excuses school culture to fuel K-12 charter schools that close the achievement gap and place every student on the path to college.

Ascend's mission is to develop a scalable solution to the underachievement of economically disadvantaged children—a network of urban, college-preparatory, K-12 charter schools, operating with widely available human and financial resources, and posting achievement levels equal or superior to suburban schools educating students from middle-class families. We believe that talented teachers—relentlessly committed to changing the lives of their students—fuel exceptional academic outcomes.

The mission of our schools is to equip every student with the knowledge, confidence, and character to succeed in college and beyond. Our students will, from the earliest grades, steadily build a strong foundation of learning habits, critical thinking skills, and knowledge; excel academically in the middle and high schools; and graduate as confident young adults, prepared to succeed as college students, citizens, and leaders in their chosen fields.

For more information about our schools and the Ascend Learning design, please visit our website at www.ascendlearning.org.

Position Overview

The manager of student recruitment and community outreach shall support the implementation of regional and local recruitment strategies focused on increasing awareness of Ascend Learning in the communities we serve. S/he is responsible for informing parents and community members about the opportunities available at Ascend schools for young scholars seeking a reliable path to college. In accordance with Ascend's enrollment plans and under the guidance of the director of school operations, the manager coordinates community-based events and tours and information sessions at Ascend schools, and conducts targeted outreach to publicize the distinctive features and unique strengths of the Ascend design. The manager works with the directors of operations at Ascend schools to ensure that enrollment forms are processed efficiently, to plan and execute lotteries, and to maintain waiting lists for admission.

The ideal candidate will have experience implementing best recruitment practices, and demonstrate the capacity to expand Ascend's presence in the community and develop enduring partnerships with key stakeholders. S/he will have exceptional interpersonal skills. S/he will be able to work independently and will have the drive and energy to thrive in a results-focused, No Excuses, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. S/he will have experience in process-building, planning and execution, working under tight deadlines, and navigating systems and organizations of scale and complexity without sacrificing thoroughness. S/he will be attentive to detail and have the ability to manage large amounts of information.

Responsibilities

- Develop relationships with key community groups and organizations, businesses and individual stakeholders to establish their investment in Ascend's mission and engage them ultimately in helping to attract parents and families to Ascend

- Collaborate with members of Ascend's communications and operations teams to create targeted marketing materials for use in community outreach; and manage the implementation of an ongoing marketing strategy, including flyers, email blasts, and mass mailings

- Represent Ascend Learning at public engagements, networking events, and community-based events and meetings, articulating and fostering awareness of Ascend's mission and the distinctiveness of the Ascend design

- Design and lead open houses and information sessions for interested families and community members, in collaboration with school leaders

- Design strategies to heighten the efficiency of the student enrollment process in collaboration with the director of school operations

- Manage the enrollment process, including the distribution of necessary forms for new students and coordinating enrollment meetings for parents and families

- Manage Ascend's student lottery system and maintain waiting lists for admission

- Perform other related duties as requested and assigned

Staff and Reporting Relationships

The manager of student recruitment and community outreach works closely with school leaders and reports to Ascend's director of school operations.

Qualifications and Skills

Candidates must have:

- Bachelor's degree

- 2-4 years of professional experience in a community outreach/recruitment role, and/or experience working in a No Excuses charter school or urban nonprofit

Preference is given to those with school-based experience (particularly those with experience working for a high-performing charter network). Spanish fluency is highly preferred.

The successful candidate will also demonstrate:

- Alignment with the educational philosophy and core beliefs of Ascend Learning

- Capacity to develop and implement recruitment and marketing strategies designed to drive interest in a cause or mission

- Superior written and verbal communication and presentation skills

- Ability to build relationships with diverse constituencies and influence others

- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously

- Eagerness to work collaboratively to solve problems

- Ability to manage resources and priorities efficiently

- Dependability with demonstrated follow-through

- Proficiency with Microsoft programs

Application Instructions

Qualified candidates please visit www.ascendlearning.org.