Closed for Review

Overview

Catalyst:Ed is looking for a Senior Associate to join our Programs team. In this role, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of key programmatic initiatives and for helping education agencies or organizations tap into the expertise in the sector and strengthen their capacity to address critical priorities with a focus on underserved student populations.

This position reports to an Associate Partner, Programs.

Who We Are

Catalyst:Ed is a national nonprofit that helps education organizations build capacity and deepen their impact by connecting them to the expertise, resources, and hands-on support they need to drive transformational outcomes for students, especially those from underserved communities. Our team is purpose-driven, innovative and inclusive, with a supportive culture where all team members have the opportunity to grow and contribute. Founded and led by a woman of color, Catalyst:Ed is committed to being a space where diversity is valued and all team members are able to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

The Programs Team @ Catalyst:Ed delivers high-quality services that meet authentic needs of field leaders and helps organizations grow their capacity and deepen their impact to drive transformational outcomes for students, especially those from underserved communities. In order to deliver on this promise, the Programs team:

  • Works in partnership with organizations to understand their needs and connect them with expertise, resources, and support to grow their capacity and deepen their impact. This includes leading the strategic direction, management, and execution of our project matching services provided to the general public, within Catalyst:Ed’s Exchanges and
  • Expert Hubs, and via other forms of capacity building services. This work may also include managing intensive support opportunities like cohorts and networks.
  • Delivers coordinated, streamlined, thoughtful, and high-quality customer service to organizations and providers.
    Supports the development of providers in the Catalyst:Ed network through engagement in community and learning activities.
  • Ensures that organizational values and equity-orientation are represented across all programmatic efforts.
  • Maximizes organizational learning and quality improvement, and field-facing learning by developing and disseminating content.

About This Role

Senior Associates at Catalyst:Ed are responsible for Catalyst:Ed’s project matching process, including managing the process, communicating with external stakeholders, and managing our database. Senior Associates will also lead scoping calls and capacity assessments with guidance, draft initial project scopes using information gleaned from scoping calls, and support the team with analysis and writing projects to report on progress or communicate our impact.

Key Components of Your Role

  • Project management, operational, and administrative support for Catalyst:Ed’s project matching services:
    • Enter, edit, and ensure accurate information and tracking for projects from initial listing through completion. Includes:
      • Learning to use and leverage our proprietary project matching platform and database.
      • Pulling information and ensuring proper data at each stage of the process.
      • Following up with each task accurately and on time, from drafting project scopes to scheduling interviews between the client and providers to sending reminder emails to make sure the project moves forward in a timely manner, and more.
      • Fielding questions from relevant stakeholders and providing timely and accurate responses.
    • Request survey completion and monitor responses to ensure service quality and satisfaction by partners and providers. Flag issues for follow-up.
    • Manage logistics for interviews between organizations and providers, and other project-matching related activities
    • Support coordination, communications, and administrative/ operational duties for relationships with external partners, including funders.
  • Partner organization support, relationship management and communications
    • Lead scoping calls with guidance and support from a senior team member.
    • Build initial project scopes and contracts from templates and information gleaned from scoping calls, including analyzing organizational websites to develop org profiles.
    • Drive customer success as a point of contact for education leaders who reach out to and engage with Catalyst:Ed for project matching services.
    • Act as the point person for providers on projects, answering questions and engaging as needed.
    • Draft communications and collaborate with associated team members to ensure partners and providers have the information they need.
    • Build relationships with network members, plan for and facilitate portions of network learning sessions, and share insights with the team that may improve our work and service to the community.
  • Content development and process improvement
    • Engage in strategic conversations with the team to improve processes, identify lessons and insights from our work, plan for important conversations or meetings, or the like. Contribute as a thought partner based on experience at Catalyst:Ed, in previous roles, and knowledge about our work and the field.
    • Co-edit and co-author materials for case making or reporting, or author original content for various projects.
    • Analyze information from a variety of sources, including online sources, written narrative, surveys, and more, and translate into documentation for case-making or reporting.
    • Develop materials for meetings, events, funders, organizations, and experts in the field.
      Support the development of knowledge products, program quality initiatives, thought leadership projects, or grant reporting by analyzing data from project-matching database or publicly-available sources.
    • Support team members on any additional asks

Supports you’ll rely on from others to be successful

  • Associate Group: Associates and Senior Associates work closely with each other, providing support on navigating Catalyst:Ed or handling specific tasks related to the project matching process.
  • Product Team: You will be supported by the Product team specifically related to learning to use and leverage our project matching platform, as well as how to execute specific tasks within the platform. The Product team is also available for general tech support and capacity building related to tech systems, though a facility with and willingness to learn about new technologies is required for the role.
  • Manager: You will have support from their Manager who helps them prioritize work, provide clarity on the Associate’s responsibilities for specific work streams or projects, and supports their overarching professional growth and development
  • Whole Team: You will collaborate with team members during cross-team projects or committees and can look to them for support or advice on projects or work streams depending on their specific expertise or experience with said project or workstream.

Skills and Qualifications

  • Experience working in the nonprofit and/or education sector, and an interest in education
  • Operationally excellent:
    • Responsible, reliable, and able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, prioritizing time and tasks according to team deadlines and importance, and able to ask for help when this is complicated.
    • Very comfortable independently learning about and working with web applications and technology systems
    • Strong attention to detail
  • Equity orientation: Demonstrated equity commitment and a personal ethos around antiracism.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and active listening skills
  • Strong analytical and problem solving skills
  • Ability to build relationships with others and have a service-oriented mindset
  • Growth mindset and ability to learn from experience
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced work environment, in both independent and collaborative work settings, and operating in a climate of ambiguity and asking for help/clarification if contextual factors are not clear.
  • Education and experience: 3+ years of professional experience

Good to Know

  • Video: Get to know more about the role and the team by watching this video.
  • Compensation: This is a full time, salaried position with full health benefits and retirement. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Salary range: $58,000-$69,000
  • Start date: Mar 1, 2023 (some flexibility for the right candidates)
  • Location: Catalyst:Ed works nationally. We are a remote team with an office in New Orleans. Team members can work from a location of their choosing.
  • Travel Requirements: 5% travel (2-3 day trips, once or twice a quarter) required for attendance at in-person team retreats and professional conferences if public health standards allow.
  • Physical Demands and Working Environment: The bullet points below are representative of the physical demands and working environment that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
    • Standard/remote office setting; proximity to office equipment that includes electronic devices.
    • Multiple people-facing meetings and interactions a day using Zoom or other video call software
    • Must remain at a workstation for at least 50% of the time; will need to use equipment that includes electronic devices.
    • Perceive and interact with text, media, and people.
    • Communicate and accurately exchange information with text, media, and people.
    • Additional Note: This is a people-facing position, and to be successful, you will need to have comfort interfacing regularly with team members and external stakeholders as well as dealing with a range of personalities across multiple domains.

How to apply

Applications for this role are closed. We will review applications on a rolling basis shortly after they are received. The selection process includes a work exercise and 2-4 virtual interviews of 45-60 minutes each.

Catalyst:Ed has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply, particularly folks who identify as people of color, first generation, low income, or LGBTQ.