Managing Director of Community Engagement & Advocacy

Job Description

POSITION: Managing Director of Community Engagement & Advocacy

REPORTS TO: Chief External Officer

POSITION TYPE: 12-month

START DATE: Immediate

COMPENSATION: $99,291- $121,632, Home Office grade 10

At YES Prep, work for a mission that impacts the life trajectory of students and their families. YES Prep creates pathways to extraordinary opportunity through best-in-class development, competitive compensation and benefits, and recognition for your impact. Grow as an authentic leader and be part of a high-performing, team-oriented culture. 

Some quick stats about us:

• 21,000+ Students
• 2,400 Team Members
• 16 Secondary Campuses
• 11 Elementary Campuses
• 92% Students Who Qualify for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
• 96% Hispanic & African-American Students
• 90% Students Who Are Accepted to a 4-Year University
• 88% First-Generation College Students
• Ranked in the Top 100 High Schools in the Nation, U.S. News & World Report

We serve the students of Houston, Texas, the 4th largest city across the United States. There are over 20 public-school districts and other great public charter school options  within Houston’s city limits serving our increasing population. We are a rapidly growing organization, committed to creating life-changing opportunities for over 23,000 students by 2025.

THE OPPORTUNITY

YES Prep needs a dynamic Managing Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy with a robust set of experiences, to make our mission a reality. As a YES Prep employee, you will achieve jaw-dropping results, create pathways to opportunity for our students, and build transformative relationships.

To put it simply, you will have the opportunity to design and lead the strategies that strengthen YES Prep’s connection to the communities we serve and expand our reach into new neighborhoods. This role is pivotal in positioning community and family engagement as key drivers of school growth, academic excellence, and long-term sustainability.

THE ROLE

When you join the YES Prep team, some of the work and responsibilities will include:

Community Engagement for School Growth: Develop grassroots engagement strategies that strengthen existing community relationships and build new partnerships to support YES Prep’s growth.

• Designing and implementing grassroots engagement strategies in neighborhoods where YES Prep is established and where new schools are opening, ensuring community support aligns with school growth priorities;
• Building and strengthening relationships with local government officials, management districts, civic organizations, law enforcement storefronts, non-profits, and other community stakeholders;
• Creating and maintaining a community relations matrix to document contacts, partnerships, and established connections in each neighborhood;
• Developing and leading a family engagement strategy that elevates families as agents of influence and change, fostering their role in shaping both growth and academic excellence;
• Serving as the key point of contact for neighborhood leaders and local officials during times of school growth and/or crisis.

Strategic Grant Management: Driving Compliance, Innovation, and Impact in Community and Family Engagement.

• Managing and overseeing Title I grant compliance, ensuring funds are appropriately allocated and families have meaningful representation in decision-making spaces related to school growth;
• Seeking and mana