Development and Strategic Communications Manager

POSITION: Development and Strategic Communications Manager

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time, Exempt

ABOUT CADRE:

Founded in 2001, Community Asset Development Redefining Education (CADRE) is an independent, community-based, community organizing and social justice-driven, parent membership organization in South Los Angeles. In partnership with staff and key stakeholders, CADRE is led by Black and Latino parents and caregivers whose children attend local schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

CADRE’s history started in the wake of the 1992 uprising, when a determined South Central LA mother and parent leader joined forces with a dedicated community activist to embark on building a movement of powerful Black and Latino parents organized to advance racial and educational justice in local LAUSD schools. Twenty years later, CADRE has emerged as an independent, parent-driven, community-based educational and social justice organization leading the charge to dismantle systemic criminalization and anti-Blackness in South Los Angeles schools and beyond.

CADRE’s core call to action is simple yet revolutionary: place Black and Brown parents at the center of systemic change to decriminalize public education. CADRE envisions schools that respect and cultivate the humanity, self-determination, leadership, and power of Black and Latino families to ensure that all children are rightfully educated regardless of where they live. CADRE builds critical solidarity between Black and Brown parent leaders who are uniquely positioned to:

• Eradicate false narratives and harmful paradigms about “good” and “bad” parenting
• Collectively advocate for and exercise authentic parent inclusion in school-site decision making
• Challenge the criminalization of all children regardless of race, not just their own
• Create accountability for policy changes that systematically dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline

CADRE engages in deeply principled and transformative practices of community organizing in order to foster authentic parent empowerment, leadership development, organizing, direct-action, power-building, and coalition building. By elevating the preparation and power of Black and Brown parents to drive systemic change in public education, CADRE plays a critical and unique role in sustaining a local, statewide, and national ecosystem of partnerships and alliances that redefine how public schools address and remove structural barriers experienced by Black and Latino families who pursue the right for all children to learn in healthy, humane, and decriminalized school environments.

Our vision is that schools will respect and cultivate the humanity, collective spirit and resilience of Black and Latino families, and contribute to a shared vision of South LA as a unified community that has power and self-determination.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

As the Development and Communications Manager at CADRE, you play a pivotal role in advancing our mission by effectively managing both fundraising  and development initiatives as well as strategic communication efforts. Your contributions will directly impact our organization’s growth, visibility, and ability to secure the resources necessary to fulfill our mission through support of CADRE’s core parent organizing and transformational leadership development strategies. The position emphasizes synthesizing information, persuasive writing, and crafting and adapting language, communication styles, and messaging to meets the specific needs of varying initiatives and audiences in order to: 

• secure funding from multiple types of funding sources, 
• communicate and increase visibility and understanding of CADRE’s work and impact, 
• support CADRE’s Organizing Team’s parent outreach, recruitment, and engagement, and 
• support parent members’ storytelling and narrative shifting work. 

In this role, you will be a driving force behind our development initiatives and strategic communication efforts.  Your ability to:

• synthesize our organization’s impact and needs, 
• secure funding from various sources, increase organizational visibility, 
• support CADRE parents’ storytelling and messaging, and 
• effectively communicate our mission 

will be vital to achieving our goals. By showcasing the transformative work we do and supporting engagement of key stakeholders, you will play a central role in propelling CADRE forward. Your passion for our cause, and dedication to uplifting the visibility and communications of our work, and fostering collaboration will be instrumental to our future success.   

This position will require both remote and in-person work at various locations, including our CADRE office at 8410 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90003. The Development and Strategic Communications Manager reports to the Co-Executive Directors of CADRE.  While the Development and Strategic Communications Manager role does not currently have any direct supervision duties, this may change as the CADRE team grows and continues to build upon its capacity.

KEY FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Collaborative Understanding

• Collaborate closely with leadership and staff to gain deep understanding of our organization's history, programs, impact, and evolving needs.
• Actively engage in weekly staff meetings to foster a collaborative environment and ensure alignment between and advancement of development and communications efforts.

Development

• Contribute to the implementation of a comprehensive fund development plan encompassing various revenue streams.
• Craft clear and compelling concept papers, letters of intent (LOIs), and proposals for foundation, corporate, and government funding sources to meet and exceed annual fundraising goals.
• Assist in administrative development tasks, including grant calendar management, donor database upkeep, grant acknowledgment letters, and fundraising appeals.
• Maintain accurate reporting schedules and grant requirements, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Manage and engage potential grant writing and communications volunteers.
• Support additional research, writing, and editing assignments as necessary.
• Update and oversee grant and development tools for effective pipeline management.

Donor Management

• Manage and update donor data and records within the database (Powerbase), generating timely acknowledgments for contributions.
• Coordinate fundraising activities involving parents, staff, and board members to maximize their involvement and support.

Strategic Communications

• Lead efforts in shaping and executing a comprehensive communication strategy that highlights the organization's vision, mission, and programs.
• Draft and oversee communications, public relations efforts, newspaper publications, and marketing materials.
• Secure testimonies and member stories to elevate voices and demonstrate the organization's impact.
• Develop engaging content for social media platforms, ensuring consistent brand messaging.
• Respond promptly to engagement requests and communication opportunities, providing designated speakers with relevant talking points.
• Cultivate a positive organizational reputation with funders, decision-makers, and the communities we serve.
• Create compelling external communications for fundraising, recruitment, and community engagement initiatives.
• Maintain and curate content on the organization's website and social media accounts.
• Ensure all communications align with and consistently convey the organization's core values.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Demonstrated success in securing funding through grant solicitations, proposal writing, events management, and philanthropic fundraising for non-service providing nonprofit organizations, preferably for power building, organizing nonprofits.
• Excellent writing/editing, active listening, verbal communication, and strong public speaking skills.
• Highly proficient in Google G Suite and Microsoft Office Suite; proficient in utilizing social media platforms; and familiarity with learning and navigating database management platforms.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Strong research, synthesis, and analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
• Attention to detail and accurate record keeping.
• Proven ability to be successful in a deadline-oriented role and collaborative, cross functional work environment.
• High emotional intelligence and demonstrated commitment to honesty, ethics, confidentiality and trustworthiness.

Preferred:

• Deep understanding of and commitment to the community and base CADRE serves.
• Experience working with parents and/or South Los Angeles community members.
• Knowledge of the education and criminal justice fields and funding landscape.
• Experience in parent, community, or political organizing in the educational, social, or racial justice arenas.
• Working knowledge of best practices with Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
• Current and former residents of South LA strongly encouraged to apply.

OTHER:

Work Conditions:  This position is currently hybrid remote and in-person. In person working conditions at CADRE’s office includes desk seating in an open floor plan office; occasional travel by car; willingness and availability to work an average of 2 evenings per week, and periodic weekends (rare); baseline schedule is approximately 9:30 am – 6 pm, evenings on which we have parent meetings or outreach work will typically end around 9 pm.

Salary:  Within the range of $60,000-$75,000 annually, the salary will be commensurate with experience.

Additional Employee Benefits:  Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits, a minimum of ten (14) paid holidays per year, vacation accrual, sick/personal leave, and optional pre-tax, payroll deduction flexible spending account for unreimbursed medical and dependent care expenses. 

Application Submission: The application submission period for this opportunity opens on September 5, 2023, and is scheduled to close on November 2, 2023. However, because applications will be reviewed for initial screening on a rolling basis, we recommend that interested candidates submit their applications in advance of the deadline.

Leaders interested in this opportunity must submit the following as part of their application:

• A cover letter that highlights the alignment between your qualifications and experiences and the essential requirements and responsibilities of the role
• A resumé
• Answer the following question as a separate PDF attachment: What aspects of CADRE’s mission and work compel you to apply for this position?

Disclaimer: The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.

Please note that as an organization committed to racial equity and transformative human growth and development, CADRE hopes that emerging leaders will reflect and own their potential and capacity to assume this leadership role. Black, Indigenous, Latino, and other people of color who are prepared to dedicate their talents and expertise to the cause of Black and Brown solidarity and empowerment are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary : $60,000 - $75,000