Organizational Overview:  Achievement First is a charter school management organization started in July 2003 by the leaders of Amistad Academy, a high-performing charter school in New Haven, CT. A non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, Achievement First is creating a network of achievement-gap closing charter schools in Connecticut and New York to bring to scale the dramatic, life-changing student achievement results produced at Amistad Academy. Achievement First currently operates 12 schools and has plans to open 1-3 schools per year over the next several years. Within the next decade, Achievement First will support 25 schools serving over 7,000 students in Connecticut and New York. For more information about the Achievement First mission, model, our schools and team, please visit our website at www.achievementfirst.org. 

Position Overview:  Achievement First is seeking a strategic, dynamic, and detail-oriented Director of School Leader and Teacher Recruitment to attract and retain the nation’s top teaching and school leadership talent for Achievement First schools in Connecticut. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Talent Development, the Director of School Leader and Teacher Recruitment will develop strategic recruitment and selection plans and oversee the execution of these plans. The Director of School Leader and Teacher Recruitment will manage two Teacher Recruiters in Connecticut and work in close partnership with the Director of School Leader and Teacher Recruitment in New York. 

Responsibilities: 

·         Design and implement innovative outreach programs aimed at attracting the nation’s top teachers and school leaders to Achievement First charter schools in Connecticut

·         Collaborate with the Director of School Leader and Teacher Recruitment, New York, and Director of Talent Strategy to set ambitious goals and accompanying plans and expand upon Achievement First’s existing recruitment efforts

·         Manage a broad range or relationships, including teachers and principals in Achievement First schools, university deans and heads of departments, nonprofit organizations and other partners in the charter school movement, to ensure the recruitment, selection, and retention of top talent

·         Research and identify new opportunities for community outreach; establish a presence at targeted events, with relevant education-based community organizations and in appropriate publications

·         Identify and cultivate strong referral sources and nominations from current Achievement First staff; oversee the implementation of a competitive employee referral program

·         Act as a mentor and guide prospective teachers and school leaders through the application process, utilizing unwaveringly high levels of customer service

·         Assist the Talent Leadership Team and school principals in the selection of teachers and school leaders

·         As needed, recruit, select and onboard additional Staff Recruiters to the Connecticut team 

Qualifications: 

• Direct teaching experience and/or school leadership experience in a high-performing school setting
• 5-7 years of professional experience in education, recruitment, sales, marketing and/or fundraising; 2 years in a management role required
• Strong customer service-based approach to recruiting and relationship-building
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, including experience delivering presentations to diverse constituent groups
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to think strategically in the long-term and execute in the short-term
• A passion for and commitment to the work of high-performing charter schools
• The ability to travel to recruitment events
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree in education preferred