Director, Reading Success by Fourth Grade (RS4G) Campaign
Location: Springfield, MA
Preferred Application Deadline: March 9, 2023

CONTEXT
Launched in 2010, Reading Success by 4th Grade (RS4G) is a community-based early literacy initiative guided by the goal of increasing the number of children in Springfield MA who are reading on grade level by 4th grade. The initiative’s work is organized into three domains:

– School readiness (birth to kindergarten)
– Out of school time programming (kindergarten to 3rd grade)
– Family engagement and support

The campaign’s operations and strategic activity are currently housed in and supported by The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation. A stakeholder engagement process conducted in 2021, which included a listening tour and strategic conversations with campaign leaders and advisors and literacy-focused community leaders, underscored a deep commitment to improving literacy outcomes among the community’s children. Based on this community input and design, RS4G may become a separate organization in the near future to scale and further its impact, under the direction of the new Director.

The next phase of the initiative will be supported by a re-engaged Advisory Committee with members from various sectors (e.g., business, nonprofit, education, government, philanthropy) in the Springfield community and working groups composed of organizational partners—one for each of the domains of work. More than a decade into its lifespan, and as the nation emerges from a global health crisis, coupled with a renewed press to address long-standing issues of social injustice and inequity, RS4G is poised to lead a next era of early literacy improvement work. An active and proud member of the national Campaign for Grade Level-Reading, RS4G has earned several national awards and recognition for its work and impact to date.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Position Overview

RS4G is seeking a visionary, skilled Director to propel innovation and community impact for the initiative. This leader will launch the next stage of strategic work that builds on the initiative’s success in rallying and mobilizing the Springfield community around the importance of the third grade reading milestone and elevating the role of community-based approaches to promoting children’s early literacy development.

As with many literacy campaigns and cross-sector initiatives across the nation, and given Springfield’s high levels of community engagement and support for early literacy work, the new Director has the opportunity to focus on systems-building work for transformative change. By engaging the principles of collective impact, and drawing on recent breakthrough research findings in early literacy and improvement science, the new Director will sharpen and deepen the initiative’s influence for transformative change.
The RS4G Director role is a full-time hybrid position and will report to the Davis Foundation’s Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities
Leadership, Planning & Vision
– Provide overall leadership and direction to RS4G, engaging and aligning community stakeholders around the initiative’s broad vision and strategic activity
– Lead an inclusive design process to develop a feasible, high-impact strategy with measurable goals, and a set of collaborative action plans to guide the initiative’s work towards those goals
– Oversee and support impact strategy working groups; ensure clearly articulated work plans, annual benchmarks, and cross-initiative alignment
– Oversee resourcing strategy and allocation, and source additional funds as needed

Community Outreach, Communications, and Reporting
– Engage an Advisory Committee and broader network through clear structures and channels for consultation, dialogue, and information exchange in relation to the initiative’s community engagement, strategic activity, and progress towards measurable goals
– Cultivate existing partnerships, and establish new ones, to advance the initiative’s impact
– Engage in a data-based strategy to monitor initiative progress towards goals, i.e., generate and/or work with tools and mechanisms for measuring progress
– Develop a multi-pronged reporting strategy to communicate progress across working groups and the broader network of partners and stakeholders.
– Lead communications strategy that involves multiple modes of communication to match target audiences

Preferred Qualifications
– At least 5 years of experience in community organizing, community outreach, coalition building, and/or leading social change with a cross-sector element
– Strong adaptive leadership, collaboration, and communication skills
– Successful record of leading and managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, and demonstrated track record of organizing and managing partnerships and/or initiatives
– Experience in data analysis and research to inform decision-making, and the role of data use in decision-making
– Demonstrated commitment to work guided by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles + competencies, and an express commitment to the role of diversity and equity in successful collective impact initiatives
– A positive outlook and attitude on the power of social change work and a belief in early learning and education as critical levers for community change
– Spanish proficiency an asset

COMPENSATION
The annual salary for this position will be between 90K and 110K. The Davis Foundation also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance; 403(b) matching; a hybrid work environment; PTO and holidays; and parking and cell phone cost coverage.

The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation supports equal opportunity and values building the diversity of our team as we grow. It is the policy of our organization not to discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status We seek individuals of all races, ethnicities, abilities, and creeds to support our organization’s work and encourage individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply.