Deputy Director, External Affairs

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

EdTrust-West seeks its first Deputy Director, External Affairs, in its Oakland office. The Deputy Director will join a staff committed to fulfilling the mission of closing educational opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and those from low-income backgrounds.

The Deputy Director II, External Affairs, is a senior organizational leader responsible for translating EdTrust‑West’s policy priorities into clear public narratives, coordinated advocacy campaigns, and aligned external engagement. This role works closely with the Executive Director to set the vision and strategic direction for EdTrust‑West’s external affairs agenda and serves as a core member of the Executive Group.

The Deputy Director serves as a connector for directors who lead four critical external affairs functions Communications, Partnerships and Engagement, Greater Los Angeles, and Educator Engagement and is accountable for ensuring these teams operate as an integrated system. Through strong internal leadership, clear execution rhythms, and disciplined alignment, the Deputy Director ensures that EdTrust‑West’s external strategy builds understanding, mobilizes partners, and drives measurable policy and advocacy impact.

EdTrust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, Ed Trust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.

This role, available immediately in our Oakland office, is eligible for telework up to 3 days a week per our current policy. The Deputy Director of External Affairs reports to the Executive Director and will supervise a mid-sized, multi-layered team.

The responsibilities and objectives for this role include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Serve as a key member of the Executive Group and Management Group, partnering with the Executive Director on organization wide strategic and operational priorities, including annual work planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring.
• Set and lead a unified external affairs strategy that aligns communications, media relations, partner engagement, regional work, and educator engagement around shared goals and campaigns.
• Build and maintain cross team execution systems including shared calendars, campaign plans, decision routines, and feedback loops so that external affairs work moves in coordination rather than in silos.
• Facilitate and lead cross-functional team meetings that are specific to key external affairs and advocacy initiatives, regularly aligning and troubleshooting with other organizational leaders
• Center EdTrust-West’s strategic plan as the north star for the organization’s work and develop systems and methods for measuring and regularly evaluating impact and progress of the external affairs strategy and team
• Translate EdTrust‑West policy priorities into clear public facing messages, tools, and campaigns in close partnership with policy and research leaders.
• Ensure that partnerships and external engagements are strategically aligned and inform the organization’s strategic plan, annual priorities, and advocacy approach.
• Elevate EdTrust‑West policy priorities by serving as a spokesperson and by preparing other organizational leaders to represent the organization externally with message discipline and confidence.
• Build and maintain new and existing philanthropic and funder relationships and contribute to grant proposals and reports as needed to sustain and expand external affairs functions and priorities
• Lead a dynamic, multi-layered team by identifying and retaining diverse talent, coaching and developing direct reports, managing and assessing performance, and building in succession plans

The ideal candidate is a seasoned nonprofit professional or organizational strategist who has experience coaching, strategizing, and…