Director of Civic Engagement

Director of Civic Engagement

Leaders for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD)/EmpowerCT

Location:

Connecticut/hybrid

Type:
Full-time/Exempt

LEAD (Leaders for Educational Advocacy and Diversity) is a statewide organization dedicated to empowering families and communities through education, service, and advocacy. LEAD's work is grounded in five foundational pillars that support the holistic growth and wellbeing of communities:
Educational Options, Civic Engagement, Financial Literacy, Universal History, and Health & Wellbeing. As part of this work, LEAD supports and organizes around high-quality public charter schools that reflect community voice, equity, and excellence. Through programs, events, and campaigns, LEAD advocates for fair funding, stronger representation, and greater opportunity for Latino and immigrant communities across Connecticut.

Position Summary

The Director of Civic Engagement will manage LEAD's statewide civic engagement and mobilization strategy through its C4 entity (EmpowerCT), building the people power needed to advance charter-friendly policies, support unfunded schools, and strengthen public and political support for high-quality public charter schools in Connecticut. This is a high-impact role for a mission-aligned leader who can operate strategically, organize quickly, and translate policy and political priorities into disciplined, measurable action.

The individual in this role is responsible for building and activating networks of alumni, families, educators, community champions, partners, and other supporters; leading field and digital mobilization; overseeing civic education and training, including the organization's LEAD the Way candidate training program; and, when needed, managing campaign operations, including planning, staffing, field and digital programs, and efforts to get out the vote.

The Director will also ensure clear compliance boundaries between C4 activities and any 501(c)(3) work.

This Connecticut-based hybrid role includes weekly in-person team time in Danbury and regular work from LEAD sites across the state, with the flexibility to work from home one day per week. The role requires regular travel throughout Connecticut, occasional out-of-state travel, and some evening and weekend availability to support events, mobilization efforts, and campaign cycles. Additional in-person requirements apply during the legislative session.

The role reports to the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer.

How You'll Help

• Design and execute a statewide engagement and mobilization strategy aligned with LEAD priorities
• Develop annual and quarterly plans with clear goals, budgets, staffing models, and implementation timelines
• Lead and develop a small team of organizers and fellows through goal-setting, coaching, and performance management
• Manage vendors, consultants, and external partners
• Define key performance indicators and produce regular dashboards and progress updates
• Use data and feedback loops to improve recruitment, engagement, conversion, and retention across field, digital, and campaign work
• Ensure activities follow organizational brand, financial, legal, and risk-management policies

• Build and activate a statewide network of charter school graduates, families, and supporters
• Develop regional leadership teams and facilitate regular meetups, trainings, and rapid-response actions
• Cultivate relationships with parent leaders, faith and community groups, charter school leaders, small businesses, civic organizations, and other partners
• Coordinate joint events, statements, and advocacy efforts, aligning partners around shared messaging and goals
• Maintain a reliable CRM to support recruitment, segmentation, engagement, and re-engagement
• Train staff and partners on relevant compliance requirements and participation guidelines

Field, Digital, and Mobilization

• Plan and execute canvassing, phone and text banks, community events, and coalition activations
• Lead digital engagement across email, SMS, and social media, including content calendars, creative briefs, audience growth, and rapid response
• Organize testimony opportunities, lobby days, rallies, and other public actions
• Manage logistics, materials, staffing, approvals, and run-of-show for field and community engagement activities

LEAD the Way Candidate Training

• Lead the organization's LEAD the Way candidate training program, including curriculum development, cohort recruitment and selection, faculty scheduling, workshops, and capstones
• Build partnerships with training organizations and issue experts to strengthen the program and expand the leadership pipeline
• Connect graduates to boards, commissions, campaigns, and other community leadership opportunities
• Track participant engagement, placement, and outcomes

Campaign Operations (C4)

• Plan and manage political campaign activity consistent with C4 requirements, including targeting, messaging, field and digital programs, volunteer…