Manager, External Affairs

About the role You own the narrative and operations for NYC External Affairs, steering governance and partnerships from planning to execution. You translate data into clear stories for schools and Trustees while managing communications across channels. Your work ensures Uncommon NYC presents a unified, credible story to the community. Key facts

Location: USA

Engagement: Full-time

Compensation: $91,300-$107,400 What you'll do Setting agendas and protocols for Uncommon NYC Board of Trustees oversight and effective collaboration. Coordinating annual campus visits, including scheduling and preparation alongside school leaders and Trustees. Monitoring policy shifts at state, local, and charter levels to guide responsive strategies and compliance. Maintaining charter reporting and renewal applications with authorizers using organized data and project systems. Managing regional social media, from content creation to engagement, ensuring consistent voice across platforms. Partnering with school-based contacts to source stories and align communication plans for unified district messaging. Coordinating external stakeholder visits and family newsletters to highlight school achievements and community impact. Supporting governance and external affairs projects with data analysis, clear narratives, and cross-team coordination. Using data dashboards to generate reports and translating findings into Board-facing and school leader communications. Driving planning and project management by maintaining tools that track timelines, responsibilities, and outcomes. Requirements Holding a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Marketing, Communications, or related field. Bringing 5-6 years of relevant experience in project management, communications, marketing, public policy, community organizing, digital media, or operations. Demonstrating experience organizing and managing organizational social media accounts and content workflows. Showing strong project management skills, with attention to detail and capacity to build effective systems. Exercising strong written and verbal communication, tailoring messages for diverse audiences and contexts. Applying analytical and problem-solving skills, using data to guide decisions and clearly share insights. Building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders while coordinating work across teams and levels. Managing competing priorities, working independently, initiating systems, incorporating feedback, and navigating ambiguity. Proficiently using Microsoft Office and Google Workspace for daily tasks and collaboration. Nice to have Holding a Master's degree and experience in education, fundraising, board management, or alignment with Uncommon Schools' mission. Physical Requirements This role involves frequent local travel within Brooklyn to school campuses, typically once per week and occasionally up to three times per week. The role may require standing or walking for prolonged periods during community-wide or school-based events, setting up equipment or materials, and carrying objects weighing approximately 20-40 pounds. Not sure you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply-we are excited to learn what you bring. Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.  Compensation The full compensation range for this role is $91,300-$107,400. Typically, new hires who fully meet the qualifications and experience expectations for the role will start at or near $94,000. Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed. Compensation determinations consider relevant experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range. Work Environment Uncommon is an in-person organization. This role is based in Brooklyn and requires working in person at least three days each week, with additional in-person days as needed based on the needs of the role. The role also requires regular local travel to Uncommon Schools Brooklyn campuses and other locations across NYC. Benefits - Regional staff will have the same holidays and sustainability days as school-based staff in their region, and flexible summer PTO - Extensive, best-in-class training and development   - Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA) - Financial Planning - 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match - Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.) - Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits *A detailed list of all benefits is located  HERE .  At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org. Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York