Community Relations Manager, Brilla NYBrilla Schools Network

Seton Education Partners seeks a mission-driven, results-oriented leader to be our Community Relations Manager (CRM) in support of the Brilla Schools Network. This CRM will help position Brilla Schools as a flagship charter in the Bronx by strengthening and developing crucial relationships, all the while cementing its 11-year mark in the communities it serves. The CRM is responsible for managing a variety of relationships with key partners: families, local communities, relevant non-profit organizations, local businesses, media, and governmental bodies. The ideal candidate will leverage these external forces to the Brilla Schools Network’s advantage, enabling it to flourish in a competitive market. He/she will report to Brilla Public Charter School’s Chief Operations and Community Relations Officer.

About Seton Education Partners

Co-founded in 2009 by KIPP pioneer Scott W. Hamilton and Teach for America alumna Stephanie Saroki de García, Seton Education Partners is a response to the dramatic decline of urban Catholic schools which have historically been the greatest equalizing factor for economically underserved children, families and communities in America for decades. 

Specifically, Seton expands opportunities for parents in underserved communities to choose an academically excellent, character rich, and—for those who seek it—vibrantly Catholic education for their children. As a national non-profit, Seton partners with (arch)dioceses and others across the country to implement innovative and sustainable new models that bridge the best of Catholic education's rich tradition with new possibilities. Seton was born of the belief that a tremendous opportunity exists to revitalize urban Catholic schools in America and strengthen the education they provide. The challenges are significant, to be sure, but with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, much can and should be done, not only to preserve this national treasure but also to build on its foundation for the benefit of thousands of children in America’s most underserved neighborhoods.

Seton has pioneered multiple innovative and high-impact solutions to the shuttering of Catholic schools in underserved communities. Seton is working to take these remarkable achievements to scale by managing a network of schools and programs that ensure that thousands of underserved children whose Catholic schools close—and other local children—have access to an academically excellent, character-building, and, for those who choose it, faith-nurturing education. Seton provides a national model for how other cities facing the shuttering of Catholic schools can continue to serve children and families with limited educational options. For more information on Seton Education Partners, please visit www.SetonPartners.org.

About the Brilla Schools Network

Brilla Public Charter Schools is a network of K-8th grade schools that currently serves nearly 1,600 students from Mott Haven, University Heights and other neighborhoods in the Bronx. The network plans to grow from a current four elementary and one middle school to five elementary and five middle schools educating some 4,000 students in the Bronx and Paterson, NJ. Core to our mission is that our students become young men and women of good character and spirit and be prepared for excellence in high school, college, and beyond. Brilla combines a classical approach to education -- an emphasis on virtue formation, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, and direct instruction of a content-rich curriculum that has stood the test of time -- with co-teaching practices and individualized online learning.* We approach the formation of our students holistically and also set high academic expectations. Ours is a joyful community that honors the dignity of each student, family member and staff. 

About El Camino Network

El Camino, which means “The Way” in Spanish, is an optional, privately-funded Catholic after-school faith formation program that is closely partnered with Brilla charter schools. El Camino helps children, their families and their catechists to know, love and serve Christ and His Church; develop the habits, dispositions and beliefs that are indispensable to human flourishing and happiness; and live as disciples in this world and saints in the next. El Camino honors the teaching authority of the Catholic Church. In the last 10 years, over 230 children have been baptized through our program. 

El Camino currently serves approximately 40% of Brilla’s students for 90 minutes a day, Monday through Thursday. Children receive homework help from experienced teachers, a nutritious snack, and 30 minutes each of catechism and physical fitness. Additionally, children and families have opportunities for shared and personal prayer and character formation. This video provides a snapshot of El Camino. El Camino will grow to serve children through 8th grade, growing a grade level at a time each year.

About the position

As a School Community Relations Manager at Brilla Public Charter Schools, you will play a pivotal role in fostering positive relationships between the school and its surrounding community. This position is integral to creating an environment that supports effective communication, engagement, and collaboration among students, parents, teachers, and local stakeholders. The School Community Relations Manager will lead initiatives to strengthen the school's ties with the community, enhance its public image, and facilitate open communication channels.

Main Responsibilities

• Community Engagement:
  • Develop and implement strategies to actively engage with parents, local residents, and community organizations.
  • Organize and promote school events, workshops, and activities that encourage community participation.
• Parental Involvement:
  • Facilitate communication between parents and school staff to ensure a supportive and collaborative educational environment.
  • Organize parent-teacher conferences, family nights, and other events that promote parental involvement in the school community.
• Public Relations:
  • Manage the school's public image through effective communication strategies, including social media, newsletters, and press releases.
  • Highlight achievements, success stories, and important updates to create a positive narrative about the school.
• Community Partnerships, Engagement, and Outreach:
  • Identify and establish partnerships with local businesses, non-profits, and community leaders to enhance educational opportunities for students.
  • Coordinate with external organizations to support school initiatives and community projects.
  • Develop and execute community engagement plans to connect with local residents, businesses, and organizations.
  • Organize and participate in community events, workshops, and outreach programs.
  • Create and distribute communication materials to keep the community informed about the organization's activities, initiatives, and achievements.
• Stakeholder Relations:
  • Cultivate relationships with key community stakeholders, including government officials, schools, and non-profit organizations.
  • Represent the organization at meetings, forums, and events to promote positive relationships.
  • Work closely with marketing, public relations, the enrollment team, and other relevant departments to align community relations efforts with overall organizational goals.
  • Provide input on strategies to enhance the organization's image and community impact.
  • Act as a liaison between the organization and the community to address concerns, feedback, and inquiries.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to resolve issues and maintain a positive community reputation.

Qualifications and Desired Characteristics

Candidates for the position must possess the following personal characteristics:

• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to Seton’s mission and values
• Personal responsibility with humility
• A relentless drive for excellence
• A strong belief that all children can achieve both moral and academic excellence
• An unwavering determination to be better today than you were yesterday

The ideal candidate will bring experience, skills, and beliefs in the following areas:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3 years of working experience with parent engagement 
• Fluency in Spanish Required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to organize and prioritize work
• Strong attention to detail
• Experience with admissions software or database ideal
• Flexible and willing to perform other duties as assigned

Diversity & Inclusivity

We are building an organization in which talented individuals from all walks of life and past work experiences can join our team and make significant contributions. We are particularly committed to attracting and developing individuals who share the life experiences or backgrounds of the students we will serve.

*At Brilla, education in the classical tradition is understood to require the education of the whole person - mind, body, and spirit - in the service of human flourishing. Cognitive development and character formation are interdependent: People flourish by living out the virtues. A time-proven way of learning how to live out the virtues is to learn about, contemplate, and discuss how these virtues have been expressed in literature and history and represented in time-tested works. 

Secondarily, a classical education is pedagogically consistent with modern cognitive science. Many current pedagogies are not fully consistent with what we know today about brain development. In contrast, classical pedagogy (referred to as the Trivium) perfectly corresponds to how the brain develops. It emphasizes patterns, routines, and facts that young brains crave (Grammar stage); it leverages the brain’s orientation to asking “why” in the middle years (Logic stage); and it focuses on communication and persuasion in the high school years (Rhetoric stage).

To Apply

Initial application materials include a cover letter, contact information for three references, and a resume that includes information on your background and leadership experience.

Resumes without cover letters will not be reviewed.

Seton Education Partners provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees.

The base pay range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000 per year. Pay may vary within the stated range, depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits will be provided.