Program Specialist: Partnerships & Community Engagement - New Village Academy

Anne Arundel County Public Schools•Parole, MD

About The Position

Plans, oversees, implements, and evaluates school partnerships with local and national organizations, families, and individual community stakeholders, including donors, grantors, providers of curriculum experiences and wraparound services. Addresses three interrelated areas: 1) Strategic Partnerships & Real-World Learning — securing long-term partnerships that infuse Community Action Projects (CAPs), pathways, and school-wide learning experiences with authentic community purpose and professional expertise. 2) Community Engagement & Family Partnerships — strengthening trust, visibility, and belonging among the families and communities NVA serves. 3) Development & Grants — building a foundation of philanthropic, donor, business, and grant support to ensure NVA's sustainability and growth. Cultivates the web of relationships—with businesses, civic and cultural institutions, nonprofits, higher education partners, government agencies, health and wraparound service providers, and philanthropic supporters—that makes NVA's real-world, community-embedded learning model possible. Amplifies NVA's commitment to equity, student agency, and community-rooted learning and tells a compelling story of NVA's work to our community stakeholders. Additional Work Days/Hours Based on the assignment, the following additional work days and/or hours may be required as needed: Ability to work flexible schedules Evenings/Nights Extended hours Outside of normal business hours Summer hours Weekends

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university required
Two (2) years professional program/project management experience in partnership development, community engagement, development/fundraising, nonprofit leadership, education, or related field required
Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, human relations, interpersonal and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to effectively speak and write.
Ability to write grants, manage databases, plan events, and/or conduct marketing/public relations
Ability to establish and maintain positive collaborative relationships with families, school-based staff, community organizations and groups, national granting and educational organizations AACPS and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) partners.
Ability to develop and market program concepts and ideas, convey school processes to the community, and community concerns back to the school
Excellent facilitation (virtual and in-person), advisory, and consultant skills.
Demonstrates ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse populations.
Demonstrated proficiency with business and instructional technology applications (e.g. Video/Web Conferencing, Smart technology, Microsoft Office Suite -Word, Excel, Outlook, and/or PowerPoint preferred).
Hold or be eligible for Driver's License (DL) Class C Non-Commercial issued by Maryland or State of Legal Residence (MVA/DMV) required; and Daily access to reliable transportation.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university preferred
Successful track record in cultivating partnerships, building community trust, and/or securing philanthropic support preferred.
Knowledge of Annapolis community resources, expertise, and neighborhood dynamics preferred.
Experience in K–12 education, youth development, community organizing, nonprofit management, or workforce development.
Bilingual in English/Spanish native or near native preferred.

Responsibilities

Cultivates, secures, and stewards strategic relationships with businesses, nonprofits, civic and cultural institutions, workforce development organizations, higher education partners, and Annapolis-based community organizations.
Develops real-world curriculum partnerships that bring professional expertise, authentic community-based problems, and wraparound supports into Community Action Projects and interdisciplinary learning.
Collaborates with instructional leaders and teachers to identify programmatic needs and leverage community assets to expand opportunities for students and families.
Develops, executes, and maintains MOUs, partnership agreements, and structured plans for ongoing partner engagement and accountability.
Serves as a key external ambassador and communicator for New Village Academy with partners, funders, media, and civic leaders, in collaboration with school leadership.
Leads culturally responsive, trust-centered community engagement with families, neighborhood groups, faith-based organizations, and youth-serving partners.
Represents the school at public events, civic meetings, community celebrations, and outreach activities across Annapolis, supporting enrollment visibility and community presence.
Designs and coordinates family- and community-facing events, including info sessions, Celebrations of Learning, partnership events, and Gateway and Graduation ceremonies.
Helps design and implement the school’s development strategy; cultivate donors and sponsors; create donor- and grantor-facing materials; and coordinate donor engagement and stewardship activities.
Identifies, writes, and manages grants; maintain development and partnership tracking systems; and provide regular reports on partnerships, community engagement, fundraising, and grant outcomes to school leadership and the Board.
Performs other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.