Director of Community Affairs

NOLA Public Schools Vision

The vision of the NOLA Public Schools is that every student receives a high-quality education that fosters their individual capabilities, while ensuring that they thrive, achieve physical and mental wellness, and are prepared for civic, social, and economic success.

Position Summary

The Director of Community Affairs is responsible for building and sustaining meaningful relationships with community stakeholders, local organizations, families, and elected officials. This position is responsible for developing and implementing engagement strategies that foster trust, transparency, and collaborative partnerships to support the mission and goals of NOLA Public Schools.

Reports to: Chief of Staff

Salary Range: $65,400- $99,735

Classification: Full-time/12-months

Location: Central Office

FLSA Status: Exempt

Essential Duties And Responsibilities 

• Develop and execute a comprehensive community engagement plan aligned to the district’s Strategic Plan of Action;
• Coordinate and host community forums, listening sessions, and public events to gather stakeholder feedback and foster dialogue on key district initiatives;
• Respond to community concerns and inquiries in a timely, respectful, and solutions-oriented manner;
• Advise the Chief of Staff on community sentiment and provide recommendations to support equity, access, and improved relationships;
• Partner with the communications team to amplify community stories and promote transparency across platforms;
• Collaborate with school leaders to strengthen family engagement practices and community-school partnerships
• Represent the district at public events, civic meetings, and policy discussions as a visible and trusted ambassador of NOLA-PS;
• Identify opportunities to engage historically marginalized voices and foster inclusive decision-making processes
• Design and implement a benchmarking program to track outreach effectiveness and event participation; prepare and present monthly and quarterly reports to the Chief of Staff highlighting key insights and progress; and
• Perform other duties as required
  
  
  

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Communications, Education, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in community engagement, public affairs, government relations, or nonprofit leadership
• Demonstrated experience building partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups, including families, students, elected officials, and community leaders
• Experience developing and implementing public-facing engagement campaigns and initiatives
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills Or Abilities Required

• Deep knowledge of New Orleans communities, local governance, and public education landscape
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate with diverse audiences
• Strong project management, organizational, and facilitation skills
• Strategic thinker and effective problem-solver, especially in high-pressure or politically sensitive contexts
• Culturally responsive and equity-driven mindset
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and digital engagement tools (e.g., surveys, virtual meeting platforms)
  
  
  

Salaries are determined by educational background and/or relevant years of experience.

Work Environment

Listed below are key points regarding environmental demands and the work environment of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Required to use motor coordination with finger dexterity (such as keyboarding, machine operation, etc.) part of the workday;
• Required to exert physical effort in handling objects more than 30 pounds rarely;
• Required to be exposed to physical occupational risks (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals) rarely;
• Required to be exposed to physical environment which involves dirt, odors, noise, weather extremes or similar elements rarely;
• Normal setting for this job is an office/school setting
  
  
  

Performance Evaluation

The employee will be evaluated based on the above position using either two methods: via COMPASS or a NOLA-PS evaluating instrument. If the employee holds an Educational Leadership certification, he/she will be evaluated via COMPASS to ensure renewal of certification.

EEOC Statement

NOLA Public Schools is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful alien status, national origin, age, marital status, and non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.