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 City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

The Associate, External Affairs, plays a vital role in building and sustaining strong relationships between Uncommon Schools Camden, local community leaders, officeholders, and the families we serve. Operating within the Regional External Affairs team, this position supports local community engagement, coordinates parent advocacy initiatives, and assists with regional governance and board operations. By managing school tours, regional social media platforms, and community outreach programs, the Associate deepens community connections and helps broaden access to high-quality public education across Camden. Working in close partnership with school leaders, local partners, and internal teams, the Associate handles essential administrative and event logistics to advance the region's overall mission and engagement strategy.

Responsibilities

Community & Local External Engagement

• Execute the local external engagement strategy by building relationships with community leaders, advocates, and elected officials through school visits, meetings, and community-based projects.
• Maintain a regular presence at community events and meetings across the region to deepen connections between our schools and the communities we serve.
• Oversee and manage the monthly tour schedule for prospective parents, educators, and donors.
• Maintain partner databases, ensuring accurate data entry and ongoing data integrity.

Parent Advocacy & Family Engagement

• Implement parent engagement strategies by supporting the core parent advocacy group through consistent programming.
• Identify and train new parent leaders across our schools to engage with local leaders, organize advocacy initiatives, and support school-based community engagement.
• Activate parent leaders to engage with prospective families and support student recruitment efforts to drive new applications.
• Lead non-partisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns in coordination with Camden schools and local community partners.

Governance & Board Support

• Support the annual Board of Trustees scope and sequence, including scheduled presentations, discussion topics, and key approvals.
• Execute project plans for board meeting preparation, including information gathering, monthly communications, and packet creation.
• Provide operational and logistical support for board meetings, including room setup, technology assistance, and note-taking.
• Facilitate the submission and approval process of board resolutions between internal teams and the Board of Trustees.

Communications & Operations

• Manage regional social media accounts (Instagram and Facebook) by gathering content at schools, editing videos, writing captions, and scheduling weekly posts.
• Maintain updates for regional website pages and coordinate school newsletters.
• Provide event planning and logistical support for regional meetings and community activities.
• Run routine budget processes, including purchasing tasks and invoice processing.

Required Qualifications

• 1–2 years of relevant experience in community outreach, external affairs, regional operations, project coordination, or communications.
• Associate degree or technical education.
• Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills to initiate and maintain relationships with diverse partners.
• Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to build and maintain efficient administrative systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Applications, and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram).
• Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends as needed for community meetings and events.
• Ability to travel independently to schools and community events across the Camden region.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, External Affairs, Communications, or a related field.
• Knowledge of the Camden and New Jersey public education, charter school, and local community landscape.
• Professional fluency in Spanish.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to engage in moderate physical activity, including standing or walking continuously, setting up equipment/materials, and carrying objects weighing 20–40 lbs.

Not sure you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply—we're 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

Compensation for this role is between $52,000–$61,200. Typically, new hires who fully meet the qualifications and experience expectations for the role will start at or near $55,100. 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, with a commitment of at least three days each week at our Central Office in Camden. 

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
  • New Jersey Pension program
• 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 [email protected].