Research and Development Director jobs in Jackson, MS

About Mississippi First

Mississippi First was founded in 2008 by Rachel Canter and her childhood friend, Sanford Johnson. Driven to change the fact that Mississippi has historically been last, our founders set a bold vision: a Mississippi first in education nationally. Mississippi First is a non-partisan, nonprofit, education policy organization that champions transformative policy solutions, ensuring educational excellence for every Mississippi child.

Overview

Reporting to the Executive Director and an integral part of the senior management team, the Deputy Director is a pre-K-12 policy expert who assists Mississippi First in developing and enacting its policy agenda. The Deputy Director will directly manage a team of (5) policy and special project team members, and assist the Executive Director in managing the executive team. As a pivotal member of the leadership team, the Deputy Director will work very closely with the Executive Director to understand the overall operations of Mississippi First and may serve to represent the organization during any absences of the Executive Director.

What You’ll Do (Implementation 100% of daily role)

Strategy

• Support the Executive Director in the development of the policy and advocacy strategy.
• Support the Executive Director in the development of the partnerships and special projects strategy.
• Implement each organizational strategy as defined by the Executive Director.

Management

• Assist the Executive Director in managing the policy and advocacy agenda, as decided on by the Executive Director.
• Assist the Executive Director in developing and managing special projects and partnerships.
• Manage the work of the Policy Team on a day-to-day basis.
• Oversee the writing and editing of policy publications.
• Guide and oversee the planning, design, development, and implementation of research and analysis projects across pre-K12.
• Ensure the accuracy of statistical reports and data summaries, including graphics and tables that portray data, for use in policy analyses, research papers, briefings, and reports.
• Serve as the primary manager of members of the Policy Team.
• Manage the work of the Special Projects Team on a day-to-day basis.
• Oversee the completion of special projects.
• Serve as the primary manager of members of the Special Projects Team.

Organizational Leadership

• Shadow the Executive Director to learn the operations of Mississippi First and serve as a representative of Mississippi First in the absence of the Executive Director.
• Assist the Executive Director in the day-to-day management of operations and communications, as needed.

Other duties as assigned