Organizational Overview
Scratch is a creative programming language and the world’s largest online coding community for children and teens. ScratchJr is a stand-alone app for younger children. Children around the world use Scratch and ScratchJr to create their own interactive games, stories, and animations -- and share their creations with one another. In the process, they learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. Last year, more than 30+ million children and teens around the world created projects with Scratch.
Scratch is translated into 60+ languages and used in schools, community centers, libraries, computer clubhouses, and homes across the globe. More than half of Scratchers access the site from outside of the United States. We’re passionate about supporting children in diverse settings and cultures around the world, because our global community is one of our greatest strengths.
In 2019, we moved our team out of the MIT Media Lab after 15 years, and into the Scratch Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We’re transitioning out of an academic environment and into an independent nonprofit organization. We believe young people learn best when they are given the freedom to play, collaborate, and explore their interests. Those values extend to our team members as well, and we are committed to foster spaces for our staff to play and express their creativity and humanity.
As an organization, we’re focused on centering our work on supporting creative learning for youth from communities impacted by systemic inequities, investing in our online community, developing our team, scaling our infrastructure, and improving data privacy, interoperability, and in-school experience. We’re looking for a diverse pool of applicants to join our team of 60 educators, designers, engineers and other professionals to help us steward our community through this work.
Position Description:
The Scratch Team is looking to expand its team of experienced Outreach and Engagement Managers to increase the awareness and understanding of creative coding within Scratch’s global community. The International Outreach Manager role is vital to helping Scratch engage educators from around the world and support them as they learn more about creative coding and the resources we have to support them in implementing Scratch. The first connection many educators may have to the Scratch Foundation will be from the Outreach Managers as they work to connect educators throughout the Scratch network. It is important that this team member understands the unique regional contexts and differences that impact how someone may engage with Scatch. Due to increased focus on working with organizations/schools that support educators and kids from the Asia Pacific (APAC) and India region, as well as Scratch’s expanded reach in Africa, someone in this role must reside in India.
The Manager will facilitate conversations and build relationships with educators, school administrators, and other partners to support creative coding engagement with Scratch, as well as with the Scratch Education Collaborative (SEC). Someone in this role should understand how to engage educators and kids from diverse geographic regions and bring them together to learn about creative learning and creative coding principles and practices that they can apply back to their various settings. They will facilitate small group convenings and support SEC organizations in applying what they have learned about equitable creative coding throughout the SEC experience. This role will support Scratch events and programs, including the SEC, Gettingd with Scratch workshops with the Creative Learning team, and chats with Scratch Partners.
With the goal of delivering measurable outcomes to advance Scratch’s engagement efforts, the Manager will strategize and execute efforts to strengthen Scratch’s engagement initiatives to effectively reach diverse children, families, and educators, with an intentional focus on underserved communities around the world. At least 60% of the Manager’s time spent will be through direct engagement meeting with education agencies, schools, community-based organizations, exhibiting, presenting at conferences, or providing webinars. Proactive communication and follow-up are required in order to provide effective support and to steward engagement with external stakeholders. This role includes the possibility of up to 30% travel when Scratch resumes regular travel operations.
Work Performed:
60% External Partner Outreach and Engagement:
● Support the SEC, including regularly liaising with Participating organizations to support their program engagement, facilitating 1-1 and small group Participant conversations, peer connections, and resource development
● Support SEC Participants in the application of what they learn throughout the SEC Learning experience and creation of equitable creative coding learning resources
● Facilitate an effective feedback and communication loop between the Scratch Team and the Participating organizations
● Facilitate Scratch/SEC Partner engagement, including recruiting Partners, organizing Partner events, and supporting the expansion of Scratch’s Partner network
● Support Scratch Day, Scratch Week, and Scratch Conference and support Scratch workshops and presentations at conferences for educators.
● Regular collaboration with other Scratch teams on partnership events, including the Creative Learning team.
● Continue to expand Scratch’s presence through targeted outreach and partnership development for designated geographic areas, which may include international locations.
● As needed, travel to K-12 schools, community-based organizations (CBOs), and other forums to meet with educators, children, and parents, to share information about Scratch editor, tools, online community, and resources.
● Support and represent Scratch at external events, such as national conferences, workshops, and professional meetings and host informational meetings when needed.
● Respond to written and oral inquiries, questions, and requests for information about Scratch.
30% Internal Support and Collaboration:
● Support management and progress reporting of Engagement-related grant initiatives and outcomes.
● Partner with Scratch Marketing and Communications teams to develop and implement communication strategies tailored to our various audiences (kids, parents, educators, funders) to build awareness and to promote creative coding and Scratch and the SEC.
● Attend and participate in staff meetings, retreats, and other important functions that support achieving the goals of the Scratch Foundation.
● Collaborate across Scratch teams to create digital media, publications, and Scratch-branded promotional materials for engagement efforts.
● Provide regular updates on the state of Scratch’s local, national, and global interactions and presence, as well as how the community engagement and access team will impact these efforts. Prepare presentations of updates for internal and external stakeholder audiences
● Update and share calendar with ongoing activities and events regarding engagement efforts.
10% Outreach and Engagement Resource Development:
● Update shared tools for engagement communications where stakeholder contact information can be stored, updated and context can be added regarding the relationship and status.
● Plan, coordinate, and prepare presentations and materials for educators and families in collaboration with the communications, design, resources, and online community teams and other stakeholders to ensure external presentations and engagement materials are appropriately aligned with Scratch’s mission, strategic areas, recruiting and engagement priorities, and branding guidelines. Materials and presentations are intended to support increased and deeper engagement with Scratch.
● Perform other related duties as required.
Qualifications:
Due to this role providing significant support to our APAC and India stakeholders, applicants must:
● Be based and have work authorization in India
● Read and speak English fluently
● Be familiar with creative and/or play-based pedagogical approaches
● Have the ability to travel to the United States, as needed.
● Willing and available to travel up to 30% (primary travel will be within India and nearby APAC region organizations)
● This is a remote position, and given that most of the Scratch Team are based in the US, some non-traditional hours for early or late night calls are expected of this role
Bachelor’s degree in education, international relations, communications, or related field preferred. Minimum of 5 years of work experience in education or community engagement/outreach with a global audience. Experience working with schools and/or educators, non-profit organizations and access and inclusion efforts for diverse populations preferred.
● Passionate commitment to Scratch’s educational mission and vision.
● Familiarity with Scratch and a deep understanding of a creative and constructionist learning approach. Understanding of current and emerging creative learning and education trends and their implications.
● Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills. Candidates should be a compelling, energetic presenter and public speaker.
● Service oriented, including phone skills and demonstrated public speaking skills; clear, courteous communication with stakeholders; and responsive to requests for assistance.
● Impeccable time-management skills, along with the ability to set goals and help others reach them.
● Computer proficiency with Microsoft suite (Excel, Word, Power Point, and Outlook) and Google suite
● Demonstrated experience working with databases, general reports, survey-builders, budgets, and spreadsheets.
● Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
● Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information and issues on a daily basis.
● Experience designing materials for educators, planning workshops and events for educators
● Experience working in international and multicultural contexts, especially in the APAC region
● Strong desire to work in an agilep with an entrepreneurial spirit.
How to Apply
Join the Scratch Team! We’re seeking curious and motivated people to join our growing team of educators, designers, and engineers who work together in a playful, creative environment. We strongly value diversity, collaboration, and respect in the workplace.
The Scratch Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Scratch welcomes people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We especially encourage historically marginalized identities to apply.