Training & Capacity Project Associate

Training & Capacity Project Associate

(Hybrid, Full Time, Non-Exempt)

Organization Overview

Families In Schools (FIS) imagines a public education system where parents play a leadership role in their children’s learning and where students, particularly those farthest from opportunity, are set up to succeed in school and life. Founded in 2000, FIS is a nonprofit, statewide organization based in Los Angeles, California, with a mission to ensure student success by building authentic partnerships among families, educators, and system leaders through capacity-building efforts for system leaders and parent-led advocacy. In 2024, FIS entered a new chapter, marked by new leadership and a clear, unflinching commitment to excellence and impact. In this new chapter, FIS brings greater innovation to family engagement by creating capacity for educators to authentically partner with families, more deeply centering the voices of families on critical system and policy decisions, and activating coalitions to drive local and statewide campaigns powered by parent leadership.

Through the Read LA! campaign, Families In Schools works alongside families, educators, school systems, and community partners to ensure more children are reading proficiently by third grade. Training and Capacity Building is a core strategy within Read LA!, equipping educators and leaders with the knowledge and tools to build authentic family partnerships that accelerate literacy and student success.

Position Overview

FIS seeks a highly organized and collaborative Project Associate to support the planning, coordination, and successful delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance across our client and partner network. Reporting to the Director of Training and Capacity Building, this position plays a crucial role in managing our expanding team of trainers, tracking deliverables, and ensuring the seamless implementation of projects across multiple platforms. The Project Associate will work closely with internal staff, trainers, and external partners to advance this work — and will also serve as a key coordinator for the Read LA! Campaign, supporting family leadership initiatives, community engagement efforts, and cross-functional campaign activities that advance early literacy and authentic family engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management & Partner Coordination

● Support the Director with day-to-day project management across multiple school districts, nonprofit, and agency partners.

● Track deliverables, timelines, and outcomes for each training contract or project.

● Maintain internal project dashboards, calendars, and client notes to ensure timely follow-up and accountability.

● Support the coordination of project materials, data tracking, and reporting for funders and stakeholders.

● Collaborate across programs to assist Families In Schools and the Read LA! Campaign with partner communication and troubleshooting to ensure high-quality service delivery and responsiveness.

Project and Administrative Support

● Coordinate logistics for training sessions, including technology setup (e.g., Zoom, slides, breakout rooms, interpretation services), material prep, and travel coordination.

● Conduct outreach calls to parents and caregivers to engage them in Read LA’s parent power-building strategy, including inviting families to trainings and events to encourage ongoing engagement in early literacy leadership opportunities.

● Ensure timely and organized distribution of pre- and post-training materials (e.g., agendas, handouts, evaluations).

● Monitor training sessions as needed and support real-time issues or follow-up.

● Collect and organize session feedback, attendance, and documentation for analysis and learning.

● Track deliverables for training contracts and help maintain communication with partners.

● Maintain organized records of curriculum drafts, templates, and training evaluations.

● Support scheduling, digital file organization, and data entry as needed.

Data Collection and Reporting:

● Collect and track data on trainings, participant engagement, and capacity building outcomes.

● Gather feedback to support ongoing learning and improvement of training strategies that better support clients.

● Collaborate across programs to analyze findings and refine strategies to enhance family engagement and service impact.

Trainer Network Coordination

● Manage scheduling, communications, and assignments for FIS’s team of contract and internal trainers.

● Match trainers to engagements based on availability, skills, and client needs.

● Track trainer hours and availability, and coordinate onboarding and learning opportunities.

● Maintain strong, positive relationships with all facilitators and provide support for effective session delivery.

Training and Facilitation

● Co-facilitate workshops, webinars, and trainings to support multiple FIS initiatives for educators, family liaisons, and parent leaders (in-person and virtual).

● Support coaching and follow-up with training participants to reinforce learning, answer questions, and encourage implementation of new practices.

● Support logistics, material preparation, and participant engagement before, during, and after sessions.

● Help monitor training quality and participant feedback to inform improvements.

About You

You are a detail-oriented, people-centered professional who thrives in fast-paced, mission-driven environments. You take pride in creating smooth systems and supporting others in their success. You’re excited about managing logistics, coordinating people and projects, and helping to ensure that impactful, equity-centered trainings reach communities across the state. This is an excellent opportunity for an early to mid-career professional with experience in training or facilitation, and some background in engaging and interactive curriculum development. Experience in family engagement is a plus, but not required.

Experience

● 2–3 years of experience in project coordination, training operations, education, or nonprofit program delivery.

● Experience with facilitation, working with trainers, facilitators, or community-based educators.

● Strong organizational and planning skills across multiple projects and priorities.

● Familiarity with K–12 education, family engagement, or community partnerships preferred.

● Spanish fluency (speaking, reading, writing) strongly preferred.

● Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

● Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Skills & Competencies

● Project Coordination: Skilled in tracking deliverables, timelines, and communication across multiple partners and workstreams.

● People Management: Able to support and coordinate a network of diverse trainers with consistency and care.

● Communication: Strong written and verbal communication with internal teams and external partners.

● Systems-Oriented: Proficient with Google Workspace and project management tools (e.g., Airtable, Asana, or Trello). ● Adaptability: Able to manage changing priorities and navigate ambiguity with a solutions mindset.

● Quick Learner: Able to rapidly grasp new systems, tools, and content and apply them to support team success.

● Equity-Driven: Brings a deep commitment to culturally responsive, inclusive practice and equity in education. Mindsets

● Mission-Driven: You care deeply about FIS’s vision for student and family success.

● Collaborative: You excel in teams and are generous with your support and problem-solving skills.

● Detail-Oriented: You bring order and clarity to complex, moving projects.

● Service-Oriented: You are thoughtful, responsive, and grounded in relationship-based coordination.

● Learning-Oriented: You welcome feedback, reflect on your practice, and continually strive for growth.

● Trustworthy & Ethical: You exercise sound judgment, act with discretion, and hold responsibility with care.

Additional Qualifications

● Willingness to work weekends and evenings and travel as necessary

● Access to a car, possession of a valid driver’s license, and proof of automobile insurance

● Can lift up to 25 lbs. (books, materials, supplies, etc.) Working at Families In Schools Families In Schools fosters a mission-driven, collaborative work environment where teamwork, communication, excellence, quality, integrity, inquiry, and commitment to the community are highly valued. We provide employees with ongoing professional development opportunities through structured learning, training, and project assignments that maximize a diverse and high-functioning skill set. Location: Los Angeles, California. This is a hybrid position that combines remote work with regular in-person meetings, trainings, convenings, and travel throughout Los Angeles and California as needed. Compensation: The salary for the Training & Capacity Project Associate is nonexempt, ranging from $50,000 to $60,000 per year, commensurate with experience. This position is currently grant-funded and contingent upon the continued availability of funding. Continued employment is subject to the availability of grant resources and programmatic needs. To apply or submit questions, please contact: hiring@familiesinschools.org.