Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a non-profit network of 53 outstanding public charter schools in grades K-12 across New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Our mission is to start and manage outstanding urban public charter schools that close the achievement gap and prepare students from low-income backgrounds for success in college and beyond. We are accomplishing that mission every day, with a college graduation rate that is well above the national average and thousands of stories of our students and alumni achieving their dreams.

Job Description

Position Overview

As a member of Uncommon's K-8 Curriculum and Assessment Team (CAT), the Senior Associate Director of Operations will own workstreams that will help ensure CAT achieves its goals and objectives. The Senior Associate Director of Operations will be responsible for overseeing CAT's operational systems and managing cross-cutting project plans for CAT's core work and strategic initiatives, while also attending to the needs of schools and regions. The Senior Associate Director of Operations will report to K-8 CAT's Director of Strategy and Operations.

Project Management and Execution

· Create, manage and execute on long-term, cross-cutting project plans, such as curriculum revision, regional Teacher PD execution and assessment creation/vetting

· Hold others accountable for timely and effective completion of action steps, including members of CAT, school-based staff, regional point people, and other Home Office staff members

· Anticipate roadblocks and actively plan to mitigate risks

· Liaise with Uncommon's Data and IT teams to drive technical solutions that support CAT's work

· Support scheduling and logistics for all CAT events/meetings, including annual Kickoffs with school leaders, DCI/DCI Fellow Immersion Days, and multiple PDs



System and Process Management

· Develop and document systems and processes that improve CAT's work quality and efficiency, such as internal assessment analysis maps and school-leader facing playbooks

· Use data to assess effectiveness of CAT's systems/structures

· Drive implementation of several specific strategic initiatives each year, revised annually per K-8 CSO and CAT annual initiatives



Communication

· Oversee outgoing communication, including weekly communication to school leaders (CAT Memo) and project-specific communications, such as Interim Assessment memos and logistics

· Ensure strong systems for internal team communication and response to school inquiries

· Create communication plans for workstreams and manage sharing of information to relevant stakeholders

· Facilitate meetings with stakeholders on workstreams across Uncommon's six regions



Budget Management

· Create annual budget and participate in quarterly budget update process led by Uncommon's Finance team

· Evaluate and manage spending and reimbursement guidelines for PD participants and CAT members

· Manage stipend processes and communication with regional and school leaders

Organizational Relationships

· Provide in-school and in-region support to build relationships with school/regional leaders and assess the effectiveness of CAT initiatives on-the-ground

· Work closely with other Home Office Teams (e.g. Data & IT teams), regional operational teams, school leadership teams, Assistant Superintendents (ASups), Associate Chief Operating Officers (ACOOs), network lesson planners, Deans of Curriculum and Instruction (DCIs), and other members of the Curriculum and Assessment Team.

Qualifications

Experience required:

· 3-5 years of work experience managing operations and communications in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency, clarity, and top-of-the-line customer service;

· Project-planning experience required, with demonstrated ability to see large projects through to completion;

· Instructional experience and people management a plus

Required competencies, skills & abilities

· Relentless commitment to the mission of educating urban students

· Strong attention to detail

· Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills

· Demonstrates ability to think strategically and innovatively

· Experience in managing and improving systems, structures, and processes

· Able to use data and information to monitor progress towards goals

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to speak and write clearly and to differentiate messaging to a variety of stakeholders

· Self-directed and able to contribute individually and as a member of a team

· Strong time management skills; ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines

· Proactive problem-solver who is able to work successfully in a high-paced environment

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office software and strong technical skills

· Willing to travel to schools throughout our six regions

Minimum educational level:

· Bachelor's degree; master's degree preferred (but not necessary)

Additional Information

Uncommon Schools offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. Aside from extensive professional development, all our staff members are equipped with a laptop computer, email, and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through creating a space for important dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.