Director of Health and Safety

About Mastery:

We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child â€" academically and emotionally â€" matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.

Mastery Charter Schools is a nonprofit network of more than 24 schools serving over 14,000 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.

We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our buildings can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.

Mastery's Equity Vision:

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission.

We strive to be an anti-racist school district that eliminates the inequities in academic achievement that limit our students’ choices; that cultivates classrooms where every student is affirmed, supported, and held to high expectations; and that nurtures a diverse organization where students, staff, and families are valued, respected, and included .

THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH & SAFETY IS A ONE-YEAR ONLY POSITION*

Position Summary:

Ensure that Mastery's school leaders are prepared to operate in-person school as safely as possible through creating guidance and supports

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage and distill health and safety research
• Serve as Mastery’s â€internal expertâ€
• Ensure Mastery's procedures align with local department of health guidance and stay out ahead of the science and policy changes
• Set the tone for Mastery's approach to opening in-person instruction as science-driven and methodical
• Be Mastery's primary point of contact with local departments of health
• As needed represent Mastery externally on citywide task forces and nationally



• Implement that research in school operating procedures
• Ensure Mastery's procedures can be implemented with fidelity through guidebooks and other written collateral, designing and delivering trainings, and monitoring quality of implementation through formal and informal auditing procedures in partnership with our operations team
• Manage Mastery's weekly testing program (currently administering 7k tests/week) to meet efficacy and budget goals
• Lead Mastery's efforts to encourage vaccination amongst staff, students and families
• Partner with Director of Network School Operations to ensure adequate nursing support is in place to follow safety protocols including testing
• Create thoughtful approach to change management when changes in policy are recommended (e.g. reducing distancing in some classrooms), including communications strategy



• Consult on 'edge cases' and ensure they are brought to thoughtful resolution



• Manage contact tracing
• Supervise Manager of Contact Tracing and Family Communication

Qualifications:

• Required characteristics:
• 10+ years of work experience
• Cares deeply about safety and will not rest until an issue is resolved
• Can comfortably communicate with parents and staff members including during periods of heightened emotion with sensitivity and kindness
• Work independently to solve problems and make logical, common sense inferences
• Can apply public health protocols and speak comfortably to the science behind them
• Attention to detail â€" will close every open loop
• Open to working some nights and weekends to solve time-sensitive safety issues



• Great to have characteristics:
• Previous experience in school operations
• Interest in public health

Education and Experience:

• At least 10 years work experience and BA
• Demonstrated track record in customer service

Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

UPDATE AS OF MARCH 2021 - Please review Mastery’s Back to School Plans here to learn about our response to COVID-19 for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. For ongoing positions, Mastery roles are designated as in-person, with regular on-site responsibilities, unless otherwise noted. As such, Employees must be able to support Mastery Schools’ academic plan and business strategies on-site â€" at a Mastery campus - as required.

Exceptions to this requirement will be considered on an individualized basis.