General Information

Job Title: Director of Finance and Business Development, FNS
FTE: 1.0 FTE
Job Code: S00227

Job Description

Founded in 1647, Boston Public Schools (BPS) is the oldest public school district in the country. With approximately 57, 000 students from over 114 different countries, nearly 8,000 employees, and an annual budget of $973 million, the BPS is the largest district in Massachusetts and one of the most diverse as well.

Currently, BPS has 128 schools with two different food service delivery models. Forty-six (46) schools have full-service kitchens with a full-time cafeteria manager and subordinate staff. The remaining schools and programs are satellite sites receiving meals from an outside vendor, contracted by BPS. The district serves approximately 23,500 breakfasts' daily and 35,600 lunches. After school meals vary over the course of the year, but average between 7 -8,000 per day. During the summer months, BPS serves roughly 22,000 combined meals in varying city sites. BPS has been approved for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP); which enables the district to provide free meals to all Boston students.

REPORTS TO: Executive Director, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Working closely with department and central office finance personnel, other financial stakeholders, senior management team, this position will provide strategic planning and leadership for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the Boston Public Schools FNS Finances; supporting the ambitious mission of the FNS department with finite financial resources. The individual will be involved with identifying and recommending difficult tradeoffs to support FNS strategies and policy priorities; assisting schools and the FNS department in meeting the goals using their allocated resources.

This position will also be responsible for supervision and evaluation of several staff members within the FNS Finance Office.

Required Competencies:

1. Managing Relationships. Responds and relates well to people in all positions; is seen as a team player and is cooperative; looks for common ground and solves problems for the good of all.
2. Creativity. Generates many new and unique ideas; makes connections among previously unrelated notions; is unafraid to use unorthodox methods; is seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
3. Drive for Results. Pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish; does not give up before finishing, even in the face of resistance or setbacks; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
4. Personal Learning and Development. Is personally committed to and actively works to continuously improve himself or herself; recognizes the need to change personal, interpersonal, and managerial behavior; actively seeks feedback.
5. Managing Processes and Systems. Designs practices, processes, and procedures necessary to get things done; simplifies complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources; creates systems that manage themselves.
6. Functional and Technical Skills. Possesses required functional and technical knowledge and skills to do his or her job at a high level of accomplishment; demonstrates active interest and ability to enhance and apply new functional skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Facilitate and coordinate the annual development of the FNS budget (all funding sources) - both at the micro level (schools and FNS department) and at the macro level (Superintendent's and FNS Leadership policy priorities and initiatives).
2. Take a leadership role in developing financial information management strategies, fiscal reporting and control, and financial process improvements.
3. Execute resource allocation plans consistent with collective bargaining agreements.
4. Develop and recommend options for long and short-range finance strategies, policies, and procedures that are in compliance with available and forecasted FNS revenues and with the strategies, needs, and goals of the FNS dept.
5. Build and sustain the capacity for financial analysis that supports policy formulation and decision making; this responsibility includes support for collective bargaining as well as analyses required.
6. Monitor the FNS Budget and report monthly on the status of system-wide expenditures, and when necessary recommend plans and procedures to ensure that no deficits occur.
7. Represent the FNS Finance Division, serving as the financial point person on strategic initiatives, cross-functional working groups, and key departments
8. Manage staff and oversee the procurement, accounts payable, claims and other finance related functions.
9. Supervise and evaluate a talented and highly motivated staff engaged in assisting the Finance Director in the above tasks and goals.

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED:

1. Bachelor's Degree required. Master's Degree in Finance, business, public policy, or related field preferred, and a minimum of 5 years fiscal management experience, including supervisory experience.
2. Ability to develop budget and monitoring procedures incorporating best practices in fiscal policy management, and internal controls.
3. Strong knowledge of automated data management systems development, implementation, and maintenance; computer literacy and financial planning analytical skills.
4. Excellent time management skills; balancing an extraordinary number of competing priorities; managing multiple projects simultaneously and keeping within designated deadlines, while maintaining accuracy, managing budget at both micro and macro level.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills; providing leadership and vision to staff; ability to motivate, persuade and build consensus.
6. Strong customer service focus; ability to explain complex financial concepts to laypersons, in clear and concise easy to understand terms; ability to react to customer requests with both flexibility and firmness (and the ability to distinguish when to use which skill).
7. Track record of success in a complex financial environment and proactive problem-solving.

QUALIFICATIONS PREFERRED:

• MA/MS, Advanced degree with a concentration in financial planning, management, public administration or related field.

TERMS: Managerial, Tier D. This position is subject to the City of Boston Residency Ordinance.

Please refer to www.bostonpublicschools.org/ohc (under "Employee Benefits and Policies") for more information on salary and compensation. Salaries are listed by Unions and Grade/Step.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.