About KIPP TEAM & Family:

KIPP TEAM & Family is our network office that includes support teams - such as Leadership Development, Recruitment, Advocacy, Facilities, Finance, HR and more - dedicated to empowering our schools and ensuring the success of KIPP students throughout New Jersey and Miami. Our schools are part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. The first KIPP New Jersey school opened in Newark in 2002 and since then our school network has expanded to educate 8,135 students in grades K-12. By 2025, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across fifteen schools in Newark and five in Camden. 

In 2018, we grew our KIPP community in response to a need for high-quality school options for students in Greater Miami’s Urban Core communities. That led to the creation of KIPP Miami, which currently educates more than 1,000 students in four schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2025. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students in New Jersey and Miami are on the path to and through college, career, and choice-filled lives. 

Here's what you need to know:

The Senior Project Manager will be part of the KIPP Team and Family (KTAF) real estate and facilities team during an exciting phase of growth in our regions in Newark, Camden and Miami. Reporting to the Director of Real Estate and Facilities, the Senior Project Manager will support the acquisition, development, and management of real estate to allow growth of our schools. This includes securing long-term leases, purchasing land, managing construction projects, and scouting new school facilities throughout the regions. The Senior Project Manager will help to oversee construction managers, manage project budgets, and assist in the negotiation of development deals and leases to ensure all KIPP schools and the organization are in a strong financial position.

Here's what you'll be doing:

Financial planning

• Support the Director of Real Estate and Facilities (“Director”) to create and manage project budgets and timelines, including alignment with state and federal facilities-related grants.

Pre-acquisition

• As necessary, support Director and MDOs with site identification and analysis
• Vet and analyze feasibility of buildings or sites for future growth
• Oversee land assembly and lead any processes with government or private entities needed to purchase land (liens, foreclosures, auctions, etc.)
• Research ownership status and track down owners in support of acquiring land or facilities

Acquisition

• In collaboration with the Director, support negotiations for lease or purchase terms based on region’s needs and financial plan
• Draft LOIs, MOUs and lease and purchase agreements in conjunction with legal team and Director 
• With finance team, support on closings on land purchases

Design

• In collaboration with regional operations team, get input from internal stakeholders to develop programs for buildings
• In collaboration with regional operations team, vet designs, site plans, etc. with internal stakeholders including regional leadership, school leadership, and operations teams

Preconstruction

• Work with the Director to hire and manage third party project managers
• Work with the Director to hire or vet the hiring of architects, contractors and other professionals needed for the real estate process
• Manage all aspects of zoning and planning board approval processes, including managing vendors, preparing for meetings and interfacing with governmental agencies and staff

Construction

• Oversee the entire real estate development process, including construction (this may require using third parties)
• Monitor projects to ensure they are on track to meet major milestones and stay on budget
• Review and prepare all requisitions associated with projects under construction for Director approval
• Create tracking systems as necessary for requisitions, change orders and project budget management

Hand-off

• Facilitate building hand-off meeting with local operations and school leadership team
• Work with the Director to develop contingency plans for school openings if needed

Internal communication

• Manage project communication regularly with regional staff, providing project updates and other information required by regional teams
• Work with the Director to escalate project updates and challenges to regional stakeholders when issues arise
• As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above essential duties and responsibilities.

Skills

• Outstanding project management skills and the ability to coordinate and maximize the contributions of others
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal; ability to lead meetings across stakeholder groups
• Ability to collaborate with a wide range of constituents and build partnerships around common interests and goals
• Strong financial acumen and analytics; resourceful with limited budget and resources
• Ability to self‐direct and prioritize among competing goals and exhibit flexibility in a fast‐paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, lead projects, meet multiple concurrent deadlines and organize time and priorities
• Experience reading, interpreting and analyzing construction drawings and specifications
• Ability to read and interpret environmental reports and make recommendations on site selection
• Ability to read and understand architectural drawings, specifications and AIA documents

Abilities

• Experience in developing educational facilities 

Robust knowledge of public education, education reform initiatives and the charter school movement

Expectations and phyiscial requirements

• Travel across KTAF’s three regions - Newark, Camden and Miami - is required
• Weekend and evening work will also be required from time to time, such as attending city council meetings, board meetings and other events that fall outside the typical workday

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

• In person site visits of multistory buildings under construction.
• In person site visits of potential lots for acquisition.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Must Haves:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• At least five years experience effectively managing real estate projects from site identification and purchase through construction completion 

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, an optional subsidized wireless plan through Verizon, a school laptop and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area. 

KIPP New Jersey | KIPP Miami is an equal opportunity employer