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.

Position Overview

The Chief of Staff to the Chief Schools Officer, K8 (CSO K8) is an essential member of the Uncommon Schools’ Kindergarten through Eighth grade team and will focus on supporting and systematizing the management of our schools. The role will be supporting specifically our instructional team overseeing K-8 schools (44 schools) and report to the Chief Schools Officer, K8.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management and Operations

• Advise Chief of Staff-K8 on school management and initiatives
• Support regional instructional strategic planning and execution with Assistant Superintendents
• Support Principal’s instructional strategic planning process and execution
• Drive and manage Regional School Coordinator Team’s strategic planning
• Develop and manage project plans, materials and deliverables to support initiative/project roll-out, execution, and monitoring (e.g., dashboard, key performance indicators, templates, etc.)
• Manage stakeholders on projects, ensuring timely and qualitative communication, facilitating meetings as needed
• Support innovation projects and processes

School Management and Support

• Supervise Regional School Coordinators that support Assistant Superintendents: includes providing professional development and codifying systems
• Identify, troubleshoot, and problem-solve school management issues and codify best practices and solutions
• Manage and execute data reports and other reporting needs
• Drive, consult and support school inspection (evaluation) process
• Work closely with various chief of staffs and directors from our schools and HO functions to execute CSO K8’s charge

Chief Schools Officer K8, Team Support and Management

• Manage Special Assistant to CSO K8 to maximize CSO’s daily, weekly, and monthly time and priorities
• Administer CSO K8 team operations including owning the budget, on-boarding, and talent, home office ad hoc requests
• Manage internal and external CSO K8 communication
• Develop materials for CSO K8 presentations and meetings: external, executive, senior leadership, and team meetings
• Build strong team culture and communication 
• Other projects and duties as assigned by the Chief Schools Officer K8

• Ability to inspire and manage a team to produce highest-quality work
• Exceptional and creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning skills 
• Facility to move comfortably between high level strategic thinking and intricate details 
• Ability to translate and structure complicated or a lot of information in order for effective decision making and progress towards goals
• Strong project management as well as time and task management skills, enabling multiple and large-scale projects to be completed on time 
• Ability to learn quickly, to pivot when needed, and to be effective in a fast-paced, dynamic, entrepreneurial environment
• Ability to think and move quickly but also discerning when to move more thoughtfully
• Able to work autonomously and thoroughly with independent self-reflection, as well as take direction as needed 
• Outstanding ability to lead and drive change, including influencing and motivating others through relationship building
• Alignment to and urgency around Uncommon’s mission 

Educational background:

• A Bachelor’s Degree required, Advanced Degree preferred (MPA, MBA,  or other relevant degree)

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of working experience managing complex and/or cross-functional projects
• Experience in project management and/or management consulting or other relevant field
• Education background preferred but not required

This role may require occasional travel to all Uncommon regions

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.