Uncommon Schools is a non-profit network of 55 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.

The Special Assistant to the CEO provides essential support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as he leads the organization in fulfilling our mission to prepare our scholars to graduate from college and achieve their dreams. In this role, you will provide direct support to the CEO and Chief of Staff (COS) on projects and tasks, maximize the CEO’s time by expertly managing his calendar and preparing him for meetings, work on CEO internal and external presentations, own Executive Team and Board meeting logistics, and manage special projects. This position will expose you to the organizational decisions of a public charter school network at the highest leadership level. It provides you with an exciting opportunity to develop professionally as you contribute to strategic initiatives.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to the CEO and COS on projects and tasks including research, basic data analysis, and communications.
• Maximize the CEO’s time and effectiveness: seamlessly manage his calendar, prioritizing appointments and arranging meetings and travel, expertly prepare him to engage with senior internal and external stakeholders, and help track his action items.
• Project manage CEO communications, including creating project plans, managing up and across to collect content from stakeholders, and ensuring high quality and on-deadline execution.
• Create CEO internal and external presentations for a variety of stakeholders, including the Executive Team and Board: create slides, conduct research, draft talking points, own logistics, and analyze feedback.
• Plan and support Executive Team and Board meetings: own logistics and operations, create meeting materials, and capture action items to ensure execution.
• Manage special projects to address organizational challenges or opportunities.  Activities include building a project plan, owning implementation, and coordinating across stakeholders.
• Build and maintain internal systems to ensure the efficiency of the CEO and Chief of Staff teams.
• Perform general administrative duties, including credit card reconciliation and expense reimbursements.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate feedback and strong desire to develop new skills
• Strong sense of personal responsibility and high level of flexibility
• Ability to perform and prioritize multiple responsibilities
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong ability to manage up

Preferred Skills/Abilities

• Experience with developing polished presentations in PowerPoint

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required

Experience Requirements

• 1-2 years professional experience preferred
• Experience in K12 education and/or in support of C-level, preferred

Physical Requirements

• Daily onsite work required
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 2 days per month between NYC and Newark

Uncommon Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a very generous benefits and vacation package. All staff members receive extensive professional development and are equipped with a laptop computer and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon Schools 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 meaningful 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.