Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond. 

North Star Academy currently manages fourteen schools in Newark, NJ serving students in grades K through 12. We believe in strong authentic relationships between teachers and students, supported by effective school systems and an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. North Star Academy is NJ's #1 highest performing public charter school and has served Newark families for over 20 years.

Operations team members at Uncommon work relentlessly to ensure that faculty maximizes time and energy on student achievement.  They design, implement, and refine systems that anticipate the needs of the school community.  As a service-oriented team they solve problems, share best practices across campuses, and respond to urgent needs.  They partner to create an academic and cultural environment which supports our ultimate goal: ensuring that every Uncommon student will earn a college degree.

At Uncommon Schools, the Special Projects Manager (SPM) owns the execution and management of key projects and systems that enable students and teachers alike to flourish. The SPM executes all responsibilities of an SPC and is responsible for directly managing one member of the Operations Team. The Special Projects Manager will report directly to the school’s Director of Operations (DOO).

Responsibilities of the Special Projects Manager include, but are not limited to, the management and execution of:  

• Managing one operations staff member, either the Operations Assistant or Office Manager, and overseeing the successful implementation of their projects and workstreams
• Internal quarterly assessments and state assessments, ensuring that all state testing compliance and state-specific regulations are followed 
• Student food systems, coordinating the dispersal of all meals and partnership with food vendors 
• Student and staff technology 
• Facilities ownership: classroom visual décor and aesthetics, partnership on facilities maintenance with stakeholders, and large facilities projects
• Extra-curricular activities, enrichment programs, and field trips 
• Other projects and new initiatives to support operations and student achievement at the school

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization.
• Large project oversight from planning to execution, with direct accountability for results from multiple stakeholders (teachers, building partners, operations associates, etc.)
• Can influence and drive change across multiple stakeholders by managing relationships and holding others accountable. The SPM must be able to set clear expectations for projects and name gaps or lapses in performance, with the ability to problem-solve and identify how stakeholders can improve. 
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing while demonstrating strong interpersonal skills with teammates, teachers, students, parents, and additional stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands and external pressures.
• Strong digital literacy skills, including database management and Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel.
• Strong time management skills; ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Experience managing others preferred
• 1 to 3 years of teaching or school administrative office experience
• Bachelor’s degree is required.

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: The starting pay will depend on various factors that may include but are not limited to professional experience, education, training, certifications, tenure with Uncommon Schools, and work location.  Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.  

Benefits: We offer comprehensive, flexible, and competitive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families.

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 an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by 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. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions.