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.

The Special Assistant directly supports the Chief Schools Officer (CSO), K-8 and their team. They manage key projects, programs and systems aligned to K-8 CSO core work and initiatives, while also providing key administrative support to ensure the Office of the CSO operates and communicates as efficiently as possible. The Special Assistant reports directly to the CSO's Chief of Staff and works regularly with the Chief Schools Officers’ teams, School Leaders, Cross-Regional Operations and Uncommon Schools’ Home Office Staff.

Location is flexible between Newark and NYC; travel between regions or to retreat locations may be required about 1-2 times monthly.

Duties & Responsibilities

Project and Program Management

• Project manage and operationalize select CSO organization-wide initiatives per year; including building and managing the project plan, owning implementation, monitoring budget and execution
  • Projects/programs include: Lead from Within, Mid-year evaluation processes, Instructional Leader Information Nights, cross-team Culture Initiatives
• Drive, execute and support  key components of initiatives led by partnering or regional teams 
  • Includes owning Leader Awards Ceremony at the Leadership Development Retreat and supporting regional events (i.e. Regional Ubuntu ceremonies)
• Additional special projects as assigned

Systems and People Management  

• Develop and manage key processes to support school management and the CSO Office:
  • Support a team (Regional Schools Coordinators) to continuously build and maintain systems to support their Regional Superintendents of Instruction through monthly meetings
  • Manage stakeholders on projects laterally and above,  including partnering across multiple leaders, teams, and regions for execution
• Manage to K-8 CSO and Regional Superintendent budgets including attending quarterly budget meetings, drafting annual budget and setting internal team guidelines to ensure spending aligns to budget

Communications and Content Creation

• Lead communications with key partners and leaders by writing and editing email correspondence and other written materials on behalf of the CSO.
• Prepare agendas, materials and logistics, and own note taking for CSO-led meetings
• Create content for owned projects, programs and meetings

Administrative Support

• Ensure the CSO’s time is maximized and aligned with the organization’s priorities by expertly managing the CSO’s calendar through prioritization of appointments, efficient booking of travel, and arranging in-person and virtual meetings.
• Track and deliver daily CSO briefs and weekly calendar to support the CSO’s schedule, action items, and meeting preparation
• Perform general administrative duties, including preparing and handling expense reimbursements
• Improve current operations and processes within the CSO office to efficiently allocate resources and time 
• Support in shaping a joyful staff culture within the CSO's team and/or school and Home Office leaders

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3-5 years professional experience, preferably in K-12 Education or an executive level support role
• Dedication to Uncommon’s Mission
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly a skillset in inspirational communications preferred 
• Exceptional organizational skills that reflect an ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly and fastidiously all the way to completion 
• Finds joy in figuring out how the pieces of the puzzle come together in complex situations
• Strong growth mindset with ability to self-reflect and take initiative towards growth
• High level of flexibility with the ability to reprioritize and pivot quickly with a can-do attitude
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and remain detail oriented to advance work
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with multiple stakeholders and teams 
• Highly resourceful and problem-solving team-player with the ability to also work independently 
• Ability to continue to innovate and refine systems to best support the CSO and the CSO’s office 
• MS Suite (Outlook, Word, Power Point, Excel)

Our people are what make us uncommon. It’s important to us that our compensation practices align with our values and enhance our ability to attract and retain talent.  Our compensation philosophy is focused on equity and fairness, retaining our talented staff and valuing their expertise, and transparency and clarity.

Compensation for this position: Candidates who meet all job description requirements will likely receive an offer of $71,300.  The starting compensation for this role is between $67,300 to $79,200.  The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.   To receive an offer at the top of the range, candidates will need significant experience beyond the job description  requirements.  Because we value staff tenure in a role, we do not currently cap salary ranges for current staff members. 

Other Benefits:

• 19 days of paid time off in addition to three weeks of paid winter and summer org-wide holidays
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts, pet care insurance
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

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, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 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. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].