Project Manager

Overview

Job Summary

The role of the Project Manager is to help implement the District’s overall strategic management goal: creating an aligned organization capable of supporting a high-performing system of schools.

The work of the Project Manager will touch on all of the core components of strategic management: determining organizational goals; prioritizing and pursuing the highest impact strategies to achieve those goals; tracking progress against targets; strategic problem-solving; coordinating across functional areas; evaluating and adjusting strategies based on data; holding the organization and team members accountable for progress toward collective goals; and identifying and celebrating individual and team contributions to overall efforts.

A successful Project Manager will enjoy working at a fast pace; serving in leader, facilitator, and team member roles; developing innovative, evidence-based strategies and solutions to operational barriers; resolving policy barriers; and institutionalizing change.

Essential Functions

• Drives incorporation of performance management approaches – and performance culture – in key interactions across the organization.
• Provides problem-solving support to initiative managers and helps ensure that input and feedback from colleagues across the organization is solicited and incorporated.
• Supports initiative managers to identify risks, strategize solutions, and develop plans to address identified issues in order to maintain initiative/project momentum.
• Evaluates adherence to specific terms and conditions outlined in charter agreements and laws and policies applicable to charter schools as part of annual evaluations, renewal reviews and ongoing monitoring.
• Manage high level quality assurance across projects to ensure consistency and equity across school outreach and participation.
• Organizes and conducts informal and formal school visits as part of comprehensive evaluations.
• Attends charter school Board meetings, convenings, and other events and documents and monitors findings and follow-up from meetings.
• Engages charter schools regarding key findings from school visits and attendance at meetings.
• Develops, monitors and assesses charter school progress in meeting renewal conditions and any required intervention conditions, engaging schools on outcomes as needed.
• Analyzes and reports on schools’ progress in meeting accountability standards.
• Develops recommendations on charter school outcomes and compliance.
• Supports implementation of an intervention system including notices of concern.
• Helps develop and disseminate best practices to educate internal and external stakeholders.
• Participates in efforts to promote equity and transparency in charter school operations.
• Supports development of school profiles and other information sources to increase the public’s awareness and knowledge of charter school options.
• Supports authorizing functions, including annual monitoring, turnaround, renewal, and charter modification,
• Perform other responsibilities within charter school monitoring and oversight as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of full-time, paid, professional experience in project management, educational research or evaluation, educational or developmental psychology, education, public policy, sociology which has included at least three years of experience working in or with schools with data analysis and interpretation or a related field

OR

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of full-time, paid, professional experience in project management, educational research or evaluation, educational or developmental psychology, education, public policy, sociology which has included at least two years of experience working in or with schools with data analysis and interpretation or a related field.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of training and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Talent.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of:
  • process improvement and the methods utilized to implement systemic change.
  • principles, practices, and procedures underlying strategic planning.
  • principles, practices, and procedures underlying coordination of large-scale projects and initiatives.
  • factors that contribute to successful schools and learning environments.
  • different instructional methodologies and factors that drive successful student outcomes.
  • recent empirical research in educational reform.
  • school procedures and operations.
  • challenges that arise in a large urban school district.
  • Microsoft Office products, including use of Microsoft Excel.

• Demonstrated ability to:
  • lead and implement strategic initiatives under aggressive deadlines.
  • function as an entrepreneurial self-starter, a team leader, a facilitator, and as a member of a team.

• work on multiple projects simultaneously, as evidenced by an ability to balance and prioritize. Operate effectively within a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• identify and break down complex problems and develop strategies to address the identified issues based on quantitative and/or qualitative evidence.
• assess school quality and performance through various types of evaluations, including academic data, school and classroom observations, and document and policy review.
• exercise sound judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting policies and procedures.
• analyze complex problems and create viable solutions.
• analyze and interpret data related to academic and organizational metrics.
• make cogent decisions and recommendations.
• prepare and present written and oral reports.
• efficiently manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities with concurrent timelines.
• work with families, students, coworkers, school leaders and staff, and the public from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• communicate and display data sets through multiple avenues and formats.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.