Operations / Administration Chief Operating Officer at ExpandED Schools
Job Description
Chief Operating Officer
Background
ExpandED Schools is dedicated to ensuring that all young people in New York City have access to enriching programs that affirm their identities, teach them valuable skills, and spark new possibilities in and out of the school day. In order to achieve this mission, ExpandED provides K–12 programs with curricula and support; trains educators; and advances the sector through policy and research. ExpandED envisions a vibrant, stable, and equitable publicly-funded system of school-community partnerships so that all New York City children thrive.
Founded as The After-School Corporation (TASC) in 1998 through a challenge grant from the Open Society Foundations (then the Open Society Institute), ExpandED Schools was the first organization established to build a citywide system of daily comprehensive after-school programs for kids in kindergarten through high school. ExpandED laid the foundation for New York City to construct the nation’s largest publicly funded K-12 after-school system.
The organization today reaches more than 70,000 children and 900 programs per year throughout New York City to ensure that young people throughout the five boroughs have access to innovative, engaging ways of learning to enable them to reach their full potential. Over the last two decades, ExpandED Schools’ program, research and policy efforts have led to increased recognition of the academic, social, and emotional benefits of afterschool, increased funding, and new models for school-community partnership. Located in midtown Manhattan at 11 West 42nd Street, ExpandED Schools has a staff of approximately 60 and an annual budget of approximately $15 million.
The Opportunity
ExpandED Schools seeks an entrepreneurial, strategic, and passionate Chief Operating Officer with the expertise to help shape and advance ExpandED’s strategy while ensuring its long-term sustainability and its responsiveness to a changing environment. As chief problem-solver and cross-organizational cheerleader and coach, the COO serves as the internal chief for people and operations for the 60-person ExpandED staff, shapes our culture and staff development systems, and plays a critical role in our efforts to strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion. Driving results and continuous improvement, the COO oversees our research team and supports evidence-based decision-making throughout the organization. Reporting to the President & CEO, the COO supports all key operations functions of a highly dynamic and adaptive organization.
Duties & Responsibilities
The Chief Operating Officer has the following responsibilities:
- Advance the organization’s core strategies.
- Work closely with the President and cabinet members to manage the processes that enable us to develop, implement and adapt ExpandED’s strategy in response to changing conditions.
- Develop, refine and advance materials that effectively communicate ExpandED Schools’ broad strategy to internal and external stakeholders.
- Support all departments in executing operational expectations with special attention to the alignment of resources and priorities.
- Drive continuous improvement and impact.
- Shape and advance organizational data collection, data-driven decision-making, research & evaluation.
- Monitor and report on progress towards goals.
- Nurture an effective culture.
- Cultivate a collaborative organizational culture that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in order to meet our goals.
- Facilitate efficient and accountable interdepartmental communication and collaboration.
- Supervise and mentor staff.
- Directly supervise the HR & Administration Manager and Senior Director of Research.
- Shape and advance culture and staff development systems, including human resources, salaries and benefits, individual and group professional development opportunities, and team-building events to build community.
- Oversee operations of complex and dynamic organization.
- Assess and refine ExpandED’s organizational structure to respond to priorities and team needs.
- Develop and reinforce policies and practices that reflect ExpandED Schools’ mission, values and priorities.
- In conjunction with Chief Financial Officer and budget managers, develop ExpandED Schools’ annual budget, ensuring its alignment with organizational priorities.
- Serve as the primary liaison to ExpandED Schools’ pro bono counsel.
- Oversee management of office space including leading negotiations and communication with subtenants and landlord, and actively seeking ways to economize on administrative expenses.
- Oversee ExpandED’s technology use, identifying, developing and implementing solutions to make organizational processes, communication, document storage and other functions more efficient.
- Serve as an impeccable senior administrator for the organization, representing the organization in city, state, and federal registration systems, reviewing and serving as signatory on most major consultant contracts and purchases.
Desired Qualifications:
- Outstanding organizational and project management skills, motivation to self and others, and orientation to detail.
- Demonstrated effectiveness in designing and implementing systems that support successful strategy execution and change management processes.
- Deep commitment to ExpandED Schools’ vision of an equitable public education system that prepares young people for long-term success.
- Strong cultural competence with respect for and knowledge of the cultures of stakeholders we work with and communities we serve and an ability to lead deeper understanding and positive practices to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization.
- Capability to develop and manage a complex $15M organizational budget with multiple public and private sources.
- Avid and curious user of technology to solve problems, interest in building new and more efficient systems, and comfort using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google suite products.
- Capability and enthusiasm for managing people and teams to produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment while nurturing a strong organizational culture.
- Experience leading initiatives connected to public schools and/or afterschool programs, preferably in New York City.
- Willingness and ability to travel within New York City and occasional overnight trips.
Salary Range: $188,000 – $205,000
Benefits: ExpandED Schools offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and eligible part-time employees, including:
- Medical, dental and vision plans for employees and dependents, largely subsidized by ExpandED
- Health, dependent care and transit pre-tax accounts
- Employer-paid life insurance and supplemental disability coverage
- Paid time off package which includes 24 vacation days, 8 sick days, and 13 paid holidays
- 403b retirement plan with eligibility for employer contribution of 5% of annual compensation after one year of employment (no match requirement)
- Commitment to work-life balance
- Partial tuition reimbursement offered to employees after six months of service
- Professional development opportunities, including funds for training and coaching
ExpandED 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 diverse backgrounds and experiences. ExpandED Schools is an equal opportunity employer, and as such, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to: employment@expandedschools.org, Subject: Chief Operating Officer. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
