Operations / Administration New School Development Specialist
Job Description
Job Title: New School Development Specialist
Reports to: Director of New School Development
Organization: The Colorado League of Charter Schools has 15 staff members, a statewide membership of 250 schools with over 115,000 students, a distinguished 24-year history, a prominent 13 member board of directors, and a strong fiscal position. The League’s mission is to improve student achievement by supporting Colorado’s charter public schools, positively reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded high-quality public school choice. The League’s vision is for all Colorado students to have access to high-quality, publicly-funded school options. The League’s expectation is that all employees of the organization will champion its mission and vision with passion and dedication.
Position Summary: The Colorado League of Charter Schools exists to improve student achievement and expand choice among high quality public schools by serving and supporting Colorado’s charter schools. It is the expectation of the League that all employees of the organization support this mission and other principles of public school choice. In addition, all League employees should be self-motivated, flexible, effective communicators, service-oriented and collaborative. The League is seeking a full-time New School Development Specialist to assist with the daily operations of the New School Development (NSD) department. The NSD Specialist will need to be able to multi-task and manage time sensitive deadlines while providing excellent customer service and support for internal staff, developing and member schools. Experienced candidates are encouraged to apply.
Essential Job Duties:
- Work collaboratively across League departments to optimize new school supports for developing through year-three schools
- Facilitate the grants requirements and implementation for the department
- Provide direct technical assistance to new school developers throughout their process of designing a new school, writing a charter application, and opening a new school.
- Using the League’s database, maintain contact information for new school developers in Colorado and communicate regularly with relevant resources and news via a monthly e-newsletter.
- Assist in the management of the fiscal sponsor program; including entering and monitoring fiscal sponsor agreements, sending donor acknowledgement communication, reviewing program materials for updates and efficacy and collaborating with legal and operations League staff for compliance issues.
- Assist in maintaining a process for continuous improvement by: reviewing supports regularly to identify gaps, creating new supports where necessary, staying apprised of external resources available to new school developers and using periodic surveys to review level of satisfaction among new school developers.
- Support the planning grant administration for the department
- Assist with planning for the annual conference and other trainings
- Assist with tracking expanding and replicating schools
- Visit with new school developers and provide technical assistance
- Facilitate new school mentor/mentee connections
- Identify and source new consultants across critical areas of school development
- Update and maintain critical lists, resources and documents
- Review charter applications as needed
- Review planning grants as needed
- Uphold effective organizational norms & operations, including financial practice, staff culture, team routines, healthy communication, transparency and accountability for performance.
- Other priorities & tasks as assigned
Position Qualifications:
- First-hand experience in new charter school development (preferably in Colorado) and operations is essential. The ideal candidate will have managed or assisted a school planning and start-up process and/or served in a leadership or management position at a new school or with a school organization that has successfully opened or replicated.
- An understanding of the characteristics of high quality charter schools and a commitment to developing high quality charter schools.
- Organizational planning skills, including the ability to define goals, design projects tailored to achieving goals, and oversee project implementation.
- Knowledge of the school chartering process in Colorado and a familiarity with the state’s diverse demographics, community characteristics (e.g.; rural, suburban, urban), state and local educational climate, and the educational needs of specific communities.
- Superior writing and editing skills.
- Creative problem solver, ability to multi-task without compromising detail or quality, and comfortable and resourceful within a small, growing nonprofit organization.
- Willingness and ability to travel (primarily in state). Limited overnight stays involved.
- Self-directed and motivated, with an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Comfortable and resourceful within a small, growing nonprofit organization.
- Superior communications, analytical and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage in a collaborative work environment.
- Commitment to the charter school sector and the mission and vision of the League.
- Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
- Excellent project management skills with experience in managing administrative projects
- Experience managing and/or writing grants preferred
- Strong command over written and verbal communication
- Good understanding of the organization’s overall business and its objectives
- Ability to work within a team and provide support to staff at various levels
- A multi-tasker with strong ability to work under pressure
- Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines and produce quality results on time with attention to detail
- Proficient in using computers with related knowledge of software programs and Internet
- Passionate about ensuring that all families and students have access to high quality educational options.
- Self-starter who works independently, learns quickly & easily, and takes pride in doing excellent work.
- Enjoy working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where change is embraced.
- Strong work ethic with a commitment to maximizing organizational excellence.
- Diligent, well-organized, timely.
- Take pride in following through on projects and requests to completion.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
