Senior Director of Strategy and Operations

As the Director of Strategy and Operations, you will report directly to the CEO and collaborate on implementing high-impact organizational strategy and priorities. The Director of Strategy and Operations will lead the planning and execution of high-impact cross-functional projects toward successful implementation. As a Summit leader, you will play a critical role in motivating and influencing change that is deeply connected to our community.

We are seeking passionate individuals who embody Summit’s mission, vision, and core beliefs: leaders who believe that all students can learn, that our scholars belong in college, and that student growth is a reflection of the teacher’s practice. We are looking for leaders who are reflective in their practice and are willing to engage in conversations around educational equity and inclusivity. We're committed to finding leaders who value and amplify the diverse experiences of our staff and scholars, and their families and who care deeply about addressing the inequities that exist in education.

This position is based in Washington state (preferably) or in the San Francisco Bay Area. This role is supported by grant funding for twelve-months, with the potential for extension.

Who we are:

What if all students graduated high school with the knowledge, skills and habits they need to lead a fulfilled life? This is the question that guides our mission at Summit Public Schools.

Summit is a leading network of public schools that prepare a diverse student population for success in a four-year college and to be thoughtful, contributing members of society. We operate 11 schools serving over 4,000 students in the Bay Area and Washington state. 100% of Summit graduates are college ready and Summit graduates complete college at double the national average.

We need exceptional, diverse, and mission-aligned people to join our team to help prepare our students for a fulfilled life. Join us!

What You’ll Do:

The Director of Strategy and Operations is responsible for leading the development strategy as well as leading operations to effectively and efficiently execute on and achieve the goals of the strategic plan. This leader plays a critical role in supporting Summit Public Schools, ensuring clear priorities across strategic and tactical team and school needs, high-quality data collection, compelling communication, and quality implementation.

This person will work in close partnership with the Director Government Affairs and Community Engagement Managers. The Director of Strategy and Operations will develop, maintain, and improve the systems that empower the team to do their work in an effective, efficient, and aligned way. Additionally, this person will work closely with the CEO and external advisors to develop and implement a communications strategy to amplify the work. The Director of Strategy and Operations will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Responsibilities will include:

Strategic Planning

• Develop and manage strategic plans for Summit Public School’s Washington continued success in partnership with team leadership; which includes communicating progress and monitoring implementation of strategic work and goal achievement.
• Ensure that each improvement effort is clearly defined, bound to specific measures of success and progress towards stated outcomes.
• Design practical solutions to challenges; rapidly implement, evaluate the effectiveness and usability of internal systems; rapidly iterate and streamline.

Community Engagement

• Develop and manage relationships with a broad base of constituents from targeted neighborhoods (including faith-based institutions, public officials, local government agencies, social service agencies) as well as teachers and school leaders at Summit,
• Cultivate community member support for the local and statewide issue campaigns developed by the community.
• Coach and develop community organizers on the community issue campaigns
• Build the capacity of community engagement managers to understand the Washington state and educational landscape for charter schools, the interests of key decision-makers, and the power of an organized grassroots community.
• In partnership with school/network leadership staff, support the school’s successful reauthorization by the Washington State Charter Commission.
• Collaborate with school and network staff to remain informed on the local education political landscape and develop coordinated grasstops-grassroots strategies.
• Over time, build and manage multiple parent organizing committees that drive local campaigns around community or education system issues.
• Plan and coordinate large public forums and meetings, led by parent leaders.
• Collaborate and coordinate with other charter schools and the Washington Charter Association staff on local and statewide policy campaigns.
• Participate in local and regional staff development sessions with organization partners.
• Communicate with all stakeholders in a way that is clear, compelling, and strategic.

Operations, Event, Team & Project Management

• Lead the development of aligned project plans and systems that effectively and efficiently lead the improvement team to their outcomes aligned with the strategic plan, working closely with the Director of Government Affairs, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Legal Officer as key stakeholders for this effort.
• Lead the Community Engagement Team in the organization and prioritization of daily, weekly, or monthly operations with excellence.
• Lead the progress monitoring and maintenance of a multi-year project plan, including planning, preparation, facilitation, and reviews of team meetings and work cycles
• Support the Executive Director(s) on target sites in developing and managing progress monitoring systems, fundraising efforts, strategic planning, content marketing, leadership meeting agendas, and logistics management.
• Support the Executive Director (s) on strategic priorities and effective execution of the team’s work, including project management.
• Ensure the high quality and usability of all documents and materials by developing and maintaining effective knowledge management systems for the team
• Lead the planning, execution, and stakeholder experience of all project related events, including, Community Town Halls, Public Hearings, Board Meetings and Site Visits
• Support short- and long-term financial modeling.
• Surface potential conflicts and problems early and proactively develop plans to mitigate risk and assure success.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in team-effectiveness.

Partnership Management & Support

• Will have or quickly build expertise in relevant content areas in support of Summit Public School’s Washington continued success, becoming one of Summit's “go-to” people in those content areas.
• Effectively manage external partnerships, as designated by the CEO
• Compellingly represents Summit broadly, internally and externally.
• Lead and manage the work of external communications to various stakeholders.
• Coordinating with internal and external stakeholders as needed to enact structures for collaboration, development and execution of network events and activities

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Who You Are:

You have or are:

• A commitment to our mission and a shared belief that all students are capable of being college ready. You are willing to go above and beyond to serve children and their communities.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to create and manage effective systems on behalf of the Improvement Team and top tier managers.
• Exceptional data analysis skills to surface patterns and create solutions or recommendations that we may readily act upon; an ability to use data to drive decisions and behaviors.
• A track record of building strong personal relationships to building trust on a team.
• Excellent people-management and relationship building skills; the ability to influence others to produce strong and timely work.
• Values Aligned. You demonstrate a track record of working in alignment with our core values - compassion, courage, curiosity, respect, responsibility, and integrity - and demonstrate a growth mindset. You are able to give and receive honest, actionable and timely feedback.
• Effective in translating plans into action. You embrace change and effectively manage up, down, and laterally to bring about that change. You know that plans and strategies only matter if they are implemented. Effective change management is a way of being for you: you thrive on working with stakeholders to bring new plans and ideas to life and building the conditions for sustained behavior change.
• A generalist with diverse experiences. You have the experience and curiosity to master and collect expertise in various disciplines, industries, skills, topics, and/or capabilities.

What You Need:

Key Qualities and Skills

• 3+ years of successful project management and strategic planning experience; may include multi-stakeholder agendas for large system-wide shifts, contingency planning, management consulting, and/or team or department leadership.
• 4-5+ years prior work experience is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree (a Master’s Degree or above is preferred).
• An ability to travel for site-visits and convenings periodically (approximately 7-8 weeks/year) of work time is required.
• Meet health clearance and pass the reference, background/criminal checks, per education code.
• Proficiency in Google Platforms, including Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Docs, and Google Slides.
• Working knowledge of and experience with improvement science principles and practices is highly preferred.
• Experience preparing and facilitating high-quality, engaging professional development is highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of federal and state education policies and practices preferred.

What You Get:

In addition to joining a highly motivated team and engaging in meaningful work, you’ll have access to a comprehensive suite of benefits including a retirement plan, a “take what you need” PTO policy, 11 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of organization-wide closures during the year. You and your dependents will have access to multiple health, dental, and vision plans at 25% cost (we cover the other 75%) and employee life and disability insurance at no cost.

Our compensation policy strives to be equitable and transparent. The salary for this position starts at $147,325 and goes up to $193,871 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Summit is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly intertwined with education. We are ALL better when we are able to bring our whole selves to work and honor each other’s voices across identities, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who are members of historically marginalized communities. Spanish language proficiency is a plus.