Special Assistant, Cross-Regional Operations - Uncommon Schools

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 52 schools serving more than 19,000 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 supports the Chief of Operations for Schools through various tasks including the administrative responsibilities of the CO’s office, planning and drafting communications, and project managing a few of the CO’s Regional and network-wide initiatives. The Special Assistant reports directly to the Chief of Operations for Schools  and works regularly with the Cross-Regional Operations Teams, regional School Support Teams,  Regional Superintendents of Operations, and Uncommon Schools’ Home Office teams and staff. We are looking for a go-getter with a can-do attitude. The role will provide a unique opportunity to see and learn about school management and public charter school operations at the network-wide level. Location is flexible between Brooklyn and NYC; travel between regions or to retreat locations may be required approximately 1-2 times monthly.

Administrative Tasks and Executive Support:

• Ensure the CO’s time is maximized and aligned with the organization’s priorities by seamlessly managing the CO’s calendar, arranging meetings, and coordinating all details of travel and creating a comprehensive travel itinerary
• Track and deliver daily CO briefs and weekly calendar to support the CO’s schedule, action items, and meeting preparation
• Provide administrative support for the CO, including credit card reconciliation, reimbursement processing, and other duties as needed
• Own and manage both large and smaller meetings by creating presentations, taking minutes, and managing logistics
• Improve current operations and processes within the CO's office to efficiently allocate resources and time 

Program and Systems Management:

• Manage stakeholders on projects laterally and above including partnering across multiple leaders, teams, and regions for project execution
• Create and maintain strategic trackers and metrics to ensure progress on high level work towards goals and deadlines
• Project manage and operationalize a few of the CO's organization-wide initiatives per year; activities include building out the project plan, owning implementation, and monitoring budget and execution

Communications and culture:

• Manage and Implement the CO's communication plan 
• Manage CO's external speaking events including logistics, drafting speeches and presentations, and preparing the CO for the events
• Support in shaping a joyful staff culture within the CO's teams and/or school and Home Office leaders

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree required

Experience Requirements:

• 3+ years of full time experience

  • 2-3 years of professional experience, preferably in K-12 education or an executive-level support role
  • Proficiency in Outlook and basic familiarity with Microsoft products (PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Word, etc.)

Travel/Schedule:

• 3 days a week in our central office located in downtown Manhattan 
•  1-2 times a month require travel to Camden, Boston, and Rochester
• Occasional work required after hours for support with events or meetings.

Physical Requirements:

• Setting up for events and PDs may require lifting
• May need to move heavy packages
• Occasional travel to schools with no elevator

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 $67,800. The starting compensation for this role is between $64,000 to $75,300.  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 recruitment@uncommonschools.org.