Chief Operations Officer (Coo)

Chief Operating Officer, DESA

Founded by trailblazing African-American artists and activists Peggy Cooper-Cafritz and Mike Malone, Duke Ellington School of the Arts is a dynamic public high school that offers a dual curriculum integrating college-preparatory academics with pre-professional training in dance, instrumental music, cinematic arts and media production, museum studies, technical design and production, theatre, visual arts, and vocal music. The school has no academic entrance requirements yet graduates 99% of students, with almost all attending 4-year colleges. The school is ranked among the highest in the city, and is proud of all of its alumni, including mezzo soprano Denyce Graves, Grammy winning bassist Ben Williams, artist Hank Willis Thomas, actor Corey Hawkins, and comedian Dave Chappelle.

Duke Ellington School of the Arts is searching for an experienced Chief Operating Officer to join the school's executive leadership team. The COO will oversee finance, operations, and human relations, and partner with the Head of School to ensure that the school achieves its mission. Duke Ellington is managed through a public-private partnership, and the COO will assist in ensuring that this structure is executed seamlessly. In this newly created role, the right candidate will become a vital member of one of the nation's most unique and exciting high schools.

The COO will:

• Collaborate with the Head of School to set vision, goals, and strategy for operations, finance, and human resources.
• Serve as a key thought-partner and advisor to the Head of School.
• Define objectives and priorities for operations, finance, and human resources, and support the team to achieve them.
• Through effective leadership and management, ensure that the day-to-day activities of all aspects of operations run smoothly and help the school reach its mission. This includes: facilities, health and safety, student enrollment and records, transportation, meal service, technology and data systems, procurement, communications, events, and scheduling.
• Build an integrated human resources department and ensure all HR and talent processes and practices are streamlined, effective, and inclusive. This includes: recruitment and selection, onboarding, performance management, learning and development, compensation and benefits.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for all non-academic areas.
• Establish metrics, monitor progress, and evaluate results of operations, finance, and HR initiatives.
• Ensure all facilities are safe, welcoming, and contribute to high levels of student and staff success.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and reporting requirements.
• Facilitate organization-wide strategic planning around operations, finance, and HR.
• Set expectations for crisis management and ensure swift response to crises.
• Identify operational risks, institute risk mitigation processes, and oversee contingency planning.
• Lead procurement and contract management process and oversee all non-academic vendors.
• Lead financial strategy and stewardship for the organization, including leading the finance team in the formation of budgets, financial forecasts, financial planning, and annual audits.
• Ensure expectations for accounting processes and controls are met.
• Set expectations and approaches for budget monitoring, cash management, and financial reporting, and support staff to achieve them.
• Promote and oversee relationships between internal program, development, operational and administrative teams, as well as with external entities, including DC Public Schools, vendors, and partner organizations.

A successful candidate will have:

A passion for the arts and a commitment to Duke Ellington's mission to provide equitable access to a life-changing arts education for talented students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to develop their artistic skills.

• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience with managing complex business operations, finance and budgeting, and HR, with at least 3 years in an executive-level position.
• Advanced degree in business, finance, educational administration, or a related field.
• Experience working in the education or non-profit world.
• Proven ability to unify teams and collaborate with external partners.
• Experience in managing and overseeing multiple departments.
• Proven success at leading large, complex, organizational change initiatives.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, both oral and written, with both internal and external constituencies.
• Excellent problem-solving, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong emotional intelligence skills be collegial, collaborative, and an empower others.
• Proven people development and management skills

Duke Ellington School of the Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.