Managing Director Of Strategy And Special Projects

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that currently supports 41 public charter schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Consistently rated as one of the top charter school networks in the country for almost 25 years, AF is committed to continuous improvement, programmatic evolution for enhanced student outcomes, and sustainable growth. The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families who will be the first in their families to graduate from college. AF currently employs more than 2,200 staff — 61% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, and Multi-racial — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence, RI.

The mission of Achievement First is to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. AF knows that every child—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status—deserves access to great schools. At AF, students realize their potential and develop the skills they need to graduate from high school, succeed in college, thrive in a competitive world, and serve as the next generation of leaders in their communities. At AF, students and staff embark on a shared journey to fulfill their incredible potential.

We are looking for a strategic and knowledgeable Managing Director of Strategy andSpecial Projectsto join our Strategy team.

Your Impact

The person in this role is a key driver behind large scale projects across the Achievement First Network. Though the person in this role will not immediately manage direct reports, they will be tasked with managing network support projects through cross functional communication and collaboration. The Managing Director of Strategy andSpecial Projects will act as a thought partner to the Chief of Strategy, especially as it pertains to efficiency and optimizing processes.

Reporting directly to the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) you will be responsible for:

Portfolio Management

• Oversee and partner with CSO to lead the annual portfolio management process, guiding key stakeholders through the process, analysis, and recommendations to the Executive Team and AF Boards
• Designing and leading effective stakeholder engagement processes with both internal and external stakeholders
• Identify, collect, and analyze key data needed to inform portfolio management processes and strategy
• Oversee and manage all communications related to portfolio management, including internal and external communication
• Develop all Board related communications and presentations on portfolio management for AF Boards and co-present with other Executive Team members
• Develop and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders across AF's 3 regions to supply regional expertise to the portfolio management process; attend and share relevant information from regional conferences, meetings, and authorizer events, as needed
• Develop and implement systems to regularly seek feedback on the portfolio management process and make annual improvements

Multi Year Planning / Annual Planning Support and Management

• In partnership with the Chief Strategy Officer, oversee and manage the network's multi-year strategic planning and annual planning processes
• Design effective communication to share the story of organizational progress and cascade key information and invest staff at various levels of the organization
• Create and lead accountability mechanisms and progress monitoring systems to ensure that we are collectively meeting our goals and objectives
• Develop and implement systems to regularly seek feedback on the strategic planning processes and make annual improvements

Strategic Leadership and Cross-Functional Project Management

• Serve as a key thought partner to the Chief Strategy Officer and other senior leaders to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and optimal use of all available resources and personnel.
• Strategize with the Chief Strategy Officer and other senior leaders on organizational planning, policy development, and problem resolution; ensure implementation plans are effectively communicated and managed.
• Partner with the Executive Team and other senior leaders to ensure there is effective change management with strong communication and cascading mechanisms.
• Drive execution of priority projects, as needed and required by the Executive Team and the organization.

Candidate Profile

All successful candidates for this position will have:

• Bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred)
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in school or organizational leadership in a fast-paced, complex & adaptive environment.
• Experience within K-12 education is ideal but not required.

In addition, the following characteristics are required to be successful on this team:

• Excellent time and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities
• Ability to handle complex projects autonomously, serving as a guide for effective strategic management across all levels of the organization
• Experience with data analytics and comfort using data to inform critical operational and strategic decision
• Must be able to work across lines of difference
• Know how to motivate and influence across teams
• Personal organization when working across multiple schools, regions, and teams is also critical.
• Strong ethics and ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proactive communication style
• Belief in the Achievement First mission and educational model

Travel Expectations

This is a hybrid role. The expectation is that the person in the role would be able to come into the Network Support office (NYC, CT, or RI) at least once a week. There may be additional travel to regions outside of your own on a monthly basis.

Compensation

Achievement First sets salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on the requisite skills, education, and experience relevant to the role. The salary for this position is $150,331 with no flexibility. Additionally, Achievement First offers to all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match, and paid Family Leave.