Project Manager: Strategic Initiatives

Job Summary

The role of the Project Manager is to help implement the District’s overall strategic management goal: creating an aligned organization capable of supporting a high-performing system of schools.

The work of the Project Manager will touch on all of the core components of strategic management: determining organizational goals; prioritizing and pursuing the highest impact strategies to achieve those goals; tracking progress against targets; strategic problem-solving; coordinating across functional areas; evaluating and adjusting strategies based on data; holding the organization and team members accountable for progress toward collective goals; reviewing and revising policy and procedures; supporting a culture of organizational learning and growth, and identifying and celebrating individual and team contributions to overall efforts.

A successful Project Manager will enjoy working at a fast pace; serving in leader, facilitator, and team member roles; developing innovative, evidence-based strategies and solutions to operational barriers; resolving policy barriers; and institutionalizing change.

Essential Functions

• Serves as the Office of the Superintendent’s lead project manager with the Board of Education Office staff and coordinates responses to Board requests across functional areas and departments to ensure accurate and timely responses.
• Coordinates and supports the efforts of District staff in preparation for and execution of Board Committee meetings on Finance and Facilities, Student Achievement and Support, Policy, and District Partnerships & Community Engagement, and other committees or working groups as needed.
• Supports the District’s policy review, revision, and adoption process to ensure compliance and consistency across policies and practices; coordinates this work with the Office of General Counsel and with all District Departments.
• Supports the District’s strategic planning process and implementation monitoring of key actions and initiatives.
• Provides problem-solving support to District leaders and helps to ensure that input and feedback from colleagues across the organization are solicited and incorporated.
• Supports initiative managers to identify risks, strategize solutions, and develop plans to address identified issues in order to maintain initiative/project momentum.
• Creates presentation materials and talking points for internal and external audiences and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Supports the District’s Executive Team professional development and implementation of growth-minded organizational practices.
• Researches education policy issues and strategic management practices and assist in disseminating information to the District’s leadership team.
• Supports the development of knowledge management strategies and internal modes of communication for School District staff to improve information sharing and cross-department communication.
• Supports and helps lead implementation of high-priority special projects including, but not limited to, various District’s strategic partnerships with public, private, and social sector organizations.
• Serves as a liaison between the Office of the Superintendent and other District offices to build collaborative relationships across functional teams.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with key stakeholders across all levels of the organization and with external partners.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of full-time, paid, professional experience in project management, consulting, policy, operations, or research, which has included working in education or a related field.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of training and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Talent.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• process improvement and the methods utilized to implement systemic change.
• principles, practices, and procedures underlying strategic planning.
• principles, practices, and procedures underlying coordination of large-scale projects and initiatives.

Demonstrated ability to:

• lead and implement strategic initiatives under aggressive deadlines.
• function as an entrepreneurial self-starter, a team leader, a facilitator, and as a member of a team.
• work on multiple projects simultaneously, as evidenced by an ability to balance and prioritize multiple competing priorities.
• identify and break down complex problems and develop strategies to address the identified issues based on quantitative and/or qualitative evidence.
• build and maintain strong, effective working relationships across all levels of an organization.
• coordinate cross-functional teams.
• understand, interpret, and analyze a variety of data sources.
• design and develop systems, tools, and schedules for collecting, maintaining, and reporting on performance data.
• adapt to different situations, particularly when new information is provided.
• communicate in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writing.
• use MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.