Manager, Strategic Planning & Implementation

ABOUT ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is one of the largest and most successful nonprofit public charter school networks in the nation, operating 26 high-performing, middle and high schools that educate nearly 13,000 scholars who make up the heart of Los Angeles’ Latinx, Black, and recent immigrant communities. Alliance schools have been recognized as among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Education, and the California Department of Education. Since opening our first school in 2004, 95% of Alliance scholars have graduated from high school. We strive to uplift our scholars and their communities by fostering unparalleled educational opportunities that encourage scholarly thought, resilient learning, powerful communication, mind-body wellness, and community advocacy. To learn more, visit www.LAalliance.org.

ROLE SUMMARY

ROLE SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice President, Strategic Planning & Implementation, the Manager, Strategic Planning & Implementation is responsible for cross-functional project management across the Home Office on projects impacting schools. The Manager, Strategic Planning & Implementation is part of the larger Instruction Division at Alliance and will work cross-functionally with teams across Alliance. This also involves working closely with executive leaders and school sites.  This is an ideal opportunity for an excellent project manager who exhibits strategic and systems thinking; thorough attention to detail; strong written and verbal communication and relationship-building skills; versatility, adaptability; and a willingness to learn new content areas; and a demonstrated deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES  

Project Management of Critical Network-Wide Planning Processes

• Project manage the cross-functional and stakeholder engagement-driven development of the network’s annual Academic Calendar and Assessment Calendar, including:

  • Developing and maintaining a detailed, thorough workplan that is responsive to shifting needs

  • Designing agendas and slide decks and managing logistics for convenings of Home Office and school site stakeholders

  • Drafting communications, developing surveys, analyzing survey results, and writing memos that synthesize key takeaways and decision points for executive leadership

  • Researching and learning new content knowledge relevant for calendar development and developing a deep understanding of the nuances and tradeoffs

  • Maintaining detailed accuracy of the Academic and Assessment Calendars and associated deliverables

  • Project managing other Home Office teams in their contributions to the Academic and Assessment Calendars, including project managing the Assessment Calendar Steering Committee

  • Facilitating cross-functional planning meetings and conducting live or async trainings for Home Office staff as needed

  • Ensuring the calendars reflect the perspectives of our school communities through substantive engagement

• Project manage the cross-functional development and maintenance of the annual Network Operating Calendar, including:

  • Developing and maintaining a detailed, thorough workplan that is responsive to shifting needs

  • Developing and maintaining systems for calendar development and maintenance

  • Project managing across all Home Office teams to ensure a comprehensive and accurate Network Operating Calendar

  • Ensuring that the process is responsive to the perspectives and needs of Home Office teams, and that the calendar itself is responsive to the perspectives and needs of school sites

  • Maintaining detailed accuracy of the Network Operating Calendar and associated deliverables

Other Project Management Duties and Team Contributions

• Project manage other cross-functional processes across the network as needed, which may include projects such as:

  • The development and maintenance of the School Leadership Directory and School Points of Contact Directory

  • Designing processes for and managing the logistics of extensive school site stakeholder engagement to inform network strategic planning, such as surveys, focus groups, interviews, etc. with scholars, families, and staff

• In addition to the specific duties outlined above, this role provides versatile support on team and network priorities. Depending on the project, duties may include:

  • Developing materials (e.g. agendas, decks, logistics) for key cross-functional meetings, working strategically to support a strong culture, cross-functional collaboration and awareness, and progress monitoring against goals and milestones

  • Drafting clear and compelling communications, analyses, and memos for key audiences, including executive leaders, school leaders, and school site staff

  • Directly maintaining systems and structures in weedy detail

  • Ensuring quality of communications and deliverables through strong proofreading

  • Organizing and planning for important meetings and events

  • Perform other duties as assigned

Team Collaboration

• Serve as a thought partner to colleagues on the Strategic Planning & Implementation Team on cross-functional projects, opportunities for cross-collaboration, process improvement, and problem-solving, including:

  • Working to ensure processes are driven by equity, stakeholder engagement, and data

  • Centering design on the experience of our school communities

  • Ensuring high-quality processes and end products through mission orientation, strong relationships, and attention to detail

• Contribute to a culture of genuine One Team collaboration, honesty, and vulnerability in continuous learning, joy and celebration, inclusivity and access to processes and systems, and the rigorous application of an equity lens, and specifically a racial equity lens, to processes and decisions.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE

• Commitment to the Alliance's core beliefs and philosophy

• Knowledge of urban school environments and school culture

• Experience working in schools and/or working with schools or districts

• Experience in complex, multi-stakeholder project management

• The ability to build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders including executive leaders, school leaders, teachers, parents, vendors, executives, and other Home Office and school-based colleagues

• Deep understanding of, commitment to, and experience with the communities Alliance serves and to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Strong project management skills with thorough attention to detail and the ability to efficiently and simultaneously manage multiple projects, adapting to shifting conditions and escalating issues as needed

• Strong organizational skills 

• Strong analytic and systems thinking necessary to build infrastructure where none exists

• Proven ability to navigate complex issues and ambiguity and achieve results

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to research/track down key information

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office, Google-based applications, and Zoom; must be comfortable with spreadsheets

• Entrepreneurial, growth-minded individual who thrives in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment

• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team committed to a new future for urban education

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to Alliance’s core beliefs and educational philosophy

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office and Google-based applications

• At least 2 years of project management experience, preferably in an educational setting; AND

• At least 3 years of total professional work experience and a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university; OR

• At least 5 years of professional work experience and a HS Diploma or equivalent (e.g. G.E.D.).

WORK LOCATION

This position is a hybrid role which will include a combination of working from home, our network office, and travel to school sites. The successful candidate will be given a $400 work-from-home set-up allowance and receive a monthly stipend of $100.

COMPENSATION

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit an application. Please note that only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

This job description is subject to change at any time based on the evolving needs of the organization.

• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools are tuition-free public charter schools that do not discriminate against any scholar, parent, community member, or staff member based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools requires that all team members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the safety of our students, family, and staff. Team members may apply to seek a medical exemption. Regardless of your current vaccination status, our team can advise you on how to fulfill this important requirement so that you can start the position in a timely way.

• Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they match every criterion. If you think you meet some of the qualifications, but don't necessarily check every box in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. If you have questions contact the Staffing Team at JoinUs@laalliance.org.