Job Description

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Manager of Special Projects will be an operations and people-oriented professional who will bring project management, strategic planning, and implementation support for key organizational and strategic initiatives. The Manager of Special Projects will coordinate accountability structures, manage critical compliance areas and ensure effective internal communication so that essential activities across the organization are well-coordinated, especially between our schools and within the home office teams. 

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this role will have the unique opportunity to ensure seamless, proactive support and structures that will contribute to the overall impact of KIPP Colorado. 

More specifically, the Manager of Special Projects is charged with the following key responsibilities:

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Provide coordination, oversight in the development, and management of strategic initiatives and special projects for the CEO, home office team, and schools
  • Perform integrated analysis and strategic consultation on issues impacting the organization.
  • Prepare briefings, memos, or presentations to communicate findings, as appropriate.
  • Lead cross-functional project teams to achieve specific outcomes and deadlines on behalf of the organization 
  • Assist in screening and selection of consultants on special projects; managing overall relationships to ensure alignment and successful execution.
• Support the annual planning processes by helping establish alignment for progress monitoring organizational priorities, serving as a thought partner with functional teams as they build monitoring systems and processes.
• Help convert new ideas into action; promote efficiency by assessing processes, determining gaps, and offering solutions; generate new ideas; serve as a thought partner to leadership and strategic plan initiative owners.
• Identify and mitigate impending risks and barriers to successful strategic project implementation
• Support the execution and implementation of the strategic plan priorities in pursuit of achieving organizational goals.
• Create systems to track and monitor the progress of key initiatives and projects, working closely with the Strategy Team and other stakeholders to gather relevant data and project manage accordingly.
• Perform research and development activities to determine whether new initiatives are viable and worthy of prioritization.
• Manage cross-functional, strategic projects to be determined collaboratively with the Chief of Staff. 
• Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders in order to effectively determine capacity needs as they relate to the strategic plan and key initiatives.
• Create effective knowledge management systems.

DRIVE BEST-IN-CLASS BOARD GOVERNANCE AND PRACTICES

• Ensure smooth operations of the Board, including calendaring board and committee meetings and an annual board retreat; creating, managing and coordinating all board meeting logistics, including meeting materials and agendas; planning new board member onboarding and orientation, and outgoing Board member recognition.
• Serve as board secretary, ensuring that accurate and sufficient documentation exists to meet legal requirements of public meetings and Colorado state laws, and to enable authorized persons to determine when, how, and by whom the board's business was conducted.

SUPPORT THE CHIEF OF STAFF (COS)

• Manage details for complex meetings and schedules while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality; ensure that meeting details are confirmed (attendance, time/duration, location, agendas, materials) and proactively plan for travel time and other logistical considerations.
• Create and distribute draft agendas, provide advance materials, and execute follow-up for meetings and events.
• Keep current on CoS priorities and anticipate needs in accordance with those priorities.
• Respond to requests for information from individuals, schools, KIPP CO staff, and other external stakeholders on behalf of the CoS, as appropriate.
• Successfully plan and execute events for KIPP Colorado

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AND AUTHORIZER RELATIONS

• Meet with internal and external stakeholders and synthesize their concerns, challenges, and ideas into easily understandable and actionable recommendations.
• Ensures that portfolio schools are in compliance with all local, state, federal requirements in collaboration with/support of the Regional Leadership Team.
• Serve as project manager for the Denver Public Schools charter renewal process at each renewal cycle.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Denver Public Schools and the Colorado Department of Education for many school-level compliance requirements including student and staff data and reporting, as well as working with key stakeholders on the regional support team and schools.
• Create and manage regional compliance calendar, ensuring all stakeholders meet deadlines, understanding organizational risk, serve as a thought partner when issues arise and bubble up challenges to the leadership team, as needed.
• Determine potential gaps and opportunities for efficiency with annual compliance requirements.
• Attend all state and district trainings, as needed.
• Serve as project manager for the annual policy revision process involving Denver Public Schools and the Colorado Department of Education.

Qualifications

The Manager of Special Projects will have meticulous attention to detail and is able to identify priorities and create immediate action steps to address those priorities. A strong candidate will be able to swiftly project manage, drive execution and keep their leadership organized. The new Manager of Special Projects will provide critical support to our Chief of Staff and our Board that will result in robust strategies and plans that ultimately impact students, families, and communities.

WHAT SUCCESS IN YEAR ONE WILL LOOK LIKE:

• Creation of new cross-functional initiatives, projects, and systems that have measurable outcomes on student achievement.
• The creation of successful support scaffolding for the Chief of Staff.
• Planning and implementation support for inaugural key strategy initiatives.
• Modeling KIPP Colorado’s values and commitment to anti-racism that ultimately fosters a positive, inclusive, equitable, and fun work environment.
• A clear improvement upon board and committee governance and practices, including meeting structures, preparation, and follow-up, as well as onboarding and recognition. up

KEY EXPERIENCES INCLUDE:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 3-5 years of professional work experience required, preferably in a dynamic nonprofit environment or school district.
• Experience with project management, managing multiple priorities, and event planning/management, are all a plus.
• Excellent relationship builder with experience managing stakeholders and collaborating across teams.
• Prior experience exhibiting exceptional use of judgment, as well as analytical skills to solve complex problems and implement solutions.
• Record of results managing both the big picture and the details.
• Experience with administrative functions and experience creating and implementing systems, operations, and processes.
• Familiar with GSuite, social media, and common online platforms such as Zoom.
• Intermediate knowledge of Excel and data analysis skills preferred.
• Bilingual preferred.

KEY ATTRIBUTES INCLUDE:

• Strong commitment to the belief that all students can learn and to the mission of anti-racist, educational equity—required.
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial environment; willing to learn and take on new responsibilities; comfortable with ambiguity; ability to balance urgency and the pace of change management, as needed.
• High self-awareness, humility, and integrity; personally driven to be self-reflective, learn and grow; values enabling others to succeed.
• Builds relationships marked by respect, trust, and integrity.
• Has a strong equity lens when making resource allocation decisions.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities; ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
• Strong team player with excellent customer service orientation; ability to communicate, influence, and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups with self-confidence and initiative.

TRAVEL: Travel within Denver to KIPP Colorado's network of schools.

Additional Information

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• The salary range for this role is $65,000-85,000 and is based on relevant years of experience.
• This is a full-time administrative position that is exempt under the FLSA
• Benefits package including medical, dental, and vision
• Employee Assistance Program
• Participation in PERA
• Paid family or medical leave of absence
• Paid time off
• Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
• Wellness reimbursement
• Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
• Voluntary long term disability insurance
• Voluntary short term disability insurance
• Optional 401(k)
• Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• All staff members are issued a laptop computer and cell phone.
• Numerous professional growth and leadership opportunities within KIPP Colorado Schools

KIPP Colorado Schools is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. KIPP Colorado Schools, KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School, KIPP Northeast Elementary, KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy and KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications, and the ability to perform a job without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, legally protected medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, or on any other basis made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.