Senior Director, Strategic Projects - Chief of Operations (2024-25)
Apply NowCompany: Oakland Unified School District
Location: Oakland, CA 94601
Description:
Ref. 7229
TITLE: Senior Director, Strategic Projects
REPORTS TO: Superintendent
DEPARTMENT: Chief of Operations
CLASSIFICATION: Classified Management Confidential
FLSA: Exempt
WORK YEAR/HOURS: 261 days / 7.5 hours
ISSUED: Created: July 2017
SALARY GRADE: CFCA 24
BASIC FUNCTION: In support of the Superintendent, the Senior Director, Strategic Projects, is responsible for monitoring and facilitating the progress of staff-led projects and initiatives that support the 2015-2020 OUSD District Strategic Plan, Pathway to Excellence. The Senior Director will also serve as a confidant to the Superintendent and highly effective communicator and leader who manages all leadership teams, takes responsibility for complex short-term assignments, and intervenes by means of strategic problem solving.
The Senior Director provides operational assistance by managing special projects and leading key initiatives, resolving complex issues that require executive leadership and direction, supporting the deliverables of the senior leadership teams, and ensuring expectations and deadlines are clearly communicated to staff. The Senior Director serves as an advisor, decision-maker and problem solver for the Superintendent to ensure issues needing attention are addressed in a timely manner.
The Senior Director serves as one of two principal staff assistants to the Superintendent, exercising functional supervision over a subset of Superintendent's direct reports as assigned. The Director will hold primary supervision over the Coordinator, Local Control and Accountability Plan.
The Senior Director must maintain confidentiality of all personnel matters; some duties will involve access to confidential information concerning employer-employee relations.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: (Incumbents may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but is intended to reflect the principal job elements accurately.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Supervision of Internal Leadership
Develop internal systems, structures and processes via Executive Leadership Team meetings to drive a healthy District culture, working towards strong organizational effectiveness practices across the central office, with an intentional focus on: highly effective teams, District values cohesion, fiscal stability and transparency, and quality schools customer service.
Serve as a key member of the Superintendent's Senior Equity Leadership Team, coordinate agendas and develop scope and sequence, facilitate meetings and ensure that follow-up actions are completed; develop systems and processes for functioning of all executive leadership meetings.
Oversee operations of the Office of the Superintendent (in conjunction with Chief of Schools and Senior BusinessbOfficer/Chief Operating Officer), including board communication, and oversight and performance management for executive staff.
Serve as chief aide and liaison to the Board of Directors; oversee Board communication (e.g., status reports) and preparation of materials for Board meetings and retreats; and oversee information flow from District Staff to and from the Board of Education; draft Board goals and progress reports in collaboration with the Superintendent and department directors.
Visit schools with Superintendent, and senior District leaders to assess level of quality District support services and provide appropriate feedback to appropriate District departments to enhance and adjust District support services; maintain constant communication and contact with the Superintendent concerning the overall operation of the District.
Act in a liaison capacity between the Superintendent and division and department heads, school administrators, employee organizations, other school districts, public agencies, and the public, as directed.
Develop policy documents, communications and recommendations for the Superintendent and oversee policy updates needed to align with new legislation or legal mandates. Provide information on District policies and procedures and advise staff in interpreting policy direction.
Provide leadership and support to the Superintendent's direct reports to meet the District's strategic goals and objectives.
Hire, manage, motivate, develop and evaluate assigned staff; includes hiring, resource allocation, coaching, performance management, and development of staff; supervise already
Provide project management, facilitation, and coordination for priority initiatives in the
Superintendent work plan (e.g., Blueprint for Quality Schools).
Support Development and Execution of District Strategic Plan
Collaborate with District senior leadership in development of listening campaign and strategic planning process to develop a 5-year strategic plan for the District; include District, schools, families and community in the strategic planning process.
Confidant to Superintendent
Serve as overall thought partner related to all strategic and sensitive issues; analyze such issues that arise frequently in the rapidly changing environment of the Superintendent's office where improper handling may have serious consequences for the District.
Assess and manage sensitive issues that arise in the rapidly changing environment of the Superintendent's Office where improper handling could have serious consequences for the school District. Serve as the Superintendent's and Board's two-way intermediary with District departments, staff and community members, with support for enhancing equity and promoting diversity.
Analyze, interpret and provide recommendations to the Superintendent concerning District issues and other matters.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Superintendent.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The District determines whether a candidate is qualified based on fulfillment of prerequisites, relevant work experience, ability to perform the essential functions, reference checks, effective interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated by interview performance and/or writing samples, and achievement on performance-based assessments (if applicable) that demonstrate the candidate possesses the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting prerequisites only satisfies the initial screening process and does not indicate the candidate is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
ABILITY TO:
PREREQUISITES
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS:
Employment eligibility will include fingerprints, tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance
WORKING CONDITIONS
ENVIRONMENT:
Office and diverse school site environments; driving a vehicle to conduct work; fast-paced work; constant interruptions
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Consistent mental alertness; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects up to 30 pounds, occasionally 30+ pounds; bending and twisting at the waist, reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally; dexterity of both hands and fingers while performing duties; seeing to read, write and use the computer; hearing and speaking to exchange information, in person or on the telephone, and make presentations.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
The Oakland Unified School District does not discriminate in any program, activity, or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, sex, or sexual orientation.
TITLE: Senior Director, Strategic Projects
REPORTS TO: Superintendent
DEPARTMENT: Chief of Operations
CLASSIFICATION: Classified Management Confidential
FLSA: Exempt
WORK YEAR/HOURS: 261 days / 7.5 hours
ISSUED: Created: July 2017
SALARY GRADE: CFCA 24
BASIC FUNCTION: In support of the Superintendent, the Senior Director, Strategic Projects, is responsible for monitoring and facilitating the progress of staff-led projects and initiatives that support the 2015-2020 OUSD District Strategic Plan, Pathway to Excellence. The Senior Director will also serve as a confidant to the Superintendent and highly effective communicator and leader who manages all leadership teams, takes responsibility for complex short-term assignments, and intervenes by means of strategic problem solving.
The Senior Director provides operational assistance by managing special projects and leading key initiatives, resolving complex issues that require executive leadership and direction, supporting the deliverables of the senior leadership teams, and ensuring expectations and deadlines are clearly communicated to staff. The Senior Director serves as an advisor, decision-maker and problem solver for the Superintendent to ensure issues needing attention are addressed in a timely manner.
The Senior Director serves as one of two principal staff assistants to the Superintendent, exercising functional supervision over a subset of Superintendent's direct reports as assigned. The Director will hold primary supervision over the Coordinator, Local Control and Accountability Plan.
The Senior Director must maintain confidentiality of all personnel matters; some duties will involve access to confidential information concerning employer-employee relations.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: (Incumbents may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but is intended to reflect the principal job elements accurately.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Supervision of Internal Leadership
Develop internal systems, structures and processes via Executive Leadership Team meetings to drive a healthy District culture, working towards strong organizational effectiveness practices across the central office, with an intentional focus on: highly effective teams, District values cohesion, fiscal stability and transparency, and quality schools customer service.
Serve as a key member of the Superintendent's Senior Equity Leadership Team, coordinate agendas and develop scope and sequence, facilitate meetings and ensure that follow-up actions are completed; develop systems and processes for functioning of all executive leadership meetings.
Oversee operations of the Office of the Superintendent (in conjunction with Chief of Schools and Senior BusinessbOfficer/Chief Operating Officer), including board communication, and oversight and performance management for executive staff.
Serve as chief aide and liaison to the Board of Directors; oversee Board communication (e.g., status reports) and preparation of materials for Board meetings and retreats; and oversee information flow from District Staff to and from the Board of Education; draft Board goals and progress reports in collaboration with the Superintendent and department directors.
Visit schools with Superintendent, and senior District leaders to assess level of quality District support services and provide appropriate feedback to appropriate District departments to enhance and adjust District support services; maintain constant communication and contact with the Superintendent concerning the overall operation of the District.
Act in a liaison capacity between the Superintendent and division and department heads, school administrators, employee organizations, other school districts, public agencies, and the public, as directed.
Develop policy documents, communications and recommendations for the Superintendent and oversee policy updates needed to align with new legislation or legal mandates. Provide information on District policies and procedures and advise staff in interpreting policy direction.
Provide leadership and support to the Superintendent's direct reports to meet the District's strategic goals and objectives.
Hire, manage, motivate, develop and evaluate assigned staff; includes hiring, resource allocation, coaching, performance management, and development of staff; supervise already
Provide project management, facilitation, and coordination for priority initiatives in the
Superintendent work plan (e.g., Blueprint for Quality Schools).
Support Development and Execution of District Strategic Plan
Collaborate with District senior leadership in development of listening campaign and strategic planning process to develop a 5-year strategic plan for the District; include District, schools, families and community in the strategic planning process.
Confidant to Superintendent
Serve as overall thought partner related to all strategic and sensitive issues; analyze such issues that arise frequently in the rapidly changing environment of the Superintendent's office where improper handling may have serious consequences for the District.
Assess and manage sensitive issues that arise in the rapidly changing environment of the Superintendent's Office where improper handling could have serious consequences for the school District. Serve as the Superintendent's and Board's two-way intermediary with District departments, staff and community members, with support for enhancing equity and promoting diversity.
Analyze, interpret and provide recommendations to the Superintendent concerning District issues and other matters.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Superintendent.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The District determines whether a candidate is qualified based on fulfillment of prerequisites, relevant work experience, ability to perform the essential functions, reference checks, effective interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated by interview performance and/or writing samples, and achievement on performance-based assessments (if applicable) that demonstrate the candidate possesses the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting prerequisites only satisfies the initial screening process and does not indicate the candidate is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
- Public school administrative structures and challenges facing large, diverse, urban school Districts
- Strategic planning theory
- Public policy, procedure and management
- School reform theories and best practices to implement change
- Development and performance management methods
- Public school administrative structures and challenges facing large, diverse, urban school Districts
- Strategic planning theory
- Public policy, procedure and management
- School reform theories and best practices to implement change
- Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, courtesy, professional humor, candor and transparency
- Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and punctuation
- Computer software, hardware, and related technology
ABILITY TO:
- Understand and interpret District policies and procedures; be able to incorporate them into practice and explain them to others
- Design, develop and implement broad strategic initiatives and work plans and evaluate their outcomes
- Facilitate discussion and learning activities towards a clear end
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others of diverse backgrounds, experience, and personalities
- Inspire, motivate and support adults to transform their practices
- Serve as resource to District administrators and facilitate communication throughout the District
- Set goals, work independently, and drive results
- Produce high quality work, including strong attention to detail
- Adapt to feedback and focused on continuous improvement, reflection and refinement of personal practice
- Operate personal computer, related software, and other office equipment as assigned
- Explain complex problems and solutions in clear, concise and compelling ways
- Manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment
- Lead the strategic planning process and establish objectives
- Modify management strategies based on evaluation data
- Demonstrate excellent team-building skills
PREREQUISITES
- A Master's Degree or Higher in Education, Educational Administration or related field
- Experience in organizing and supervising cross-functional teams to manage and deliver large-scale projects, to handle diverse needs of stakeholders, and to collect data/information and create necessary information to manage the workflow in the Office of Academics
- Possess leadership skills in facilitating group processes, including consensus building and conflict resolution
- Advanced knowledge of District education initiatives, programs, and policies
- Advanced written, verbal and listening skills; excellent organization skills
- Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office products (e.g., Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)
- Valid California Driver's License
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS:
Employment eligibility will include fingerprints, tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance
WORKING CONDITIONS
ENVIRONMENT:
Office and diverse school site environments; driving a vehicle to conduct work; fast-paced work; constant interruptions
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Consistent mental alertness; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects up to 30 pounds, occasionally 30+ pounds; bending and twisting at the waist, reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally; dexterity of both hands and fingers while performing duties; seeing to read, write and use the computer; hearing and speaking to exchange information, in person or on the telephone, and make presentations.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
The Oakland Unified School District does not discriminate in any program, activity, or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, sex, or sexual orientation.