About Us
Mastery Charter Schools is a non-profit public charter school network that currently
operates twenty-two schools in Philadelphia PA and Camden NJ serving over 13,000
elementary, middle, and high school students. Mastery is unusual in that most of our
schools are turnarounds of historically struggling neighborhood district schools located
in high poverty communities. Our turnaround schools have dramatically increased
academic achievement and decreased violence and our work in this area has been
recognized by US Department of Education and President Obama.
We believe that educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our
country. Our goal is to create a network of exceptionally high performing urban schools
organized around a common vision: “Mastery schools are joyful, authentic communities
where students learn how to think critically and act independently so they are truly
prepared for post-secondary success.” Our work is rooted in an unwavering belief that
our students can achieve at the highest levels. To fulfill this vision, Mastery values
academic as well as personal skills, and schools match their high expectations with high
levels of support.
For more information about the organization, please visit Mastery’s website:
masterycharter.org.
Position Summary
Mastery Charter Schools is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Chief of Staff
(COS) responsible for ensuring Mastery’s leadership team and management systems
are highly effective and efficient. The COS is a partner to the CEO in developing and
executing organizational strategy. S/he drives the management systems that ensure
the Chiefs team and network support departments are aligned and working efficiently
towards achieving key mission metrics. The COS is committed to process but
motivated by how those processes impact students and families. The COS drives
executional excellence through the organization. The COS supports and oversees the
central office support teams. The COS also manages and resolves issues with the
School District of Philadelphia. The COS manages and supports the Mastery Board of
Trustees and works with the CEO to ensure organizational governance is efficient and
effective. Finally, the COS takes on special projects of critical strategic and tactical
importance.
Key responsibilities include:
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Manage the core organizational management systems that ensure that ensure that the senior leadership team and network support departments are aligned to key priorities, monitoring progress towards goals, and problem-solving barriers. The COS will drive critical decision making and manages the annual goal setting, support team score-carding, quarterly reviews, and strategic planning- ensuring efficient process and clear accountability. Managing those processes includes developing agendas, assigning pre-work, communicating decisions and ensuring accountability for deliverables. The COS works closely with the CEO to monitor and improve organizational management systems with a goal of delivering best-in-class management systems for a $200M organization with 25 school teams across two states.
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Ensure effective and coordinated communication within the senior leadership team and throughout the organization – from senior leadership to network support functions to schools and staff. Ensure communication between schools and the network support functions are effective in both directions.
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Ensure the effective operation of the network support teams, overseeing and supporting a 100 member network support office. Create management processes to ensure teams are coordinated and focused on priorities. Manage network internal communications ensuring network support staff feel informed and connected to the larger mission. Support productive and positive staff working conditions and morale within the network support office.
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Manage issues that arise with the School District of Philadelphia including charter applications, renewals, and other contracts. Manage District relationship and handle issues that arise with the District.
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Manage Board governance including preparation for board meetings, board communication, and compliance with governance regulatory requirements. Work with CEO to plan for board meetings, working sessions, and retreats.
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Lead long term and short term special projects and initiatives as assigned by CEO. Lead inter-departmental task forces. Long term projects may include critical program design or operations issues.
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Represent Mastery with external stakeholders including community groups, policymakers, business leaders, and others.
Qualifications
- Strategic: can think and manage in terms of systems.
- Passionate: driven to build a high performing school district that delivers for kids;
- Execution Expert: intense focus and outstanding skill at management execution.
- Extremely well organized and efficient:
- High Expectations: demands quality in his/her work and throughout the organization;
- Personable & Self-Aware: able to build relationships with a multiple stakeholders including network support leaders, principals, and teachers; self-aware with the ability to reflect and adapt to diverse environments,
- Smart: quick learner who is insatiable curious and able to figure it out;
- Humor: the work is hard; it will come in handy.
Requirements
- Minimum 7 years of senior project management experience. Experience in consulting or large organization environment is desirable.
- Proven track record of managing teams and organizational coordination and management.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Experience in the education field a plus
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