Senior Strategist, Office of Effective Partnerships and Impact

SchoolWorks Job Opportunity

Senior Strategist, Office of Effective Partnerships and Impact

Organizational Overview

SchoolWorks is an educational consulting group whose mission is to build the capacity of educators and educational organizations to advance all aspects of student learning and well-being. We represent a diverse client base including departments of education, school districts, charter school authorizers, charter management organizations, charter schools, district schools, K-12 service providers and foundations, and individual practitioners.

Description

The Center for School and District Partnership (CSDP) is pleased to offer a variety of professional learning opportunities to support school and district improvement efforts in the 2023-2024 school year. Each of these opportunities advances educational equity. They are organized around the three categories below, although some offerings may address more than one priority.

• Whole Child Supports: Cultivate systems to support that whole child and foster joyful, healthy, and supportive learning environments so that all students feel valued and connected.
• Grade-Appropriate Instruction: Promote deeper learning so that all students engage in grade-level work that is real-world, relevant, and interactive.
• Diverse and Well-Prepared Workforce: Develop and sustain a diverse, culturally responsive, and well-prepared workforce so that all students have equitable access to effective educators.

The Senior Strategist works within the Office of Effective Partnerships and Impact (OEPI). This office designs and delivers statewide supports in the form of professional learning opportunities, tools and resources, grants, progress monitoring and evaluation, direct assistance and coaching, and partnerships.  These supports are designed to target the systems and structures that can lead to more equitable opportunities and outcomes for students. The OEPI team is part of the Center for School and District Partnership (CSDP), which developed and uses the Coherence Guidebook as a framework for school improvement and ensures multiple offices at DESE worth together to support school progress.

The Senior Strategist will be part of a dynamic team focused on identifying common school and district needs and developing resources and supports to address them. This could include priorities such as, but not limited to: culturally responsive leadership teams and practices; innovative staffing, scheduling, and resource allocation strategies; effective instructional leadership routines, rituals, and systems; and multi-tiered systems of academic, behavioral, social emotional, and mental health support. In addition, the Senior Strategist will support key pieces of infrastructure for the OEPI, playing a key role in creating and operationalizing systems that promote strong coherence and collaboration across the team’s initiatives and partners.

Key Job Responsibilities

• In partnership with other DESE offices, districts, and schools, leverage policy and state-level resources to successfully scale equity-related strategies and interventions with proven impact.
• Support the strategy, implementation, and management of OEPI projects including but not limited to the Multi-Tiered System of Support Academies, professional development resources and networks, and direct assistance to districts.
• Co-manage a diverse portfolio of partners, including regular planning, design, and progress monitoring meetings with individual partner organizations who provide direct and contracted support to schools and districts and helping to bring alignment across all partner work;
• Lead office-wide fiscal management, including vendor procurement, contracts, and budget strategy.
• Develop and operationalize systems that promote strong coherence and collaboration across the team’s initiatives and partners.
• Curate and develop resources and tools that support school improvement efforts at both state and district levels.
• Play a lead role in the design, operations, and facilitation of statewide institutes and professional development opportunities.
• Assist with additional agency projects and priorities as needed.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

An exceptional candidate will excel in the following competencies:

• Equity Lens: Centers the value of equity and racial equity in all work, placing a focus on culturally responsive leadership and centering the needs and perspectives of historically marginalized populations of students – particularly students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and/or multilingual students. Demonstrated commitment and ability to interrupt systemic and interpersonal inequities.
• Innovation and Change Management: Understands the complexity of school systems and how to drive and/or influence sustainable improvement; innovates around district needs and leverages policy / other state levers to effect change.
• Project Leadership: Exemplary project leadership and management skills, with the ability to effectively design, implement, and monitor a project from start to completion.
• Operationally-minded: Builds strong systems to not only operationalize a given project but also create coherence and alignment across a portfolio of projects and initiatives.
• Data Use: Leverages data to strengthen their own practice and foster the continuous improvement of the partners, schools, and districts they support.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility when plans or situations change unexpectedly; effectively adjusts plans to meet shifting needs while maintaining a focus on big-picture goals; is comfortable navigating ambiguity.
• Strong Communication and Relationship Skills: Proactively and effectively builds authentic relationships with colleagues, district and school leaders, and other stakeholders; excellent oral and written communication skills.

Desired Knowledge and Skills:

• Understands the key components of adult learning and effectively incorporates them into various professional learning environments and scenarios, including virtual and in-person learning.
• Instructional/academic background (especially literacy or math), including experience coaching school and district leaders – especially around building instructional capacity.
• Knowledge of and experience with supporting specific student populations (e.g., students with disabilities and multilingual learners).

Qualifications:

1. Minimum of 5 years experience as a school or district-level leader with evidence of improving student outcomes
2. Experience working with diverse student populations, including schools and districts serving primarily students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and/or English learners
3. Significant experience planning and implementing projects related to school improvement and/or serving students and families
4. Familiarity with Massachusetts schools and districts

Substitutions:

1. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience
2. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience
3. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience
4. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience

Compensation: The salary range is $95,000-$118,000, based on experience.

Questions: Please contact talent@schoolworks.org Candidates hired for this position will be required to travel intermittently to DESE offices in Malden, MA during regular business hours, in alignment with the telework policy for MA state employees.

To apply, please complete the application form below and upload your resume and cover letter.