Director-Coordinator of Special Projects

Summary:

The Director of Strategy and Projects role assists the CEO and executive team in proactively managing projects, schedules, executive communication and Board of Director meetings/correspondence to ensures we substantially and effectively support our network’s mission and vision to deliver a high-quality educational experience for scholars.   Expectations of this role are to proactively lead projects through completion as assigned by the executive leadership team.  Support the executive team by proactively managing schedules, follow up, priorities and communication for the executive leadership team.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the point person accountable for ensuring that necessary action plans and deliverables are completed in a timely, cost effective, operationally effective manner.
• Research and utilizes best practices and methods to provide assistance with overall strategic direction for complex projects
• Provide thought leadership to sponsoring executives regarding emerging strategic opportunities, as well as ongoing operational issues and challenges.
• Determine goals and priorities with sponsoring senior executives, as well as develop proposals outlining proposed project structure, approach and work plan.
• Provide leadership and expert consultation on the design, development, and implementation of programs related to the expertise area. Work within sponsoring executive authority, as well as personal influence to ensure that agreed upon objectives are met.
• Manage and/or be responsible for designing research plans for data gathering and analysis.
• Interpret analysis and ensure the effective coordination, approval and implementation of appropriate action plans.
• Assure client satisfaction. Supporting developed standards, procedures, policies. Timely and accurate reporting/response designed to meet the clients’ needs.
• Daily opens and answers routine correspondence (U.S. mail and electronic mail) including routing correspondence to the appropriate Staff. 
• Develops, organizes, and disseminates written communications (inter-office memorandums, emails, etc.) from the sponsoring executives
• Maintains calendars for sponsoring executives, arranges and coordinates all meetings for CEO
• Prepares agendas and minutes of meetings (includes revising, editing and drafting reports, organizing, duplicating & distribution of materials) disseminates communications, secures meeting location accommodations/arrangements
• Communication link between sponsoring executives and Board of Education. Responsible for managing information provided to the Board.
• Fulfills other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the sponsoring senior executives

Qualifications and Competencies     

• Passion for the mission of Detroit 90/90 and public charter education.
• High level of integrity and dependability, with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.
• Extreme sense of confidentiality is required in all communications.
• A track record of experience with a wide range or cross functional project management responsibilities.
• Strong sense of urgency in creating order and meeting deadlines on projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; listens well and quickly learn to communicate in someone else’s written voice.
• Advance skill in systems thinking with focus on creating solid processes to create order and accomplish executive leaderships top priorities.
• Strong ability to work independently to accomplish priorities of the leadership team.
• Record of completing projects on time and within budget.
• Demonstration of ability to interact effectively with leadership team, school leaders, and board members; and builds constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation and mutual respect.
• Computer proficiency and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google and Windows Platforms are essential.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree with equivalent work experience required in high level executive assistant role.
• Five to Ten years of administrative support to executive leadership roles specifically CEO role, preferably in educational or non-profit sector.

Demonstrates U Preps Core Values:

• We work well by ourselves and teams
• We care about people
• Our actions have a purpose
• We think big and do
• Learning is exciting

About U Prep Schools:

If you are dedicated to a pursuit of excellent both in yourself and our students; if you are self-motivated; if you are an innovator and if you want to play a key role in changing young lives—we are looking for U.  Our mission: to give students the courage to pursue a future full of possibilities. Our students come to our network of schools looking for a regarding and fulfilling education.  Comprised of three public charter school districts; University Preparatory Academy, University Preparatory Science and Math and University Preparatory Art and Design; we educate over 4,500 students in the burgeoning city of Detroit.  Help us to prepare our students for success in life and be a part of U.

Detroit 9090 is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination of any kind.  All employment decisions with Detroit 9090 are based on district needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sex, ancestry, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, or military status.