The Search
The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C., the nation’s only public college-preparatory boarding school that prepares underserved students for success in college and beyond, seeks a seasoned manager and self-driven, hands-on leader to serve as Managing Director. The Managing Director (MD) will report directly to the Head of School and will be responsible for maximizing organizational effectiveness and ensuring seamless, mission-aligned service delivery across core internal functions.
As one of two most senior leaders in the school, the MD will work with the Head of School to ensure that all strategy and operations come together to support SEED’s college preparatory program, college bound culture, and belief in the power of a 24-hour learning environment. The MD will lead critical functions related to campus operations, human resources, finance, legal and regulatory, IT, development and external relations to ensure that SEED matches the high expectations that we have for our students and staff with highest quality services, systems and infrastructure to support their hard work. About the SEED School The SEED Foundation (www.seedschooldc.org) was created in 1997 to establish college preparatory urban boarding schools that prepare children, both academically and socially, for success in college and in the professional world beyond. In 1998, The SEED School of Washington, D.C. opened its doors as the nation’s first urban public boarding school. The School currently serves 320 students in grades 6-12 with an academically rigorous college prep curriculum and a boarding program that provides activities and life skills in a 24-hour nurturing environment. 97% of SEED graduates have been accepted to college.
The SEED Foundation and The SEED School of Washington, D.C. are committed to the letter and spirit of equality. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in hiring and employment, nor in the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and other programs.
Challenges and Responsibilities Reporting directly to the Head of School and in close concert with the senior team, the Managing Director will support all program improvements with effective operational and administrative services and a strong client service ethic. S/he will lead, manage and coach direct reports in each of the following areas: finance, IT, development, campus operations, human resources, compliance and external relations. Specifically, s/he can expect to engage the following challenges:
Leadership and Management of Core Functions
- Evaluate operational needs and implement a continuous quality improvement process, focusing on systems and processes across the program and service areas. Offer creative solutions to daily challenges that arise for the team and provide ongoing support in problem-solving and quality-control to ensure smooth delivery of services in keeping with SEED’s mission and commitment to excellence.
- Working with the Director of Finance, the MD will oversee all financial, budget and long term planning activities including review and analysis of financial reports, business policies and internal accounting practices. S/he will lead and support the school’s annual budgeting process and oversee internal and external audits.
- Working with the Director of Campus Operations, the MD will ensure a safe, secure, healthy and positive environment for all students and staff by overseeing maintenance of all facilities, equipment and grounds on a 4 building 4-acre campus, including capital improvements, security, dining services and cleaning services, transportation, procurement and emergency planning.
- Working with the Director of Human Resources, manage and oversee the HR function including recruitment, hiring and compensation, benefits administration and oversight, regulatory oversight and compliance, and staff training and retention.
- Working with the Director of Technology, manage and oversee the IT function including its five areas of interest: teaching and learning, administrative computing, network operations, desktop support, and budgeting and planning. Develop and lead the IT and data management strategy for the school to support student achievement and practitioner learning and accountability.
- Build a positive, consistent presence and rapport with students, parents, staff and other community members, including active participation in all school special functions and parent gatherings. Reside off-campus but respond to/support emergency situations with staff as necessary (i.e. inclement weather, power outages and/or facility emergencies).
External Relations and Development
- Support the Development Department (of two Directors with one reporting directly to the MD) in identifying development priorities, cultivating and stewarding major prospect and donors, and marshalling the resources of the school in support of the development effort. The MD will ensure coordination of these efforts with the Head of School and the Foundation as appropriate.
- Partner with the Head of School to represent The SEED School and to manage relationships with external constituency groups, including community, government, press, donors and private organizations. Serve as representative on certain board committees as designated by Head of School.
- Identify external organizations which might partner with SEED DC in improving school operations or program areas. Work with appropriate school leaders to help facilitate relationships and access resources and expertise from those organizations.
Risk Management and Compliance
- Prepare and approve all reports to meet regulatory requirements required by the DC Public Charter School Board, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, by federal and state law, and other internal and external reporting that may be required. Work closely with the Head of School regarding reports to and meetings with the Board of Trustees and its various committees and advisory committees.
- Oversee risk management and legal activities including letters of agreement, contracts, leases and other legal documents and agreements.
Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
First and foremost, the Managing Director will demonstrate personal and professional support of SEED’s core values of respect, responsibility, self-discipline, integrity and compassion. In addition, the ideal candidate will embody many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
- Demonstrated passion for and commitment to the SEED School’s mission of preparing underserved students for success in college and beyond; strong belief in the individual abilities of every child; and experience in the nonprofit or education sectors is strongly preferred;
- Significant senior-level management and supervisory experience with a successful track record of being accountable for organizational excellence and effectiveness; Ability to think strategically, to anticipate future consequences and trends and incorporate them into the organizational plan;
- High level of business acumen. Ability to consistently make good decisions through combination of
analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment;
- Demonstrated experience in financial planning and analysis, as well as oversight of human resources, facilities, information technology and legal issues;
- Demonstrated success developing and monitoring systems to manage operational and programmatic work that involve high levels of collaboration; Exceptional organizational development skills and the ability to motivate and manage staff to achieve multiple and concurrent objectives in a dynamic and fast-paced environment;
- Proven budgetary acumen and ability to allocate limited resources strategically;
- Flexibility and ability to balance competing priorities. Experience driving clarity and solutions while working in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment. Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems;
- Exceptional oral and written communication, networking, influencing, and public engagement skills; open and clear leadership style that is creative and receptive to new ideas; and the highest levels of professionalism, respect for confidentiality, and thoughtful communication in relationships with administrators, staff, students and parents; and
- MBA, CPA or other relevant graduate degree preferred.
Applications and Nominations
This search is being conducted by Allison Kupfer Poteet and Jahkedda Akbar Mitchell at Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group. Additional information about the SEED School of Washington DC may be found at their website. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and will be reviewed as they are received.
The SEED School of Washington DC offers competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience and skills, and is an equal opportunity employer. |