Associate Partner, New Schools

TITLE
Associate Partner, New Schools

REPORTS TO
Partner

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TRUST
The Opportunity Trust exists to ensure every child born in St. Louis is prepared to lead a life of choice and dignity as an adult. One of the most urgent barriers to opportunity in St. Louis today is the changing nature of work and our increasingly outdated and ineffective public education system. Our first fund, Reimagining School, aims to catalyze a fundamental transformation of our public education system so that it can prepare children for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Learn more about our work at www.theopportunitytrust.org. 

OUR ASPIRATION
In our first three years, we have built a national model for new school design and forged a diverse coalition for change among partners. Over the next three years, we seek to double the share of children enrolled in quality schools, from 13% to 25%. We’ll do this by investing over $50 million to empower parents to make education choices; launch, scale, and transform schools; and improve the talent, data, and policy ecosystem in the region.  

ABOUT YOUR ROLE
The Associate Partner, New Schools will work closely with Partners to co-design and execute vision and strategy in service of ensuring we orchestrate and execute a world class new school incubation program that immediately increases the number of high quality seats STL children have access to while simultaneously providing opportunities to reimagine public school education overall. They will also build capacity directly through coaching and developing network and school leaders to drive toward positive student academic outcomes. Key to this role is recruiting, hiring, developing EIRs (Entrepreneurs in Residence), coordinating and executing learning trips, communities of practice, and fellowships.

The Associate Partner will work in close collaboration with the Partners to ensure programs align to organizational priorities and strategies. The Associate Partner will also supervise Program Manager activities to ensure that our efforts are delivered with operational excellence. 

The Opportunity Trust culture is a start-up environment, which means that everyone pitches in to help and steps up to support new initiatives as they arise. The Associate Partner must have the ability to attend evening and weekend events.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Coach and develop school and network leaders in instruction that moves the needle on student academic outcomes 
• Conduct progress monitoring and diligence reviews for grantees and prospective partners
• Support the design and implementation of programs specific to instructional excellence and equity and new schools
• Design and oversee recruitment and selection processes for targeted programs 
• Establish priority partnerships with vendors, district, and schools to ensure effective program launch and delivery
• Supervise program managers to ensure prospects, candidates, and progress are maintained within CMS
• Align with Partner on program priorities, objectives, strategies, content, and budgets
• Deliver high-quality programming that yields progress on strategic priority outcomes
• Provide individualized support/attention to fellows and program participants
• Support Partner with budget management of fellowships/programs, including requesting/reviewing quotes from vendors, negotiating, adjusting budgets, making decisions, and executing contracts
• Manage relationships with external partners providing programmatic support to ensure design alignment, session objectives are met, and communication throughout process is clear
• Serve as relationship manager with relevant school and district leaders 
• Organize and lead annual program stepbacks to reflect and redesign as necessary, while regularly evaluating emerging needs for new programming
   

YOUR BACKGROUND

Skills

• The ability to design and manage complex project plans to maintain progress toward outcomes is critical
• Demonstrated ability to be self-directed, take initiative, and display tenacious follow-through 
• Strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently
• Highly collaborative work style
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical skills, including a structured approach to problem-solving
• Learner stance, humility, and growth mindset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or GSuite, with demonstrable competency with spreadsheets
• Ability to build relationships and coalitions in service of school redesign ideas and implementation
• Ability to manage the political ecosystem to ensure choice is an option for all families

Prior Experience

• Worked as a Principal or School Leader with a track record of academic gains
• At least 5 years of program design, management, or facilitation experience
• Prepared for a leadership role with a social impact organization 

WHAT WE OFFER

• Starting salary range: $90,000-$140,000
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible work environment
• Passionate, mission-driven colleagues