Operations and Strategy Specialist

About Purpose Prep

Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School is an academically challenging, disciplined, and joyful elementary school in Nashville, TN. Through rigorous curriculum, high-quality instruction, and positive character development, Purpose Preparatory Academy ensures that all Kindergarten through grade five students achieve the academic skills, knowledge, and ethical foundation to be set on the path to college. 

Be the Operations and Strategy Specialist at Purpose Prep. 

Change the World. 

We are seeking an Operations and Strategy Specialist who believes strongly in our mission and vision and whose actions demonstrate high expectations for scholars, families, and colleagues. The Operations and Strategy Specialist is entrusted with advancing critical priorities within the areas of school operations, fund development, communications and marketing, operations and facility, and strategic affairs to support the school’s success. The Operations and Strategy Specialist will be held accountable by the Head of School in regards to his/her performance and growth.

Qualifications

Purpose Prep has launched an urgent search for a committed, intelligent, hard-working Operations and Strategy Specialist. We will consider candidates who: 

• Embodies Purpose Prep’s mission, vision, and RISE with Purpose values (Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Self-Determination, Excellence)
• Believes that there is not a more urgent task than providing an outstanding academic and character education to students from urban backgrounds
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s Degree preferred
• Experience in education, marketing, recruitment, business development, and/or donor-relations role preferred
• Strong organizational abilities
• Detail oriented
• Experience in clear, respectful communication with both adults and children.
• Preferred experience working in urban settings
• Knowledge of office equipment and services including computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, phones, and software
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Proven ability to network and engage a diverse set of stakeholders and rally them toward a common mission.
• Open to feedback, willingness to take personal responsibility

Responsibilities

Strategy: Fund Development

• Supports to execute the school’s fund development strategy 
• Assists the Board’s fund development committee, managing the fund development dashboard and communicating ‘progress to goals’ updates to the Board
• Supports the school in identifying grants, cultivating grant officer relationships, and drafting grant applications
• Identifies donors and corporate sponsorships, sets up meetings for donors to visit the school, encourages and continues to solicit donations
• Supports to execute a cultivation plan with donors, supporters, and volunteers
• Assists in securing partnerships on behalf of the school and in alignment with the mission
• Participates in fund development events and school fundraisers 
• Updates the donor database, maintaining an accurate, comprehensive, and centralized, database of all contacts and their activities with the school
• Assists the completion of financial, grant, and compliance reporting (i.e. Title One Requisitions)
• Monitors expenditures in relation to the Board-approved budget and to assure that fiscal activities comply with federal, state, and local agency requirements
• Engenders a greater sense of community and belonging in families, students, donors, volunteers, and staff 

Strategy: Compliance 

• Supports to complete school compliance reporting and documents, including Annual Reports, Academic Data Charts, and School Improvement Plans 
• Participates in district and state school review and performance engagements
• Assists in the completion of assigned local, state, and federal reports accurately and timely

Finance 

• Submits regular financial reports timely and accurately 
• Assists with banking procedures (i.e. check deposits)
• Monitor expenditures in relation to the Board-approved budget and to assure that fiscal activities comply with federal, state, and local agency requirements

Marketing 

• Contributes to a bi-monthly quarterly newsletter and other communication updating the community on the exciting developments at Purpose Prep

• Updates the website and social media communication to ensure timely school updates website and ensure community engagement and interest

School Operations

• Serve as a point-of-contact for daily operations-related issues 

• Supervise and ensure Operations Team members’ prompt response to Slack app messages

• Ensure prompt distribution of items required for classrooms 

• Manage safety (and disaster) drill strategy and implementation 
• Manage all MNPS drill compliance requirements
• Administer and manage trash disposal and recycling services

• Supports with logistical planning for school-wide operational processes (i.e. testing) and events (i.e. school field trips, staff retreat and events) 
• Designs and executes social impact campaigns and identity-affirming programming (i.e. Purpose Prep Book Series, Vote with Purpose, Black History Honors, curriculum, family-related events, professional development)
• Assists with the creation of school policies & procedures and implements them with fidelity

Facility Maintenance 

• Oversee facility maintenance operations—bathrooms, multipurpose room (MPR), teacher break rooms, hallways, storage space, interior/exterior building issues, custodial services, parking lot, schedule building walkthroughs, etc. 
• Implement feedback from officials/inspectors 

Nutrition

• Supervise school nutrition program, compliance, and related systems, including data preparation, submission of reports and food reimbursement claims to state 
• Meet with state officials and school nutrition consultant for inspections and audits as necessary
• Ensure meals are distributed and logged in Deanslist daily
• Track scholar related food allergies

Transportation

• Supervise all student arrival and dismissal practices/procedures
• Aid in bus transportation operations, including coordination of routes and route times with transportation vendors, managing all arrival and dismissal times and travel plans and activities, including field trips
• Lead bus monitor training
• Manage partnerships with after-care facilities participating in route pick-ups and drop-offs, includes communication with parents and facilities  

Technology

• Support technology operations—repairs, providing staff access to technology, technology inventory management (technology usage form and copy machine supplies), technology ordering, etc.
• Create email log-in credentials for staff 
• Manage Slack app communication—procedures/best practices, Slack app access, app channels, etc. 
• Ensure staff laptops are within the 3-year warranty cycle
• Ensure staff, scholar, and school equipment are functioning properly 

Professionalism

• Communicates effectively with students, families, and colleagues
• Collaborates with other staff members and actively participate in training, professional development and learning activities
• Works to continuously improve effectiveness in all practices 
• Uses feedback to make productive changes in performance
• Completes all administrative requirements by given deadlines
• Participates in additional activities including family and community engagement events and other required programs as needed throughout the year