Special Projects Manager

Position Title: Special Projects Manager

Department: District Office

Reports to: Superintendent and School Board

Classification: Classified Full-time Exempt/Salaried

Contract Period: 12 Month (233 days with some variance depending on the year)

Salary Range: $75,000 to $90,000

Start Date: Ideally by Aug 1, 2023

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Superintendent, this position serves as a key member of the senior cabinet and monitors and ensures alignment of all work and initiatives with the school division’s strategic plan and direction. 

Position Responsibilities

1. Operations of the Senior Cabinet

Serve as a key member of the senior cabinet, participating with the Superintendent and other senior staff in strategic planning, policy development, and problem resolution of complex issues and needs.
Support the senior cabinet by coordinating agendas, facilitating meetings, ensuring that follow-up actions are completed, and coordinating logistics.

2. Operations of the Office of the Superintendent and District Office

Direct all facets of the operations of the Superintendent’s office to maintain focus on strategic priorities.
Respond to inquiries, concerns, and complaints regarding issues, programs, policies, and procedures in areas of responsibility and keep the Superintendent informed about key happenings, progress, etc.
Set the strategic direction of the superintendent’s calendar to ensure that it aligns with his/her priorities, including vetting and evaluating requests from internal and external constituents.
Prepares and contributes to the preparation of reports, briefings, presentations and responses on strategic issues as appropriate.
Ensures inquiries and information requests are accurately fielded and that the district office and building run successfully.
Special project management as assigned
Liaison for the Superintendent as needed to various organizations and as needed.

3. District-Community Partnerships

Manage district-community partnerships, including acting as “doorway to district” with potential community partners, building relationships with partners and facilitating connections to appropriate ASD leaders
Ensure that the school district is represented in community collaborations.
Coordinate the charter authorization and renewal process 
 

4. Board of Education Governance and Support

 Oversee Board of Education communication and preparation of materials for Board meetings and retreats. Plan meeting agendas and work sessions with Board leadership.
Work in partnership with Board leadership to improve governance and meeting facilitation, including developing materials and officer guides.
Serve as district’s Designated Election Official and ensure compliance with all election deadlines and notification requirements.
Arrange rooms, set-up meetings, and organize meals for board and instructional team meetings and events.
Represent the Board of Education and Superintendent at public events and in various capacities with government and community organizations.
 

5. Policies, Records Management, and Regulatory Compliance

 Ensure compliance with board policies, regulations and local, state and federal laws. Monitor communications with CDE and CASB and ensure that the district is aware of, and in compliance with, state policies, regulations and deadlines.
Maintain and update board policies and policy manuals, ensure policies are accurate and up to date. 
Oversee and organize the district’s legal records, contracts, and MOU documents.
Serve as the district’s Custodian of Records for records requests, including those related to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). 
Coordinate archival of district records in compliance with state laws.

6. Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of and experience with:

K-12 education.
Regulatory environment at a district, state, or federal level (including the ability to read contacts, review statutes and policies)
Public meetings and records law and how the Board of Education and staff interact to achieve short and long-term District goals.

Ability to:

Be exceptionally organized and apply organization and project management best practices.
High ability to work independently.
Work with high attention to detail, balancing the big picture with detailed steps to reach the end goals.
Balance multiple projects under tight deadlines.
Actively listen to others, build consensus, and resolve conflicts.
Take initiative to solve problems and create stakeholder buy-in.
Skillfully navigate existing political structures/systems and demonstrate diplomacy as a representative of the school district.
Motivate, inspire, and move others into action to achieve assigned goals.
Build and maintain strong relationships.
Maintain a high level of accuracy, transparency, and confidentiality
Adapt to changing technologies and to learn functionality of new equipment and systems
Exercise sound judgment in the release of information and materials to the public and media.
Set clear agendas and facilitate effective meetings.
Work some evenings and weekends.
Communicate skillfully verbally and in written form

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree, ideally in public administration, educational administration, public relations, communication or equivalent work experience
Three (3) years experience working directly with executive leaders, board members, non-profits, or community representatives, or equivalent
 Work Environment

Office environment; exposure to computer screens
Primary functions may require maintaining the physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time; use of a computer keyboard; lifting of files, etc. 
Essential Physical Requirements

Physical: Reaching, walking, standing, sitting, typing, talking, crouching, kneeling, seeing, and hearing. Lifting up to 25lbs.

Acknowledgment

The successful candidate will be required to follow any instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Superintendent. The Aspen School District reserves the right to update, revise, or change the job description and related duties at any time.