General Information
Under the supervision and direction of the Superintendent, the Executive Director of Equity, Strategy and Innovation, the Director of Innovation provides oversight of the Innovation Office and assists in providing full leadership and operational support to all of Saint Paul Public Schools through overseeing strategic planning, project management, fundraising, and grants management functions. The Director of Innovation works with the Division of Equity, Strategy & Innovation leaders to shape and model the district’s foundational strategy for increasing student achievement, creating inclusive climate and cultures across our organization and realizing our vision.
Supervision Received and Exercised
Executive Chief of Equity, Strategy & Innovation
Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following fundamental duties:
Leadership
- Provide leadership and expertise to SPPS in the areas of strategic planning, project management, fund development, grant management and tools and techniques to support high performing organizations.
- Provide direction in the development of strategic plans relating to the Innovation Office; develop plans related to expenditures, evaluate needs, provide estimates for work, schedule project meetings and conduct audits to identify the capacities of teams.
- Supervise a team of project managers, fund development staff and other support staff.
- Develop district standards, policies and procedures related to strategic planning, project management, fund development and grant management; supervise the administration process.
- Evaluate employee performance and promote professional development, adaptive practices and coaching.
- Support teams to implement and monitor strategic projects.
Personnel Management
- Work with sponsors and project managers to track and measure project performance targets. Use tracking tools to ensure goals, strategies and objectives of strategic projects are met on time, on budget, involve appropriate stakeholders, and are delivered at or above the specified quality parameters.
Project Management
- Monitor and track the effectiveness of all Innovation Office functions.
- Develop and deliver presentations regarding the district’s progress in meeting strategic plan goals and benchmarks to the Superintendent, senior executive leaders, Board of Education, principals and other groups as needed.
- Inform stakeholders of local, regional and national policies relevant to strategic planning, project management, fund development and grant management.
Data and Records Management
- Develop an annual office budget reflecting the financial and personnel resources necessary to satisfy planned objectives and manage the annual budget within district leadership approved parameters.
- Maintain compliance with federal, state and local policies and procedures including reporting methodologies.
- Conduct and analyze data from formal and informal needs assessments.
- Keep apprised of and interpret relevant laws, regulations, statutes, rules and policies affecting the school system.
Relationship Building and Collaboration
- Develop and maintain working relationships with local planning agencies and internal groups.
- Serve as a District representative with local, state and federal funders as needed.
- Collaborate with Strategic Communications to build stakeholder awareness of district strategic projects and grants.
- Collaborate with Business Office to ensure all federal and state requirements are followed.
- Contribute to the District's inclusive workplace efforts by fostering a safe, welcoming and respectful environment.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Considerable knowledge of management theories and techniques.
- Considerable knowledge of institutional project and planning methodology and techniques related to the areas of PreK-12 implementation.
- Considerable knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations relating to federal and state funding and local education agency implementation.
- Considerable knowledge of strategic planning frameworks and tools.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, drive results, monitor progress towards results.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate complex concepts to different audiences.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with district stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to plan and administer budgets.
- Demonstrated partnerships with community groups to coordinate community with organizational planning.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, supervise and evaluate the work of others represented by a variety of bargaining groups.
- Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans and recommendations and to implement projects and programs.
- Demonstrated ability to utilize a flexible and responsive approach to complete tasks and meet deadlines.
- Ability to analyze various sources of data in order to make strategic decisions.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in relevant/related field (e.g. public administration, human resources, social services).
- Seven (7) years progressive responsibility in leading cross functional projects in a large public educational school system or other public sector institution.
- Five (5) years supervisory experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience or training in leadership.
- Experience managing a budget of 500,000 or more.
- Experience working with a large diverse workforce of people with different cultures, backgrounds and opinions.
- Experience writing and managing grant funds.
- Experience leading strategic planning for a large organization.
- Experience facilitating professional development including trainings, consultation, centered on any of the following; project management, fund development, strategic planning, strategy and development, change management.
Pay, Benefits, and Work Schedule
This is a 12-month position working 40 hours per week.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with Unrepresented (Formerly known as the Superintendent group) negotiated labor agreement. The labor agreement and salary schedule can be found at: Labor Agreements.
Benefits are available to new employees after 30 days of active employment. Benefits include medical insurance, life insurance, sick leave, pension plan, tax-free retirement account, and flexible spending account. Some employee groups also receive vacation, dental insurance and disability insurance. A benefits summary is available at: Benefit Summaries.
How to Apply
To be considered further, please apply for this position and attach a resume and cover letter to your online application.
The Human Resource Department will review your application materials and contact you regarding the next steps.
To attach additional documents to your online application, click on the "Additional Attachments" link from the applicant homepage and upload your documents as attachments. Valid file extensions for attaching a document include .doc, .txt, .rtf, and .pdf.
This job posting will close on October 1, 2024
Other Information
Transcript - Unofficial transcripts are accepted at the time of hire. You must submit official transcripts within 30 days of your start date. Formal credential evaluation is required for post-secondary education completed outside of the United States.
Veteran's Preference - If you are an eligible veteran applying for a job where veteran's preference applies and wish to claim Veterans Preference you must submit a legible copy of your DD214 to the Human Resource Department with your employment application. If your claim is approved, five or ten additional points will be added to your final passing score.
Criminal Background Investigation and Reference Checks - Reference checks and a criminal background investigation will be completed as a condition of hire for all new employees and for former employees who have not been employed by the District for more than six months.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are job duties that the individual holding the position must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation through the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and the Americans with Disability Amendments Act (ADAAA). The essential functions are typical duties as outlined under Responsibilities.
Regular and reliable attendance.
May be exposed to various cleaning products.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO Statement)
Saint Paul Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and supports an inclusive workplace environment.
Equity Statement
SPPS is committed to an equitable workforce where all employees represent this commitment through equitable practices in their job position.
