LCPS Chief of Staff (2023-2024)

The Organization & Its Results

Social justice movements come in all shapes and sizes. Here at Lighthouse Community Public Schools, we are engaged in an educational movement that goes beyond our classrooms, working to disrupt educational inequities by providing our students and families exceptional educational opportunities every day. Grounded in our core values of community, integrity, agency, love, and social justice rooted in EL Education Model, LCPS is a leader in fostering innovative schools achieving exceptional student outcomes where each child is at the center of their own learning. Our mission is to prepare diverse students for college, a career of their choice, and to be lifelong changemakers.

Founded in 2002, LCPS operates a high-achieving K-12 public charter school, and our K-8 sister site, Lodestar, that opened in Fall 2016; serving nearly 1,600 students in East Oakland. Lighthouse is a beacon for public education and our graduates fulfill the promise of a better, brighter Oakland. 90% of our graduates, almost all of whom are first-generation college students, are accepted into four-year colleges. If the work we do here at LCPS appeals to your values regarding quality education for all then please join our movement! Learn more at www.lighthousecharter.org

The Opportunity

Lighthouse Community Public Schools is seeking a strategic and equity-focused leader who is rooted in the LCPS core values of community, love, social justice, integrity, and agency, to join a mission-aligned team and work closely with our CEO and Senior Leadership Team as we navigate out of the pandemic and work to dramatically increase student outcomes across our family of schools in alignment with recent strategic planning work. Over the next 4 years, LCPS faces key charter renewal processes with our authorizer, the Oakland Unified School District, and the Chief of Staff will play a leading and pivotal role in supporting our teams and leaders to manage toward strategic organizational and academic outcomes that will lead to successful renewals. The role requires strong project management, strategic planning and execution, and progress monitoring of key initiatives. In addition, the Chief of Staff will lead critical local, state, and federal compliance and grant efforts and will support the CEO in engaging with a variety of stakeholders both internally and externally.

This is an opportunity for a skilled instructional and operational leader who is energized to lead equitable outcomes for students across our family of schools, and is passionate about transformational growth for the leaders, teachers, students and families that you will serve, and our Oakland community.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong project and team management skills

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal reporting and compliance requirements for a variety of school-based programs

• Ability to lead cross functional teams and groups/task forces on a variety of strategic initiatives

• Flexibility and comfort with change, local and state politics, growth, adversity, and possibility

• Skilled collaborator, communicator, and relationship-builder across a variety of stakeholders

THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The LCPS Chief of Staff will:

Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement

• Support CEO with LCPS strategic planning and execution with board of directors, cabinet team members, external partners, and principals and align to organizational needs.

• Lead the facilitation and monitoring of our strategic planning and execution, including leading cross-functional teams aligned to academic and organizational improvement, team performance outcomes, and managing continuous improvement cycles.

• Provide support for the CEO through strong coordination of the central office departments, and interact with internal and external stakeholders.

• Develop agendas for and facilitate strong cabinet, board, and other leadership team meetings leading to more effective organizational systems and collaboration towards strategic plan outcomes.

• Develop strong organizational structures and systems through collaborative workflows, design and develop of effective teams implement effective practices, support cross functional coordination, and contribute to school and organizational improvement efforts

• Participate with the CEO and other cabinet team members in policy development and problem resolution of organizational issues and needs

Organizational Project and Program Management

• Support CEO with management of key projects and programs led by other senior leaders and departments.

• Develop and manage standardized project plans, create materials and deliverables to support initiative/project roll-out, and monitor execution (e.g., compliance, dashboard, key performance indicators, templates, etc.) towards project and program outcomes.

• Develop and manage stakeholders towards quality project and program management, ensuring timely communication and reporting.

Internal and External Communications and Advocacy

• Lead our internal and external communication strategy and systems, including developing and supporting CEO and other departments to execute on timely, transparent, and consistent communication to internal and external stakeholders.

• Lead LCPS’s advocacy and represent the CEO and the LCPS community at community meetings of staff and community groups, including city council, OUSD or Alameda county school boards, and other legislative sessions, as requested.

Governance, Compliance, Progress Monitoring & Local/State Reporting

• Lead the planning and development of key governance structures, including board of directors meetings, board committees, community advisory structures, School Site Councils (SSCs) and English Learner Advisory Committee.

• Advise CEO on school management, local and state academic compliance, and LCPS initiatives

• Lead and track critical compliance and grant efforts, such as charter renewals, federal, state, and local grant and data reporting, LCAP processes, and other organizational functions.

• Serve as the LCPS Ombudsperson and a Title 9 Coordinator, and support the CEO with risk management alongside legal counsel.

Supervision of Individuals, Teams, and Special Projects:

• Directly supervise key team members and leads and strategic program initiatives, as needed, including day to day management and weekly check ins, hiring, performance management, professional development, and disciplinary follow through if necessary.

• Take on the leadership of special projects and initiatives as directed by the CEO.

Additional Duties:

• Other projects and duties as assigned by the CEO

QUALIFICATIONS

Skills and Attributes

• Excellent project management and execution skills;

• Excellent supervision and management skills of direct reports and teams;

• Ability to take initiative, prioritize tasks, and work independently;

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;

• Detailed-oriented, with strong follow-through skills;

• Excellent computer skills, including Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite;

• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to juggle competing priorities;

• Deep knowledge of CCSS, NGSS, ELD, SEL, IDEA, family engagement, and afterschool program best practices and compliance and reporting requirements (and ability to learn quickly in areas not as familiar)

• Strong interpersonal skills and relationship-building with students, parents, colleagues, and community members;

• Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands & external pressures;

• Ability to unpack the various aspects of one’s identity and implicit biases to manage and work across lines of difference

REQUIREMENTS

1. At least 5-7 years of successful leadership experience at the Principal and/or Director-level within a central office or large school-based setting in a relevant operational and/or academic capacity

2. Track record in leading high performing teams at or across schools with similar demographics in urban communities

3. Experience with project management and compliance related to federal and/or state reporting requirements and/or charter renewal processes

4. Bachelors of Arts and equivalent management-level experience, required

5. Commitment to creating a work environment that values and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion

6. Commitment to the core belief that each child we serve deserves the opportunity to be college-ready in order to shape their future

Highly Preferred

• Masters of Arts and California administrative credential

• School-based instructional leadership experience (Principal or AP) or district-level C-level experience

• Experience with EL Education

• Spanish fluency

• California charter school experience

TIME COMMITMENT & COMPENSATION

This is a 12-month, full-time salaried exempt position. LCPS offers a competitive compensation package with nearly 7 weeks of vacation and holidays, generous health and retirement benefits, and a salary commensurate with experience. Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Salary range for this position is: $135,000- $155,000.

SUPERVISION

This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

START DATE

Immediate, but we have some flexibility to have the right candidate start by no later than June 1, 2023.

TO APPLY

People of color and bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Submit the following:

• Cover letter detailing your fit and qualifications for the position

• Resume or CV

• Minimum of 3-5 references including at least two recent supervisors

Lighthouse Community Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity at all levels.