Operations Associate 2020-21

Brooklyn, New York

WHO WE ARE

Explore Schools is a network of public charter schools providing 2,000 students in Brooklyn with the outstanding education they deserve. We strive to provide students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a college-preparatory high school and beyond.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe that all children can learn when immersed in a rich environment full of high expectations, rigorous academics, and caring, committed adults. We believe equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive—we can meet the needs of all students in our schools, while actively engaging parents and driving toward excellent academic results. We envision a pathway to equity that features outstanding curriculum and instruction as well as ample opportunities for students to achieve success in and out of the classroom. We believe it is both our privilege and responsibility to help close the opportunity gap in the Brooklyn community.

WHO YOU ARE Explore Schools seeks a dedicated school operations professional to join our team as an Operations Associate. As with any member of the operations team, the role requires flexibility and the ability to wear many hats in service of helping the school meet its goals and objectives. Our ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills and a demonstrated track record of navigating challenging demands swiftly, thoughtfully and in a detailed manner. This is an extraordinary opportunity for new and experienced operations or administrative personnel to apply effective administrative operating systems in the setting of a mission-driven organization.

Additionally, you are/possess:

• Dedicated to working in communities that have historically been underserved and under-resourced
• Committed to thoughtfully engaging in identity work necessary to take a culturally responsive approach to pedagogy and relationship-building with students and colleagues
• A willingness to go above and beyond to support our mission
• Strong technical computer skills
• A steadfast commitment to collaboration and teamwork
• Professional integrity, flexibility, and a reflective attitude
• The ability to execute tasks efficiently and with a sense of urgency and attention to detail
• The ability to work with and manage others up, down and sideways.
• The ability to execute and communicate in a direct and sensitive fashion
• The ability to bend, squat, climb stairs frequently and lift up to 20 pounds
• Bachelor’s Degree, required
• Prior related experience, preferred
• Spanish or Haitian Creole fluency, a plus
• Familiarity with Crown Heights, Canarsie, or Flatbush neighborhoods, a plus

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The Operations Associate (OA) plays an important role in supporting day-to-day operations and deliverables of the school as deemed by the Director of Operations. Primary responsibilities will be administrative and non-instructional in nature, including managing and executing on functions related to, but not limited to, the school’s main office, facilities, supplies and materials, safety protocols, student systems and services, technology, data management, event planning, family engagement and student supervision as deemed necessary.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Procurement

• Coordinates planning, purchase, delivery and installation of school furniture
• Maintains a system to order, purchase, receive, inventory and return (if necessary) goods to ensure the school staff and students consistently have everything they need to operate and achieve our mission
• Completes all school orders in compliance with Explore Schools’ protocols for order processing
• Troubleshoots missing or incomplete orders and maintains communications with staff throughout the purchase cycle
• Ensures all orders posted for invoicing are compliant with accounting systems and protocols developed by Explore Schools
• Proactively develops relationships with vendors to assure cost-competitive products

Student Services & Support

• Coordinates services with external partners related to meals, transportation, safety, uniforms, etc.
• Assists with non-instructional student systems and processes such as attendance, school-wide systems (breakfast, lunch, recess, and dismissal), family meetings and conferences, assemblies and more.
• Ensures the safety of students (e.g. building-wide preparation for emergencies by creating action plans and communicating policies with staff, liaises to review surveillance footage when needed, etc.)
• Coordinates teaching and/or supervision coverage of students (e.g. management of the duties schedule, ordering and on-site support of substitutes, leave replacement support, etc.)

Student Recruitment

• Plan and execute open houses and other recruitment events
• Actively recruit new students by meeting families at events and in the community
• Respond to calls and emails from prospective families about enrollment to Empower
• Support student recruitment marketing efforts, such as targeted mailings, online interest campaigns, metro or neighborhood signage, etc.
• Seek out productive community relationships and build partnerships with organizations when appropriate
• Support with parent teacher organization meetings and events to foster relationships with families
• Identify other opportunities and strategies to meet enrollment targets
• On behalf of Empower Charter School, attend recruitment events, school fairs, etc.

Student Enrollment Management

• Lead Operation Team in all start-of-year enrollment and registration tasks
• Manage student recruitment data systems: SchoolMint, Power BI, ATS, and Illuminate
• Build and maintain organizational expertise in all year enrollment initiatives
• Support Empower Charter school special population families by ensuring that they have access to the information and resources necessary to apply, enroll, and attend
• Support with other data or enrollment functions
• Other special projects and duties, as needed

Staff Services & Support

• Coordinates space and facilities requests and needs, including booking permits and distribution of keys
• Coordinates space upgrades and capital improvements for classroom, office, and common areas
• Ensures leadership’s vision for physical climate, branding and beautification are met.
• Works with co-located teams, custodial staff, school safety and other building stakeholders
• Ensures the custodial staff are meeting expectation, such as physical safety compliance, cleaning, repairs, permits, events and physical climate.
• Assists with and/or coordinates (1) moving and lifting of boxes and other deliveries, (2) small scale repair and maintenance needs and (3) set-up and cleaning of spaces
• Manages systems for inventory of fixed assets, furniture and curricular materials
• Manages organizing and restocking of supplies and materials
• Coordinates usage & maintenance of machines (e.g. copiers, poster machines, laminators)
• Assists with technology (e.g. liaising with IT vendor, navigating mandatory systems, check-out and return of materials, etc.)
• Assists with daily time and attendance and personnel matters (e.g. check-out system for staff metrocards)
• Manages on-site collection of incident reports and other delegated activities related to compliance and legal matters.

Main Office

• Supports vision to actualize a main office culture that provides high quality, warm, professional customer service to all stakeholders.
• Main office duties include reception, printing & copying, mail and shipments, family communication, staff communication, filing, data entry, etc.
• Provides the leadership team with administrative and ad hoc support as needed (e.g. organizing staff appreciation initiatives, coordinating surveys, coordinating professional development, etc.)
• Contributes to the overall success of the school and the network by welcoming related, different, and new requests; remaining aware of the demands on others and volunteering to help without being asked, as appropriate/ possible

BENEFITS AND PERKS

Explore staff enjoys a competitive salary and benefits, generous vacation-including network shutdown days, considerable matching of retirement contributions, and more. Additionally, you can expect:

• Professional development: teachers participate in weekly PD, year-round retreats and trainings, and on-going coaching by professionals
• Continued education support: staff are eligible to receive some scholarship towards qualifying certification costs or higher education tuition
• Flexible and reflective leadership: dedicated to staff development, and committed to direct and sensitive communication
• Driven and passionate colleagues who contribute to a professional and collaborative work environment

LOCATION

Explore is a network of 8 charter schools located in tn Canarsie, Crown Heights, and Flatbush communities of Brooklyn, NY. Our network office is located in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Explore Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status.Operations Associate

Brooklyn, New York

WHO WE ARE

Explore Schools is a network of public charter schools providing 2,000 students in Brooklyn with the outstanding education they deserve. We strive to provide students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a college-preparatory high school and beyond.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe that all children can learn when immersed in a rich environment full of high expectations, rigorous academics, and caring, committed adults. We believe equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive—we can meet the needs of all students in our schools, while actively engaging parents and driving toward excellent academic results. We envision a pathway to equity that features outstanding curriculum and instruction as well as ample opportunities for students to achieve success in and out of the classroom. We believe it is both our privilege and responsibility to help close the opportunity gap in the Brooklyn community.

WHO YOU ARE Explore Schools seeks a dedicated school operations professional to join our team as an Operations Associate. As with any member of the operations team, the role requires flexibility and the ability to wear many hats in service of helping the school meet its goals and objectives. Our ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills and a demonstrated track record of navigating challenging demands swiftly, thoughtfully and in a detailed manner. This is an extraordinary opportunity for new and experienced operations or administrative personnel to apply effective administrative operating systems in the setting of a mission-driven organization.

Additionally, you are/possess:

• Dedicated to working in communities that have historically been underserved and under-resourced
• Committed to thoughtfully engaging in identity work necessary to take a culturally responsive approach to pedagogy and relationship-building with students and colleagues
• A willingness to go above and beyond to support our mission
• Strong technical computer skills
• A steadfast commitment to collaboration and teamwork
• Professional integrity, flexibility, and a reflective attitude
• The ability to execute tasks efficiently and with a sense of urgency and attention to detail
• The ability to work with and manage others up, down and sideways.
• The ability to execute and communicate in a direct and sensitive fashion
• The ability to bend, squat, climb stairs frequently and lift up to 20 pounds
• Bachelor’s Degree, required
• Prior related experience, preferred
• Spanish or Haitian Creole fluency, a plus
• Familiarity with Crown Heights, Canarsie, or Flatbush neighborhoods, a plus

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The Operations Associate (OA) plays an important role in supporting day-to-day operations and deliverables of the school as deemed by the Director of Operations. Primary responsibilities will be administrative and non-instructional in nature, including managing and executing on functions related to, but not limited to, the school’s main office, facilities, supplies and materials, safety protocols, student systems and services, technology, data management, event planning, family engagement and student supervision as deemed necessary.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Procurement

• Coordinates planning, purchase, delivery and installation of school furniture
• Maintains a system to order, purchase, receive, inventory and return (if necessary) goods to ensure the school staff and students consistently have everything they need to operate and achieve our mission
• Completes all school orders in compliance with Explore Schools’ protocols for order processing
• Troubleshoots missing or incomplete orders and maintains communications with staff throughout the purchase cycle
• Ensures all orders posted for invoicing are compliant with accounting systems and protocols developed by Explore Schools
• Proactively develops relationships with vendors to assure cost-competitive products

Student Services & Support

• Coordinates services with external partners related to meals, transportation, safety, uniforms, etc.
• Assists with non-instructional student systems and processes such as attendance, school-wide systems (breakfast, lunch, recess, and dismissal), family meetings and conferences, assemblies and more.
• Ensures the safety of students (e.g. building-wide preparation for emergencies by creating action plans and communicating policies with staff, liaises to review surveillance footage when needed, etc.)
• Coordinates teaching and/or supervision coverage of students (e.g. management of the duties schedule, ordering and on-site support of substitutes, leave replacement support, etc.)

Student Recruitment

• Plan and execute open houses and other recruitment events
• Actively recruit new students by meeting families at events and in the community
• Respond to calls and emails from prospective families about enrollment to Empower
• Support student recruitment marketing efforts, such as targeted mailings, online interest campaigns, metro or neighborhood signage, etc.
• Seek out productive community relationships and build partnerships with organizations when appropriate
• Support with parent teacher organization meetings and events to foster relationships with families
• Identify other opportunities and strategies to meet enrollment targets
• On behalf of Empower Charter School, attend recruitment events, school fairs, etc.

Student Enrollment Management

• Lead Operation Team in all start-of-year enrollment and registration tasks
• Manage student recruitment data systems: SchoolMint, Power BI, ATS, and Illuminate
• Build and maintain organizational expertise in all year enrollment initiatives
• Support Empower Charter school special population families by ensuring that they have access to the information and resources necessary to apply, enroll, and attend
• Support with other data or enrollment functions
• Other special projects and duties, as needed

Staff Services & Support

• Coordinates space and facilities requests and needs, including booking permits and distribution of keys
• Coordinates space upgrades and capital improvements for classroom, office, and common areas
• Ensures leadership’s vision for physical climate, branding and beautification are met.
• Works with co-located teams, custodial staff, school safety and other building stakeholders
• Ensures the custodial staff are meeting expectation, such as physical safety compliance, cleaning, repairs, permits, events and physical climate.
• Assists with and/or coordinates (1) moving and lifting of boxes and other deliveries, (2) small scale repair and maintenance needs and (3) set-up and cleaning of spaces
• Manages systems for inventory of fixed assets, furniture and curricular materials
• Manages organizing and restocking of supplies and materials
• Coordinates usage & maintenance of machines (e.g. copiers, poster machines, laminators)
• Assists with technology (e.g. liaising with IT vendor, navigating mandatory systems, check-out and return of materials, etc.)
• Assists with daily time and attendance and personnel matters (e.g. check-out system for staff metrocards)
• Manages on-site collection of incident reports and other delegated activities related to compliance and legal matters.

Main Office

• Supports vision to actualize a main office culture that provides high quality, warm, professional customer service to all stakeholders.
• Main office duties include reception, printing & copying, mail and shipments, family communication, staff communication, filing, data entry, etc.
• Provides the leadership team with administrative and ad hoc support as needed (e.g. organizing staff appreciation initiatives, coordinating surveys, coordinating professional development, etc.)
• Contributes to the overall success of the school and the network by welcoming related, different, and new requests; remaining aware of the demands on others and volunteering to help without being asked, as appropriate/ possible

BENEFITS AND PERKS

Explore staff enjoys a competitive salary and benefits, generous vacation-including network shutdown days, considerable matching of retirement contributions, and more. Additionally, you can expect:

• Professional development: teachers participate in weekly PD, year-round retreats and trainings, and on-going coaching by professionals
• Continued education support: staff are eligible to receive some scholarship towards qualifying certification costs or higher education tuition
• Flexible and reflective leadership: dedicated to staff development, and committed to direct and sensitive communication
• Driven and passionate colleagues who contribute to a professional and collaborative work environment

LOCATION

Explore is a network of 8 charter schools located in tn Canarsie, Crown Heights, and Flatbush communities of Brooklyn, NY. Our network office is located in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Explore Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status.