Position: Chief Operating OfficerLocation: Elmhurst, NYForte Prep is looking for a Chief Operating Officer. As COO, she/he/they will be inspired by and excited to set a vision for organizational excellence, develop sustainable systems, manage organizational resources, and build capacity for teams and current and future schools to operate at their full potential. The Chief Operating Officer will ensure that every operational function - facilities management, compliance, school operations, enrollment management, transportation, banking, risk assessment and risk management, procurement, student information systems, IT, safety, benefits and payroll - is performed with a high level of thoughtfulness and excellence, so that student learning, curiosity and optimism can flourish. The COO position is a part of our Central Office team that was established in 2023, and will require the person assuming the role to take an entrepreneurial approach to building and defining the role. Who We Are:Through a relentless pursuit of academic, community, and personal excellence, Forte Prep Academy Charter Schools equip all students to become the next generation of leaders in Queens and beyond. Operating since 2016, Forte Prep Middle School has consistently outperformed the district and state. In Fall 2023, we opened our doors to our first high school beginning with 9th grade. We are currently building out our leadership team so that our schools have the network guidance and support they need.We do this work because 77% of high school graduates in our neighborhood are unprepared for the academic rigor of college. We do this work so that these students can beat the odds stacked against them and change those odds forever.This is where you come in. Who You Are:
- An advocate and believer in educational equity. You are inspired by Forte Prep's mission, vision, and values. You thrive in a work environment that values community, a strong commitment to excellence, equity, and high expectations for students and faculty. You are excited to join a team committed to removing barriers and addressing the opportunity gap.
- An experienced outcomes driven, people centered leader who can equip, honor and inspire diverse teams and peers to do great things for students
- A strategic thinker who is able to make good decisions despite ambiguity, set challenging goals, anticipate challenges and develop contingency plans to ensure organizational strength
- A systems leader who has built and scaled systems to maximize organizational capacity and promote long-term sustainability.
- An effective project manager who is able to plan with the end in mind, while remaining agile.
- An equity advocate who actively works to build systems and lead people
What You'll Do: Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer will be the primary lead on ensuring operational excellence, compliance and financial health. To those ends the COO will:
- Set strategic vision and drive excellence across all finance and operations including school operations, finance, human resources, procurement, student transportation, facilities, student information systems, compliance and reporting, and student openings.
- Provides strategic leadership and work collaboratively with schools, vendors, the Board and external stakeholders to strengthen and implement Forte Prep's mission and vision
- Leads the operations team, including direct management of four staff members and 2 off site vendors (IT & HR)
- Responsible for translating Forte Prep's strategic vision into the development of short-term and long-term operational plans, with systematized processes, procedures, and metrics.
- In partnership with the Executive Director and the Board, sets and manages the annual operating budgets, oversees financial systems and ensures sound financial practices
- Oversees scaling and alignment of operations systems across current and future campuses
- In partnership with the executive team, oversees the creation and management of standardized operating procedures for school-based operations (facilities, facilities maintenance, safety, procurement, student information, food services, and transportation) in order to maximize the organization's economy of scale and student educational outcomes while operating with a strong customer service orientation
- Works with Human Resource vendor to manage and oversee the compliance-related human resource functions including recruitment, hiring, and compensation; race equity and inclusion; benefits administration; professional training and development; talent management and retention strategies; organizational policies; and employee relations
- Lead IT vendor team in installing and maintaining high-quality technology infrastructure, integrating technology into instruction and operations, and providing end-user technical support. Ensures network security and mitigates cyber risk.
- Oversees charter renewal, audits, compliance and yearly authorizer visits
- Maintains best practices for risk management and safety. Oversees key systems including: annual safety planning, mass notification system, visitor management system
- Maintains oversight of letters of agreement, contracts, leases, and other legal documents and agreements, and serves as liaison with outside counsel of legal issues as needed.
Desired Skills and Qualifications
- BA required, advanced degree (MBA, MPA, JD) preferred
- Minimum of 10 years professional experience required, with a minimum of five years leading and supervising an identity diverse group of people
- Experience leading operational management in the context of a growing organization or business strongly preferred
- Experience supporting network-wide operations, talent and finance in the education space strongly preferred
- Finance experience required in addition to broad experience with the full range of business functions and systems, including strategic development and planning, business analysis, technology, information systems and data management
- Experience in human resources, strongly preferred; PHR/SHRM certification a plus
- Project management, and/or consulting a plus
- Strong proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint as well as other web-based applications like Box, Google Drive, and NetSuite
CompensationSalary range is 130,000-$145,000 commensurate with your experience. Forte Prep Academy employees are provided with a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, 403 B matching, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, a smartphone, and a laptop.Equal Opportunity EmployerForte Preparatory Academy Charter Schools are committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.Job Type: Full-timeSalary: $120,000-140,000per yearBenefits:
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability
Supplemental pay types:
- Bonus pay, contingent on performance
COVID-19 considerations:Vaccines required, masks optional (if vaccinated).Ability to commute/relocate:
- Elmhurst, NY 11373: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Middle school and high school building