Talented, committed people are at the heart of the work of NewSchools Venture Fund and its entrepreneurs.
Washington, DC
Position: Program Assistant, DC Schools Fund
Reports to: Director of Instructional Improvement Initiative
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume via e-mail to dcrecruiting@newschools.org as soon as possible, as interviews will begin March 9, 2012.
Background
NewSchools Venture Fund is a not-for-profit organization working to close the achievement gap by funding and supporting entrepreneurs who are creating innovative solutions to the problems in public education so that all children have the opportunity to succeed in college and beyond. Since our founding in 1998, NewSchools has invested $180 million in more than 70 nonprofit and for-profit educational organizations working to promote student achievement. Recognizing that neither private charity nor capital markets alone are enough to solve the problem of education inequality, we blend the best of both approaches to ensure an excellent education is available to every child. We actively share what we’ve learned through our investments, bring together educational leaders from across the country, and advocate for smart policies at the federal level.
NewSchools’ DC Schools Fund (DCSF) seeks to improve the opportunities of public school students in Washington, DC—particularly those from historically underserved communities—by strengthening the city’s charter schools. DCSF is supported by national and local funders, and is designed to:
- Increase the number of high-performing public schools in Washington, DC
- Broaden the number of effective support organizations that can help these schools address key challenges,
- Build a sustainable constituency for reform among families and residents.
Position Overview
NewSchools is an organization of 25 people located primarily in Oakland (where we are headquartered), Boston and Washington, D.C. We are seeking to add a Program Assistant to our Washington, DC team to focus specifically on our Instructional Capacity Building Pilot. The Instructional Capacity Building Pilot is an initiative of the DC Schools Fund which aims to dramatically improve student outcomes at six DC charter schools through a diagnostic assessment of each school, targeted services, support through a peer network, and leadership coaching. The Program Assistant will support the Director of Instructional Improvement Initiative and the Analyst who work intensely with these six schools. Primary responsibilities include project management, event planning, data analysis, and scheduling.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, working closely with members of the NewSchools team to accomplish the following:
- Support the Director and Analyst on the implementation of the Instructional Capacity Building Pilot by tracking project workplans
- Coordinate and communicate with external partners in the Pilot, including school leaders and service providers
- Plan and execute Pilot related events, including school visits, professional development activities, and network events
- Manage the Director of Instructional Improvement’s calendar
- Provide support to the Pilot team on data analysis and research projects
- Provide general writing and Powerpoint slide support for projects such as presentations, proposals and communication with funders
- Develop internal and external meeting objectives and agendas; assist in project management and scheduling
- Facilitate internal communication by attending team meetings
Skills and Qualifications
- Commitment to the improvement of public education and working with diverse communities
- Extremely detail-oriented
- Willingness to take initiative and own high priority tasks and projects
- Ability to think and communicate strategically
- Ability to appropriately prioritize work, manage time effectively and deliver high-quality work on time and on budget
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including ability to communicate effectively with internal audiences and coordinate with external stakeholders
- Proven ability to learn quickly and continuously
- Comfortable operating in dynamic environment with ambiguity
- Administrative or equivalent experience in an office setting
- Competency with Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability to build strong working relationships built on trust, respect, clear communication and shared goals
- Working style suited to working in a small-office setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree
Compensation
A competitive compensation package, including base salary, performance bonus, and complete benefits is available.
NewSchools Venture Fund is an equal opportunity employer. People of color are encouraged to apply.
Edupreneur Jobs
Visit the NewSchools Edupreneur Jobs board, a forum to inform education entrepreneurs about relevant job openings and events, to learn more.