Project Director – Philadelphia Pathway to Leadership in Urban Schools

Project Director – Philadelphia Pathway to Leadership in Urban Schools

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TNTP seeks two Project Directors for our Pathway to Leadership in Urban Schools (PLUS) program. These positions will be based in Philadelphia, PA. The Project Director, Implementation role is available immediately, and the Project Director, Leadership Development role will be available March 1, 2013. TNTP will provide a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving, if applicable.

Performance Management

The Performance Management Group is advancing human capital policies and practices that support teacher effectiveness and improving the way school leaders and administrators manage their teachers. This starts with robust school leadership and school management that produces clear direction for how teachers should perform their most critical role: advancing student learning. TNTP is helping its partners at the state, district, and school level to design and implement models for school leadership, and use information about teacher performance in decisions about hiring and staffing, development, compensation, promotion, and retention.

In Philadelphia, TNTP is working with Philadelphia School Partnership to develop a pipeline for leadership that will improve the quality of schooling and outcomes for students across the city.

Pathway to Leadership in Urban Schools (PLUS)

Through the Philadelphia PLUS program, we are seeking to increase the number of high quality school options available to students in Philadelphia. We will design and implement a principal residency and certification program that redefines the role of the school leader. TNTP believes that leaders, by definition, work through others by building, empowering and coaching their teams. We will develop a cohort of strong school leaders who have the skills and judgment to focus on the following critical levers to realize their vision:

• creating conditions in the school that motivate student learning;
• ensuring that adults and students are working towards specific and rigorous academic goals that will set kids on a path to post-secondary or career success;
• hiring, developing and retaining teachers and other staff who can meet student learning goals;
• effectively running a school building with a positive, inspiring culture; and
• efficiently managing the school.

Role and Responsibilities

Both Project Directors will have a profound impact on improving school options in Philadelphia by training and supporting principals to be strong instructional leaders.

The Project Director, Implementation will:

• Collaborate with the Project Director, Leadership Development to design content for Residents' courses to be implemented in a 4-6 week summer intensive along with monthly cohort professional development days
• Design charter school cultivation plan for Resident placement and client relationship development
• Track progress towards contract goals and make strategic decisions regarding client management and Resident support to lead the team's efforts to meet them
• Secure State approval for Resident Certification
• Create a communication plan for program launch and recruitment
• Establish University partnership for credit accrual
• Manage program operations and logistics
• Prepare client-ready presentations, including PowerPoint decks, handouts, and talking points
• Generate innovative solutions to program challenges and differentiate support services as needed
• Manage one full-time Program Manager by setting clear expectations, ensuring high quality deliverables, and developing performance
• Provide additional project support, where needed

The Project Director, Leadership Development will:

• Collaborate with the Project Director, Implementation to design content for Residents' courses to be implemented in a 4-6 week summer intensive along with monthly cohort professional development days
• Facilitate training for principal Residents, throughout the summer and in monthly sessions during the year
• Conduct regular school visits to coach and evaluate Residents
• Establish school partnerships for Resident placement and client relationship development
• Monitor Resident progress using data to inform differentiated support and ongoing training
• Track progress towards contract goals and make strategic decisions regarding client management and Resident support to lead the team's efforts to meet them
• Generate innovative solutions to program challenges and differentiate support services as needed

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who believe deeply in our organization's mission, who thrive in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment, and who demonstrate a record of achievement.

Successful candidate will also have the following minimum qualifications:

• Successful project management and program design experience, including strong organizational and planning/forecasting skills and a keen attention to detail
• Experience developing and facilitating adult learning
• Track record of leading schools or school leaders to significant gains in student achievement – either as a school leader or by managing, coaching or professionally developing leaders (Project Director, Leadership Development only)
• Excellent computer skills including database management and strong quantitative and analytical skills; the ability to analyze data sets to inform decision making
• Strong background in education and instructional skill set, preferably in high-need schools or with high-need populations
• Prior experience with education policy and education related legislation (preferred)
• Demonstrated experience motivating stakeholders to make changes in their behaviors
• A commitment to producing consistently high-quality, detailed work, even under deadline pressure
• The ability to synthesize large amounts of information effectively and strategically
• The ability to critically assess challenges and identify flexible, effective solutions in ambiguous situations
• Excellent oral communication and writing skills
• The ability to work effectively with others at all levels of an organization and to consistently display a high level of professionalism in all interactions
• Staff management experience (preferred)
• A willingness to work non-standard hours and/or occasional weekends

Compensation

The annual salary for the Project Director, Implementation is $80,000 or commensurate with experience in a similar position with the potential for a performance based bonus. The annual salary for the Project Director, Leadership Development is $80,000-$90,000, or commensurate with experience in a similar position with the potential for a performance based bonus.

TNTP offers a motivated team of dynamic colleagues, a collegial atmosphere that values professional development and valuable feedback, a comprehensive benefits plan effective on the first day of employment – including low cost medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, a 403(b) plan with matching, potential opportunities for performance based bonuses – as well as the chance to influence the direction of a growing, mission-driven organization that is committed to the success of our nation's children. For more information on TNTP's competitive benefits package, please visit http://tntp.org/join/our-benefits/

To Apply

Please submit your resume and tailored cover letter online at:

http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH05/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=THENEWTEACHERPROJECT&cws=1&rid=1344

We review applications on a rolling basis – so it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible. We will not consider applications without a cover letter tailored to this position, which can be addressed to the Human Capital department. Please note that an offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of a background check. TNTP is committed to fostering and capitalizing on the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply to this position.

TNTP strives to end the injustice of educational inequality by providing excellent teachers to the students who need them most and by advancing policies and practices that ensure effective teaching in every classroom. A national nonprofit organization founded by teachers, TNTP is driven by the knowledge that effective teachers have a greater impact on student achievement than any other school factor. In response, TNTP develops customized programs and policy interventions that enable education leaders to find, develop and keep great teachers. Since its inception in 1997, TNTP has recruited or trained approximately 49,000 teachers - mainly through its highly selective Teaching Fellows programs - benefiting an estimated 8 million students. TNTP has also released a series of acclaimed studies of the policies and practices that affect the quality of the nation's teacher workforce, including The Widget Effect (2009), Teacher Evaluation 2.0 (2010) and The Irreplaceables (2012). Today TNTP is active in more than 25 cities, including 10 of the nation's 15 largest. For more information, please visit www.tntp.org.