School Leadership and Innovation Partner - IBPLC

About the Role/Purpose:

Big Picture Learning (BPL) seeks a School Leadership & Innovation Partner to support the development, implementation, and growth of the International Big Picture Learning Credential (IBPLC). The IBPLC Coach will focus on grades K-8 and will support practitioners, school leaders, BPL staff (including the IBPLC Program Director) in articulating, piloting, refining, and expanding the reach of the IBPLC K-8 Scaffolds. This role will apply demonstrated capacity of implementing the Big Picture design in settings including K-8 youth, especially the integrated use of BPL aligned assessment practices at these levels. This position is approximately 80% remote, with some in person expectations at participating schools, convenings, including Big Picture all-staff convenings.

Primary Responsibilities: specific scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Develop and articulate professional development materials for the live and asynchronous introduction and use of the IBPLC, specifically the K-8 Scaffolds, including developing modules for Learning Big Picture
• Develop and articulate curricular and/or support materials
• Collect sources of evidence as examples and negotiate necessary permissions, as necessary, to share sources of evidence of work and practice
• Act as a liaison between practitioners, Big Picture staff, and current and prospective digital platform developers as tools are developed to support the implementation of IBPLC
• Collect and share feedback from practitioners with the IBPLC Program Director and other stakeholders as directed
• Revise scaffolds and materials, as directed
• Develop regular (at least monthly) virtual opportunities to support and convene practitioners for discussion, updates, and feedback
• As feasible, convene with IBPLC K-8 practitioners at least once annually
• Provide direct coaching to schools, as needed, and engage productively with school leadership
• Support efforts to foster fairness, belonging, and equal opportunity while actively advocating for justice at the personal, organizational, and systemic levels.
• Support, participate in, and attend annual BPL conferences and other org-wide events as needed.
• Other responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational need and individual skills and interests.

Qualifications, Requirements, and Skills:

• BA, ideally with an MEd, MBA, MPA, or related advanced degree. However, as research demonstrates that education requirements can be a deterrent for qualified candidates to apply, we encourage all candidates with the professional experiences and leadership qualities outlined in this position specification to apply.
• 3-5 years experience in public education administration (e.g., Principal experience) required
• 3-5 years as a School Leader implementing the BPL Design at a K-8 level
• Experience using BPL aligned assessment systems, including the IBPLC
• Ability to work effectively in multiple school and district environments
• Confidence and effectiveness in collaborating with grass-roots partners
• Communication, planning and logistics skills for convening stakeholders
• Facilitation and professional development skills for collaborative work and learning
• Familiarity with process improvement, user-centered design, and problem-solving; more than formal training, proven practical experience in those areas
• Ability to facilitate the work of groups with empathy, flexibility, and good humor.
• Ability to make decisions independently, combined with an ability to work collaboratively
• Working knowledge of data collection, management and reporting
• Technical savvy and appreciation for innovative technology solutions, with an ability to learn and work across multiple systems applications (Google Suite, Zoom, emerging AI technologies, Canva, etc.)
• Proven ability to partner with community and school leaders and a diverse team and stakeholders
• Strong work ethic with a proven ability to meet internal and external deadlines
• An optimistic approach to work supported by an entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit; an outgoing nature and resilience and creativity to work within challenging systems
• Ability to work virtually

Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to craft thoughtful and engaging written communications
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (speaking, writing, listening) in person and virtually
• Commitment to continuous improvement, a relentless approach to growth and learning, and openness to constructive critical feedback.
• Collegial and empathic approach to working with others, while bringing a creative, flexible and thoughtful approach to one's work

Intrapersonal Skills

• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Exceptional strategic thinking, critical analysis, and problem-solving skills
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills with an overall execution orientation and high attention to detail

Organizational Skills

• Steadfast belief that students should be at the center of their own learning and that education (in particular public education) is due for a reorientation that allows students to be confident in the pursuit of their own passions and interests
• Strong internal accountability (especially important due to the geographic spread of BPL’s work and our virtual teams), comfort juggling multiple projects and prioritizing tasks, and the ability to work remotely in distributed teams across multiple time zones
• Ability to exhibit entrepreneurial behaviors, take ownership, and see tasks and ideas through from conception to implementation
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (speaking, writing, listening) in person and virtually
• Commitment to continuous improvement, a relentless approach to growth and learning, and an openness to constructive critical feedback
• Collegial and empathetic approach to working with others, while bringing a creative, flexible and thoughtful approach to your work
• Ability to use - or quickly learn - multiple tech platforms (i.e., Google Suite, Salesforce, Asana)

Candidates for this position must share our passion and commitment for rethinking the possibilities of education for decades to come. We steadfastly believe that students should be at the center of their own learning and that education (in particular public education) is due for a reorientation that allows students to be confident in the pursuit of their own passions and interests.

The geographic spread of BPL’s work and the fact that all BPL staff work virtually, requires individuals to have strong internal accountability. The organizational culture supports flexible and contextually appropriate decision making processes. As a result, individuals who thrive in BPL are comfortable juggling multiple projects and prioritizing tasks, advancing the work in the face of uncertainty, willing to take risks, exhibit entrepreneurial behaviors, take ownership and see tasks and ideas through from conception to implementation, and possess the communication and interpersonal skills needed to work well with people at all levels of the organization.

Benefits Package

• Fully paid medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Fully paid life insurance policy, including short term and long term disability insurance
• Pension plan which includes a company contribution of 5% of your salary with 100% vested after 6 months of employment
• Eight (8) weeks paid parental leave, four (4) weeks of medical leave after 12 months on staff
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays, plus 2 religious floater holidays
• End of year holiday break (from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day)
• Eleven (11) personal/sick days, plus paid birthday
• Eighteen (18) days of paid vacation, which is earned and accrued at 1.5 days/month beginning the first full month of employment

Other workplace benefits offered full time employees

• Use of company laptop computer
• Printer/copier/scanner for home office
• Office supplies for home office
• Cell phone bill is paid or can become part of the company plan. BPL will pay up to $400 towards the purchase of a new phone.
• Coverage of TSA Pre-Check, CLEAR or Global Entry enrollment fees
• Reimbursement for approved organizational travel