Apr 02, 2019
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Develop and champion a clear organizational vision and strategy by:
Working with the Carmen Board and leadership team to develop a strategic vision, create an implementation plan to accomplish it, and adapt to internal and external changes as needed, and
Widely and regularly championing and inspiring people with the organization’s vision, goals, plans, results, and success stories.
Recruit, support, and retain a strong, diverse, and culturally competent team by:
Recruiting and developing high-performing talent for all levels of the organization;
Promoting and modeling cultural competence, equity and inclusion;
Implementing effective talent management strategies throughout the organization;
Building a strong, cohesive culture of openness, transparency, fairness, and respect for all employees;
Nurturing and developing a high-performing, collaborative executive team, and building out a strong distributed leadership model;
Coaching and mentoring direct reports, ensuring the clarity and resources they need for success, and
Ensuring the organization is able to sustain and retain its people.
Drive effective execution and accountability for programmatic, operational, and financial results by:
Working with the Board of Directors and leadership team to set clear academic, financial, organizational growth, and operational goals;
Implementing effective accountability systems to assess and drive progress toward goals, key strategic priorities, and implementation plans;
Ensuring that decision-making rights and processes are clear and well-implemented;
Maintaining very high standards of excellence and ensuring that Carmen’s schools are consistently excellent and preparing all students to graduate ready for success in college, family-sustaining careers, community engagement, and family life;
Promoting the innovation, testing, piloting, and scaling of new solutions that drive student achievement;
Ensuring operations and facilities are safe and support the academic program;
Maintaining legal compliance, and
Ensuring that Carmen has a viable long-term financial plan, attains and sustains financial sustainability on public funding, manages resources strategically, and has clean audits.
Build a strong partnership with the Board of Directors by:
Engaging the Board collaboratively and productively, and promoting rigorous board-management discussion to solve key challenges and realize Carmen’s mission;
Communicating information transparently and in a timely manner, and
Working with the Board Chair and Executive Committee to recruit and train new Board members and meaningfully engage existing Board members.
Develop strong external relationships and presence by:
In conjunction with the Board and a small development team, developing new and nurturing existing individual and foundation philanthropic relationships, and leading all fundraising efforts;
Developing meaningful partnerships and relationships with key local and national leaders, government officials, Milwaukee Public Schools and other local public school districts, national charter management organizations, and community-based organizations, and
Promoting Carmen’s brand through presentations, publications, and social media presence consistent with Carmen’s mission, core values, and vision.
NEAR-TERM STRATEGIC PRIORITIESAmong other activities, the incoming CEO will work with the Founder and leadership team during a 4-6 month transition period to develop plans for addressing the following near-term priorities:
Evaluate the existing Carmen network leadership team structure and identify where core organizational functions are well supported and where they are not, then create a leadership plan that will ensure the success of the network through the next five years.
Clarify and further develop alignment between the middle school and high school education models.
Create goals and an action plan for middle school academic performance.
Address discrepancies in academic performance among the high schools.
Manage the assimilation of a local elementary charter school into the Carmen Schools of Science and Technology organizational structure to set the stage for building elementary to middle to high school feeder pathways under the Carmen network.
Finalize plans for purchasing buildings for some of the Carmen schools that are currently operating in leased buildings, and for the elementary school to come under the Carmen network management structure.
Create a plan for obtaining more funds for Carmen’s charter schools operating under MPS.
Build out the apprenticeship program at all Carmen high school campuses by strengthening and expanding partnerships with higher education (partnership focus: dual enrollment courses in STEM career pathways) and businesses (partnership focus: apprenticeships in STEM fields including health care, information technology, and engineering/advanced manufacturing (mechatronics)).
Create a diversity, equity, and inclusion action plan that addresses organizational culture, core course and advisory curricula, and talent recruitment and development.
QUALIFICATIONS The next CEO must be genuine and committed, and will possess these personal skills and characteristics: the executive presence and integrity to inspire confidence and passion;
the persistence, zeal and entrepreneurial spirit to lead a growing, mission-driven organization toward realizing ambitious goals;
the gravitas and sophistication required to be the public face of Carmen Schools of Science and Technology and the eloquence and persuasiveness required to serve as a spokesperson to a wide variety of audiences;
a commitment to continuous self and organizational improvement;
the strong work ethic and grit required to do whatever it takes to fulfill Carmen’s goals;
the ability to maintain calmness and self-confidence under pressure;
humility even with success; and
a collegial style that reflects mutual respect and engenders trust and teamwork.
BELIEFS AND MINDSETSThe next CEO needs to demonstrate the following foundational principles and mindsets:
Belief that all students can succeed.
Commitment to achieving breakthrough student results.
Commitment to uphold the organization’s core values.
Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Growth mindset.
Empathy, motivation and courage.
Openness to change.
PREFERRED BACKGROUND AND WORK EXPERIENCEWhile not required, the following skills, experiences and credentials are desired:
central city public charter school leadership experience;
familiarity with both Milwaukee and Wisconsin statewide education reform issues;
relationships with Milwaukee area, Wisconsin state level, and national education reform leaders;
business skills including financial modeling, business plan development and contract negotiation;
hands-on experience in hiring and developing leaders – ideally in the education sector; and
Master’s degree or higher in Education, Business Administration, Policy, or a STEM field.
Promise54
Milwaukee, WI, USA
Full-time
