Reports to: Executive Director
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience
Location: New Haven, CT with some in-state travel
Overview:
The Connecticut RISE Network (RISE) is a Connecticut-based non-profit organization with a mission to empower educators to achieve breakthrough results, helping all students realize and achieve their full potential. Leveraging its innovative partnership model, RISE facilitates networks for school improvement by bringing together exceptional educators working in different contexts to advance shared goals. By empowering school communities to improve, we invest in a cycle of lasting and scalable impact.
RISE districts and schools commit to sharing resources and expertise, pursuing innovative solutions, strengthening school and district systems, and empowering educators and leaders through continuous improvement. Currently, RISE represents a multi-year partnership between nine school districts across Connecticut, serving 14,000 students across ten high schools to support educators striving to ensure every RISE high school student graduates college and career ready.
Position Summary and Essential Job Functions:
The Chief of Staff will play an integral role providing strategic oversight, driving project management, and facilitating communication across the organization in furtherance of RISE’s growth, organizational effectiveness, and impact over time. RISE is seeking a talented and highly motivated individual to work closely with the Executive Director and the organization’s leadership team to design and implement systems for collaboration that drive outstanding results. This role will have both externally and internally facing responsibilities as a thought-partner, strategist, and operator in the organization. This is a new role in the organization and is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, is a natural problem-solver and relationship-builder, and is passionate about developing systems and structures to support a growing and results-driven organization.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategic Oversight & Project Management
Provide oversight and direction for team-wide project planning and implementation activities, including advising on long-term strategic planning and improved project management systems.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and organization leadership to identify organizational goals, define project objectives, and align project activities with organizational priorities and resources.
Regularly brief the Executive Director on project progress and performance and help prioritize areas requiring additional Executive Director involvement and guidance.
Ensure that project management systems are used effectively and consistently across the organization.
Manage and own key projects, as needed.
Internal Communications & Collaboration
Partner with the Executive Director in coordinating communications and maintaining key relationships with RISE staff, Board members, partners, donors, and vendors.
Provide regular written updates to RISE staff, Board of Directors, and philanthropic partners.
Assist in preparing materials and coordinating schedules for quarterly Board of Directors meetings.
Support efficient and effective organizational meetings and collaboration through the development of agendas, minutes, and other proactive measures to support workflow.
Plan and implement organizational events working in collaboration with the Operations Team and philanthropic partners (e.g. team retreat, Teacher Appreciation Day).
Executive Support & External Relations
Partner with the Executive Director to build relationships and facilitate meetings with key external partners.
Serve as proxy and advisor for Executive Director to facilitate effective decision-making.
Conduct short-term research projects, as assigned; read, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple sources and over periods of time.
In coordination with the Director of Talent and Operations, support correspondence and cultivation efforts with prospective philanthropic partners.
Collaborate with Operations Associate to facilitate expense tracking and reimbursement and to coordinate and arrange out-of-state travel for the Executive Director.
Uphold a strict level of confidentiality.
Exude professionalism in all internal and external interactions and communications.
Required Knowledge and Skills:
Superior organizational and project management skills
Ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet competing demands.
Strong knowledge of operational systems and structures for facilitating collaboration within a dynamic organization.
Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills (e.g., emails, memos, slide decks).
Ability to ramp up on new content and work in an independent and self-motivated manner.
Desire to work in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and results-driven environment.
Strong interpersonal and people management skills.
Strong sense of accountability and responsibility for results.
Outstanding collaboration and teamwork.
Sense of humor, positive attitude, and willingness to work in a collaborative environment.
Commitment to systems-driven solutions for scalable and sustained impact.
Strong belief that all students can learn and achieve at high levels.
Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft and Google apps.
Required Education and Experience:
Experience in nonprofit management; experience in K-12 education strongly preferred.
Experience working closely with executive leadership, preferably with cross-functional experience as a Chief of Staff or similar capacity.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience.
RISE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.