Reports to: Chief of Programs & Network Success

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience

Location: New Haven, CT (Hybrid)

Overview:

The RISE Network’s mission is to ensure all high school students graduate with a plan and the skills and confidence to achieve college and career success. Founded in 2016, RISE partners with public high schools to lead networks where communities work together to use data to learn and improve. Through its core and most comprehensive network, RISE partners with nine high schools and eight districts, serving over 13,000 students in historically marginalized communities. 

RISE high schools work together to ensure all students experience success as they transition to, through, and beyond high school by using data to pinpoint needs, form hypotheses, and pursue ideas to advance student achievement. Partner schools have improved Grade 9 promotion rates by nearly 20 percentage points, while also decreasing subgroup gaps and increasing schoolwide graduation and college access rates. In 2021, the RISE Network was honored to receive the Carnegie Foundation’s annual Spotlight on Quality in Continuous Improvement recognition. Increasingly, RISE is pursuing opportunities to scale its impact through research publications, consulting partnerships, professional development experiences, and other avenues to drive excellent student outcomes.

Position Summary and Essential Job Functions:

As RISE continues to grow as an organization, the Program Operations Specialist will play a key role in coordinating events, communications, and knowledge management across teams within RISE and with RISE’s partner schools. The Program Operations Specialist will report to the Chief of Programs and Network Success while also working in close collaboration with RISE’s Operations and Program Teams

The Program Operations Specialist should demonstrate strong critical thinking skills, a solutions-oriented mindset and resourcefulness in performing their duties and responsibilities.  A strong candidate is expected to provide high-quality customer service at all times and build and maintain effective relationships across internal RISE teams and with external vendors and key stakeholders. The candidate should have exceptional communication skills with the ability to write clear and compelling email correspondence and newsletter updates for external audiences. The Program Operations Specialist should also be comfortable and adaptable in handling a range of operational responsibilities, such as coordinating event logistics, promoting strong team knowledge management, and requesting and reviewing proposals and quotes for event services. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Educator Professional Learning & Event Operations 

• Assist in logistics planning and implementation for RISE Network Learning Agenda events.

• Support collaborative processes to set the vision for educator gatherings.

• Co-lead school and district outreach and the marketing of professional learning opportunities and support services.

• Plan professional learning gatherings and conference sessions, including the design of highly engaging and impactful content with high-quality materials. 

• Provide consultative and project management support to internal stakeholders leading professional learning initiatives.

• Facilitate creation of materials for professional learning sessions and presentations. 

• Oversee food services, transportation, and facilities needs for on-site and off-site professional learning events.

• Manage key vendor relationships to support event operations needs, including speakers and event venues.

2. Internal Project Management & Communications

• Build and manage organized project management systems for network initiatives to promote collaboration and the on-time delivery of products and services.

• Support internal team meetings to promote organization around project timelines and key milestones.

• Maintain systems for tracking project progress and educator touchpoints using RISE project management, data tracking and CRM tools.

• Develop organized toolkits of resources and project planning tools.

• Facilitate knowledge and resource sharing across program teams.

• Collaborate with RISE Communications Specialist to identify opportunities to tell the story of RISE program activities, including creating and distributing monthly partner newsletter.

• Serve as primary point of contact for internal requests or opportunities to connect with RISE partner schools (e.g. media opportunities, funder visits, data tool trainings, etc.)

• Collaborate with RISE program teams to create and maintain an internal master calendar of school-based activities (e.g. quarterly stepbacks, school vacations, network learning events, etc.)

3. Program Initiatives Support and Strategy

• Deliver excellent work products aligned to key program initiatives, including adult learning design and external partnerships

• Manage and own key projects to advance RISE program strategy and priorities, as needed.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Superior organizational skills and strong attention to detail. 

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills. 

• Unwavering commitment to customer service.

• Strong sense of accountability and responsibility for results and meeting deadlines.

• Desire to work in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and results-driven environment.

• Ability to ramp up on new content and work in an independent and self-motivated manner.

• Strong belief that all students can learn and achieve at high levels.

• Sense of humor, positive attitude, and willingness to work in a collaborative environment.

• Demonstrated proficiency with spreadsheets and Google apps.

• Experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT and MailChimp a plus. Willingness to learn a must.

• Budget and vendor management experience preferred.

Required Education and Experience: 

• Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience.

Salary Range:

• $60,000 - $80,000

  Most new hires' salaries fall within the first half of the range, allowing team members to grow in their roles. For those who already have significant and aligned experiences at the same level as the role, placement may be at the higher end of the range.