Senior Director, Programs & Student Success

Job Purpose/Summary

At Communities In Schools of Nevada (CISN), the Senior Director, Programs & Student Success (SDPSS) leads the work of Integrated Student Supports (ISS), managing across multiple program functions and supporting staff through layers to achieve affiliate-wide outcomes. The SDPSS shapes strategy for the affiliate, guiding data-driven program quality and alignment, analyzing affiliate-wide outcomes and trends, and driving improvements. They strategize to strengthen community and school partnerships and expand the reach and quality of CIS programming. They build and lead highly effective teams, shaping and supporting managers and directors within their program. As a key member of the affiliate senior leadership team, they influence organizational priorities and decision making across the affiliate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Sets affiliate ISS strategy and priorities

• Set strategy for the affiliate across the Integrated Student Supports program, including but not limited to, identifying potential school sites, building affiliate growth plans, prioritizing Academy offerings, and developing long-term district and government partnerships

• Translate organization-wide strategy and state directives into affiliate strategy and best practices, creating programmatic vision and the annual operating plan (AOP)

• Plan multi-year strategy in alignment with the affiliate AOP and the organization-wide strategic plan, in collaboration with other senior leaders

• Engage in ongoing learning, research, data analysis, and other activities to ensure the affiliate is implementing research-based ISS programming and is a leader in student support services and drop-out prevention

• Strategize around personnel and resource management, participating in the annual budget process led by the Executive Director and shaping budgets across ISS functions, including personnel, school site budgets, training, travel, and other budget domains;

• Analyze resource allocation against outcomes, assessing return on investment and adjusting strategy to align with stronger outcomes

• Lead initiatives and transformations within the ISS program umbrella, defining strategy, goals, resources, and measurement for pilots and new programs

• Support cross-departmental alignment and strategic planning

Ensures programmatic fidelity and quality

• Hold accountability for school and student outcomes across the affiliate

• Ensure alignment to and fidelity of practice of the Integrated Student Supports (ISS) model, utilizing best practices, national and state-wide research, and data to drive program quality

• Analyze affiliate data monthly, quarterly, and yearly; use data to direct priorities, training, collaboration, and strategy to improve outcomes

• Analyze program trends to identify areas of resource, service, or partnership gaps and determine. Own the process or delegate to the appropriate teams to close identified gaps, including researching and finding curriculum, programs, or resources, partnering with the state programs team, and/or partnering with affiliate partnerships leader(s)

• Utilize multi-year data to drive program strategy and priorities

• Represent the organization externally, especially with prospective schools, district partners, and nonprofit executive leadership

• Closely monitor principal relationships, retention, and satisfaction to identify affiliate-wide trends, cohort-specific or staff-specific gaps, and opportunities for collaboration; manage principal relationships through layers, working with Program Directors (PD) and Program Managers (PM) who own those relationships

Builds and leads a high-functioning ISS team

• Hire, train, support, develop, and hold accountable a program team and individual program staff

• Train, broker, and/or partner with the state team to develop program leaders, creating and executing an annual program leader training plan

• Train and support other managers in HR aligned affiliate hiring practices, supporting hiring of any/all ISS roles in an effort to ensure program staff have high capacity and are aligned to the mission and values

• Engage appropriately and effectively in all Human Resources (HR) aligned processes for direct reports including, but not limited to, hiring, payroll process, leave policies, employee relations, or other duties

• Manage Program Directors and/or program employees as assigned

o Develop the skill and knowledge of Program Directors to build effectiveness and efficiency of their staff, driving student outcomes

o Develop the skill and knowledge of Program Directors as function leaders who set strategy and drive program outcomes for functions within the ISS program

o Develop team members into leaders; drive long-term organizational success through talent development

• Hold accountability for direct reports meeting their performance goals

Sets, builds, and maintains affiliate culture and morale

• Alongside affiliate senior leadership, set affiliate culture and define culture objectives

• Build a cohesive team of ISS program leaders and site-based staff

• Lead the affiliate in times of challenge, upholding CORE values and expectations

• Communicate regularly and clearly with team members, driving both team culture and task and deadline completion through consistent communication

• Solicit feedback, input, and growth opportunities from affiliate staff as appropriate

• Own employee relations concerns involving Program Directors or higher; in partnership with Human Resources, ensure compliant, best practices are implemented by program leaders for employee relations concerns for site-based staff

• Hold accountability for affiliate culture and staff retention

Function leadership and delegation

• Senior Program Directors ensure all functions within the program are led and managed effectively. They may personally lead one or more function within their program and/or delegate these functions to Directors or Managers, as appropriate. These functions include, but are not limited to: Level ownership, Academy, Full Service Community Schools, Training, Partnerships, Special Initiatives, or others.

• Determine and delegate functional needs annually – or more frequently if need arises - and assign functions to staff, including self-assignment, appropriately and effectively to achieve outcomes

• Functional leadership responsibilities include:

o Set strategy and direction for the assigned program area

o Ensure alignment to larger ISS and affiliate goals

o Complete all function responsibilities

o Manage function budgets and resources

o Hold accountability for all function outcomes

Core Function 6: CISN Team Member

• Serve as a member of the affiliate senior leadership team

• Collaborate within the affiliate, with the state team, and/or across affiliates to enhance learning, engage best practices, and ensure alignment

• Lead and engage in team building, meetings, communication, and culture

• Identify cross-functional improvement strategies, elevate concerns, and work to improve the affiliate

• Engage in and seek out ongoing training and development to continuously grow

• Represent the organization internally and externally in alignment with the mission and CORE values

• Complete other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Competencies

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, master’s degree or higher a plus. A combination of degrees and experience, equaling or greater than 11 total years of relevant education and experience, can be considered.

• 6-8+ years experience working with youth or social services programs required

• 3-5+ years management experience required

• License in education (administration or teaching), social work, or another relevant field preferred

• Proven track record managing program outcomes required, with experience managing through layers preferred

• High level of interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral communication) a must

• Knowledge of data collection and proficiency tracking progress

• Sensitivity to needs of youth and varied populations

Competencies include:

• Excellent writing, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills

• Ability to set goals, meet deadlines, and evaluate results

• Ability to coach and motivate direct reports, manage relationships with various professionals in multiple locations with diverse needs and expectations.

• Ability to support the strategic development of Affiliate programming

• Ability to independently strategize, set goals, and follow through on functional programming

• Ability to strategize, research, and prioritize highest-level actions to reach outcomes

• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Work environment is indoors and climate controlled. May be exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

• Moderate noise levels as found in a business office and classroom setting.

• Use of own automobile.

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check, possible fingerprinting, and drug screen.

• Travel required to and from school sites.