Community Schools Manager

Community Schools Manager

Position Summary:

Community Schools offer a holistic approach toward improving academic performance driven by strong, collaborative partnerships among principals, parents, teachers, and community-based organizations. In Community Schools, parents are real and active partners in their children’s education, the school climate is joyful and positive, and expanded learning opportunities are standard.

The Community School Manager possesses the ability to think outside the box and be a self-motivated initiative-taker willing to go above and beyond expectations. The Manager facilitates the connection between schools and the community and provides oversight and supervision to the Community School Navigators within their assigned zone.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

Leadership

• Provides oversight and supervision to the Community School Navigators 
• Partners with post-secondary institutions to leverage programs and services 
• Plans and directs efforts to involve students, families, and neighborhood residents in community school initiatives 
• Establishes linkages with local businesses to promote their involvement in the school 
• Assures that the functioning of all community school core components is effectively linked to the school curriculum and fulfills the basic principles of community schools
• Develops, maintains, and nurtures relationships with school administration and staff, parents, family members, and neighborhood residents
• Recommends programs that aim to increase educational opportunities and social connections for children, families, and neighborhood residents 
• Develops relationships and partnerships with neighborhood residents, community-based organizations, local businesses, and communities of faith to support the goals of the leadership team and the key priority areas 
• Assures the alignment of partner services with the Community School strategy through partner service agreements 
• Assists school and partner agencies with resource management and development 
• Facilitates ongoing communication between the Community School Navigator, school administrators, community-based organizations, partners, and providers 
• Serves as the point person for agencies and programs interested in partnering with community schools and helps to broker new partnerships that are aligned with each school’s goals and needs 
• Participates in leadership meetings with Say Yes Buffalo, Buffalo Public Schools, etc. 
• Performs administrative tasks for the day-to-day management and coordination of activities
• Manages staff HR functions
• Develops and facilitates intra-agency collaborations 

Community Outreach/Engagement

• Co-designs and facilitates community meetings and forums as outlined in partner contracts 
• Represents schools at community meetings and events 
• Collaborates with Community School Navigators to conduct community needs assessments 
• Coordinates and provides oversight of community outreach/recruitment (door-to-door, tabling, presentations, telephone calls, social media, etc.) 

Data Management

• Supports the evaluation of each community school by supervising and coordinating the collection of data, timely submission of reports, and responses to other requests for information
• Utilizes the Microsoft TEAMS management system to gather, maintain, and report data metrics 
• Operates with a data-driven approach to manage staff, educate the community, and develop programs 

Professional Development

• Participates in capacity-building activities, including initiative-wide and site-based trainings, and network meetings 
• Coordinates and plans professional development for Community School Navigators 
• Participates in professional development opportunities offered by regional and national Community Schools Networks. Shares lessons learned and best practices with the district and colleagues to inform site-level improvements and expansion of community schools 
• Performs other duties as assigned

Salary 77K

Qualification, Skills, and Knowledge Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a human services field with at least 6 years of community-based experience and 2 years of supervisory experience.
• 2 years of proven skills in leadership, group facilitation, coordination, marketing, budgeting, data collection, and project management. 
• Valid NYS Driver’s License 
• Fingerprinting and background check clearances 
• Knowledge of community resources 
• Working knowledge of program-based budgeting and request for proposals administration 
• Ability to work 70% of Community Schools events (evening and weekend availabilities) 
• Ability to work effectively with school-aged youth, educators, families, and communities from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds 
• Ability to work collaboratively with strong relationship-building skills 
• Experience in consensus building, meeting facilitation, problem solving, and team building 
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and respond to deadlines while working on multiple tasks 
• Ability to work within multiple systems 
• Ability to adhere to school policies and procedures 
• Ability to be a creative thinker and a self-starter 
• Effective oral and written communication skills 
• Believe and practice Say Yes Racial Equity Statement, “Equity will be achieved when we can all just wake up and live freely; be valued and respected; live free from structural impediments based off of perceived racial characteristics; and have fair representation and opportunity.”