Chief Operating Officer, Central Office

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Chief Operating Officer to join our team at Hartford Public Schools. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the operational areas of the district, including enrollment and school choice, facilities, food services, transportation, and educational technology.

• Advises and counsels the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent on district and school operations
• Maintains a comprehensive understanding of key instructional activities and establishes and implements goals to maximize performance of non-instructional functions in support of the educational goals of the district
• Supports the goals of the District and establishes and directs all short-term and long-range operational plans consistent with school system philosophy to highly support the educational goals and objectives
• Clearly and effectively communicates with, and presents information to, governing bodies, policy makers, federal and state law making bodies, local community districts, parental districts, news media and other interested parties upon request of the Superintendent
• Develops and maintains positive working relations with local, state, and federal governmental and community partners
• Assists school and district administrators in areas of operations as needed
• Eliminates workflow bottlenecks and streamlines processes and protocols by serving as point person between leadership and departments
• Develops and institutes customer-based approach to district's operations to serve students in the most effective and cost-efficient manner
• Serves as strategic leader and thought partner for Superintendent and Superintendent's Senior Leadership Team
• Supports Superintendent in driving district accountability and responsiveness to student, teacher, and community needs
• Works closely with the Superintendent and relevant individuals to develop and implement a school choice strategy
• Partners with the Superintendent and Board of Education in developing long-range plans for magnet school programming, capacity, and funding
• Serves as the district liaison with the Regional School Choice Office, monitoring the implementation of magnet school themes, enrollment, and funding consistent with all relevant Sheff agreements
• Creates and manages short-term and long-range strategies for smooth and effective operations and collaborative approaches across departments and schools
• Creates a culture of engagement and expectations with principals and other administrators
• Provides guidance and direction to subordinate managers toward their professional development to ensure and maintain a skilled staff
• Participates in the effective negotiation of contracts that enhance the educational environment for schools in a cost-effective way
• Assists in ensuring district compliance with local, state, and federal policies laws and regulations; analyzes and interprets government regulations and statutes
• Oversees compilation, preparation, and distribution of statistical and other data for federal, State Department of Education, and local reports
• Makes presentations as necessary when required by the Superintendent
• Supervises enrollment and school choice, transportation, food services, facilities, and educational technology teams
• Collaborates with the Office of Schools and other departments to assist school and district administrators in operation areas, as needed, particularly as it relates to enrollment and planning for student capacity
• Develops and implements policies and procedures relative to student enrollment and manages the overall process of assignment of students to schools, recommending changes to the Superintendent as needed
• Serves as the district lead for all school construction projects and is the primary liaison to the City of Hartford for school construction planning, funding, and execution
• Oversees the district student technology program, developing and implementing policies and procedures for management of student computers
• Represents the Superintendent in functions, meetings, conferences, etc. related to operations as required
• Centrally coordinates all school district operations-related functions and develops a seamless approach and strategy for eliminating work silos
• Blends district's operations functions to increase efficiencies and improve communication between departments
• Directs the operations of contractors, other vendors, and school district staff in the provision of daily services to include student bus transportation, food service, custodial and grounds maintenance, and other areas as assigned
• Serves as the district liaison to MHIS
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent

• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, education, or related field; advanced degree (JD, MBA, MPA, or CPA) preferred
• Extensive (over 5 years) relevant work experience and knowledge of business, finance, schools/district management, personnel management, information technology, ancillary services, and operations
• At least five (5) years of senior level experience working directly with superintendents, executive cabinet leaders, school board members, nonprofits, or community representatives preferred
• Evidence of successful experience leading major change management efforts, preferably in public schools or a similar organization
• Evidence of successful experience developing and implementing efficient systems and processes in areas such as facilities management, technology, or operations
• Evidence of successful experience in an urban school district, nonprofit organization, or public institution
• Experience with bargaining unit contract administration and negotiation preferred
• Previous experience with school construction or renovation projects preferred
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and strong judgment
• Have a professional demeanor and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Strong, effective oral and written communications skills, as well as interpersonal skills
• Organizational skills, including follow-up and meticulous attention to detail
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently
• Demonstrated initiative and high level of motivation
• Proven ability to oversee staff and build consensus among peer professionals unfamiliar with operations
• Service orientation towards supporting schools, the Superintendent, and the City of Hartford
• Operate with proficiency a computer and assigned software programs, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite; ability to learn to use new software related to job responsibilities
• Connecticut Intermediate Administration or Supervision Certification (092) is preferred

This non-bargaining position has a 12-Month work year. Salary will be in accordance with an individual employment contract, based on a salary range of $155,000 - $175,000.

Evaluated annually

Not applicable

To be considered, all internal and external applicants must fully complete a Hartford Public Schools' online application, which can be accessed through our Applicant Tracking System, Nimble, at https://app.hirenimble.com/jobs/hartford. Internal applicants should use a personal email address when applying. Please do not use your hartfordschools.org email. Candidates' application and supporting documents will be reviewed. Candidates will be contacted directly by the hiring manager for interviews.