About the Great Schools Partnership
We are a dedicated and dynamic group of individuals who have joined together to create a high-quality, more equitable, and just education system in the United States. Working with educators, administrators, state agencies, community members, parents, and business leaders, we partner with schools to create learning environments where students own their learning, engage in deep work, and prepare themselves for their chosen futures. We believe that each of us needs to be empowered to be creative, take initiative, think outside the box, work collaboratively, and assume leadership roles in our organization. For more detailed information about GSP and our work visit: What We Do.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
At the Great Schools Partnership (GSP), we’re not just committed to diversity—we’re actively building an anti-racist, equitable organization reflective of the intersecting identities of the communities we serve. We believe that every voice, background, and identity enriches our work and strengthens our collective impact. That’s why we celebrate the unique tapestry of race, ethnicity, language, ability, gender, and all the other ways we define ourselves.
This is the bedrock of everything we do. We actively advocate for and support schools, districts, and communities on their journeys toward educational equity. We also invest our time and resources in ongoing internal efforts to dismantle racism and bias, and foster a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Our goal is to collectively create a space where every member of our staff feels welcomed, valued, empowered, and equipped to contribute their full brilliance.
There are 2-3 senior associate positions available.
What’s the big plan for this job?
Our Senior Associates work alongside educators to transform practices, policies, and organizational models to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. This job involves coaching educators and leaders virtually and in person, while also interacting and collaborating with your GSP colleagues on a regular basis. In this role, you’ll be facilitating professional development in organizational design, leadership, teaching and learning, and community engagement. We work in teams as often as we can to share our expertise and problem solve, but our Senior Associates also have solo assignments and develop tools and resources as needed.
What will you be doing?
On site and virtual school coaching focused on achieving equitable outcomes. The bulk of your days will be assigned to contract work in schools and districts both in New England and across the country. You’ll be working with building and district leaders, leadership teams, staff, and, in some cases, school board and community members to support the development of sustainable plans for improvement. While we do have numerous tools and structures to support our work, each assignment is unique and our coaching is context-based and responsive to the unique needs of our partners.
Supporting schools to implement the following high-leverage approaches: a. Anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable practices, policies, and cultures; b. Proficiency-based teaching and learning; c. Multiple and flexible pathways that promote deep learning as well as student voice and choice; d. Shared, data-informed decision-making amongst educators, students, families, and community members; e. Trusting relationships between and among students, families, and educators; f. Professional learning groups
Convening and facilitating conversations among educators, students, families and members of the broader school community. Our Senior Associates are nimble facilitators, practiced in the use of protocols to lead conversations about practice, policy, and systems. A substantial part of our work is about bringing people together and ensuring all stakeholders have a voice in the conversation. In this role, you’ll work with school communities to structure and facilitate these important conversations.
Collecting data and reflecting on practice in cycles of learning and improvement. Senior Associates are supported by our Co-Directors of Coaching and our Director of Research and Evaluation in creating work plans for each school contract. You’ll develop credible theories of action, collect appropriate progress monitoring data, and determine how your work contributes to positive outcomes for the schools you coach.
Facilitating workshops and conference sessions. While coaching is the primary focus of this role, we also host and present at conferences throughout the year. Many of these presentations will be a team effort.
Developing and implementing tools for school improvement. Our staff are incredibly talented and creative people who routinely create new processes and resources for use in schools and communities. You’ll work collaboratively to develop tools and resources for use with schools and in workshops. Many of these will also be featured in toolkits on our website.
Learning and reflecting together with colleagues. You will participate in monthly all-staff learning and planning days and monthly coaching retreats for senior associates to learn, plan, and develop new skills and resources. In addition, you will frequently work as part of a team on many contracts which will provide the opportunity for you to learn from your colleagues and for them to learn from you.
What qualities do you need to succeed in this role?
- You share our commitment to equitable education for every student. This is a job, but it is more than just filling in your time. You need to be committed to public education and believe that by improving the quality of learning we can improve the life-long outcomes of our students and fundamentally and positively impact the lives of everyone in our communities. You have the bravery to challenge inequities in our educational systems and the strategic acumen to get results.
- You bring expertise and experience in teaching, learning, and leading in K-12 schools, and are able to adapt best practices to meet the specific needs of schools and districts where we work. You believe in the high-leverage approaches listed above and are committed to demonstrating the moral courage necessary to support educators in implementing these ideas. You have the ability to quickly assess the most pressing needs of a school, district, or community and craft a plan and set of recommendations for a path toward improvement.
- You have experience using data and research to help guide decision making. You are familiar with different types of data sources available to schools and districts and are comfortable reviewing data to identify areas for growth and improvement.
- You have public confidence and conviction. You enjoy exploring and developing ideas extemporaneously, in collaboration with others and in public settings. You view disagreements as opportunities to explore new ideas and develop better results where success is the development and implementation of great ideas that are shared between everyone involved.
- You get energized when engaged in new personal growth opportunities. You enjoy developing new skills, are not afraid of ambiguity, and are willing to demonstrate learning in a public situation. You find power in learning with others even when you are in a position of leading work.
- You get stuff done. You are self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a close-knit team. You are able to prioritize among competing demands to manage multiple projects, identify strategic priorities, and differentiate between work that you need to take the time to get perfect versus activities that just need to get finished. When problems arise, you figure out ways to push through to solutions.
- You believe teammates matter. Certainly, you can work on your own to see projects through to fruition, but you know that collective efforts and insight can create better outcomes. You are dependable with colleagues, supportive of others, and able to tackle a challenge as part of a group. You value diversity, respect different ideas, and openly address concerns with your colleagues.
Our process strives to screen in rather than out. We welcome your application even if you feel you are not strong in every qualification outlined above.
An additional consideration
We are especially interested in candidates who speak multiple languages recognizing that many of the communities we work with have significant language diversity. Speaking a language in addition to English is not required but is a beneficial additional skill.
Location
Senior Associates may work virtually from a home office. This job requires work on site in schools predominantly in New England and consistent virtual collaboration with educators in the field and other GSP staff. Applicants should expect regular travel with some overnights. We prefer that employees live in one of the six New England states (the core of our work) and will consider candidates who live in eastern New York or northern New Jersey.
Compensation & Benefits
Each role at Great Schools Partnership is placed in a compensation band with 7 levels. This role sits within band 4. The midpoint of this band is $100,000. Starting salary range for this position is $85,000 – $100,000. The actual level of the successful candidate (and corresponding salary) will be based on compensable factors such as job-relevant education, job-relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, and other factors. Great Schools Partnership does not negotiate the offered salary during the offer conversation. Throughout the interview process, we will evaluate your alignment with the compensable factors listed in the job description. From there, we will determine your starting salary on a level within the job band.
GSP covers full cost of health insurance for each staff member, 50% of costs of family health insurance, an additional 2.5% of salary contributed to a 403(b) retirement plan, an additional 4.5% of salary into a flex fund for health care or retirement, four weeks of vacation, five personal days, six sick days, nine holidays, tuition reimbursement, and eight weeks of paid parental leave.
GSP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of other minority or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Come join us!
Submit your application HERE. Once in the application form, you will be asked to provide information regarding your application, upload your resume, and answer three questions (250 words or less for each response):
- How has a commitment to educational equity driven your thinking, your commitment, and your actions over the last five years?
- What insights, experiences, or commitments—professionally or in your personal life—will you bring to the GSP team that will either enhance or challenge our understanding of our work?
- After reading our description of what you would be doing in this job, what experiences have you had that make you interested in submitting your application?
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Review date starting April 5, 2024.
Start Date: As soon as possible although no later than July 1, 2024.
There are 1-3 coaching associate positions available.
What’s the big plan for this job?
Our Coaching Associates work in tandem with our Senior Associates, Project Leads, and Coaching Directors to transform practices, policies, and organizational models to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. This job involves working in close partnership with GSP Senior Associates on projects and school and district contracts to coach educators and leaders virtually and in person. In this role, you’ll be building your skills toward facilitating professional development in organizational design, leadership, teaching and learning, and community engagement, working on teams and in partnership with other GSP coaches and leaders on various contracts, projects, and tools. We view this Coaching Associate role as a stepping stone to a Senior Associate position. Given that, Coaching Associates will engage in additional professional learning opportunities throughout the year to hone their skills.
What will I be doing?
On site and virtual school coaching focused on achieving equitable outcomes. The bulk of your days will be assigned to contract work on GSP teams in schools and districts both in New England and across the country. You’ll be working with colleagues to support building and district leaders, leadership teams, staff, and, in some cases, school board and community members to support the development of sustainable plans for improvement. While we do have numerous tools and structures to support our work, each assignment is unique and our coaching is context-based and responsive to the unique needs of our partners.
Supporting schools to implement the following high-leverage approaches: a. Anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable practices, policies, and cultures; b. Proficiency-based teaching and learning; c. Multiple and flexible pathways that promote deep learning as well as student voice and choice; d. Shared, data-informed decision-making amongst educators, students, families, and community members; e. Trusting relationships between and among students, families, and educators; f. Professional learning groups
Convening and facilitating conversations among educators, students, families and members of the broader school community. Our Coaching Associates work alongside Senior Associates to build capacity in the use of protocols to lead conversations about practice, policy, and systems. A substantial part of our work is about bringing people together and ensuring all participants have a voice in the conversation. In this role, you’ll work with school communities and GSP staff to structure and facilitate these important conversations.
Collecting data and reflecting on practice in cycles of learning and improvement. Coaching Associates are supported by our Directors of Coaching and our Director of Research and Evaluation in creating work plans for each school contract. You’ll work with your team to develop credible theories of action, collect appropriate progress monitoring data, and determine how your work contributes to positive outcomes for the schools you coach.
Facilitating workshops and conference sessions. While coaching is the primary focus of this role, we also host and present at conferences throughout the year. Many of these presentations will be a team effort.
Developing and implementing tools for school improvement. Our staff are incredibly talented and creative people who routinely create new processes and resources for use in schools and communities. You’ll work collaboratively to develop tools and resources for use with schools and in workshops. Many of these will also be featured in toolkits on our website.
Learning and reflecting together with colleagues. You will participate in all-staff learning and planning days and coaching retreats for Coaching Associates and Senior Associates to learn, plan, and develop new skills and resources. You will participate in professional learning groups and work as part of a team on many contracts which will provide the opportunity for you to learn from your colleagues and for them to learn from you. In addition, Coaching Associates will engage in a more intensive professional learning program, supported by Coaching Directors, to accelerate skills and knowledge across all areas of GSP coaching.
What qualities do I need to succeed in this role?
- You share our commitment to equitable education for every student. This is a job, but it is more than just filling in your time. You need to be committed to public education and believe that by improving the quality of learning we can improve the life-long outcomes of our students and fundamentally and positively impact the lives of everyone in our communities. You have the bravery to challenge inequities in our educational systems and the strategic acumen to get results.
- You bring expertise and experience in one or more of our areas of coaching. You have led efforts in restorative practices, family and community engagement, teaching and learning, collaborative practices, strategic planning and visioning, or youth development and are able to learn about and apply best practices to meet the unique needs of each school community. You believe in the high-leverage approaches listed above and are committed to demonstrating the moral courage necessary to support educators in implementing these ideas.
- You have experience using data and research to help guide decision making. You are familiar with different types of data sources available to schools and districts and are comfortable reviewing data to identify areas for growth and improvement.
- You have public confidence and conviction. You enjoy exploring and developing ideas extemporaneously, in collaboration with others and in public settings. You view disagreements as opportunities to explore new ideas and develop better results where success is the development and implementation of great ideas that are shared between everyone involved.
- You get energized when engaged in new personal growth opportunities. You know you have room to grow and are willing to partner with colleagues in the field to build your capacity. You enjoy developing new skills, are not afraid of ambiguity, and are willing to demonstrate learning in a public situation. You find power in learning with and from others even when you are in a position of leading work.
- You get stuff done. You are self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a close-knit team. You are able to prioritize among competing demands to manage multiple projects, identify strategic priorities, and differentiate between work that you need to take the time to get perfect versus activities that just need to get finished. When problems arise, you figure out ways to push through to solutions.
- You believe teammates matter. Certainly, you can work on your own to see projects through to fruition, but you know that collective efforts and insight can create better outcomes. You are dependable with colleagues, supportive of others, and able to tackle a challenge as part of a group. You value diversity, respect different ideas, and openly address concerns with your colleagues.
Our process strives to screen in rather than out. We welcome your application even if you feel you are not strong in every qualification outlined above.
An additional consideration
We are especially interested in candidates who speak multiple languages recognizing that many of the communities we work with have significant language diversity. Speaking a language in addition to English is not required but is a beneficial additional skill.
Location
Coaching Associates may work virtually from a home office. This job requires work on site in schools predominantly in New England and consistent virtual collaboration with educators in the field and other GSP staff. Applicants should expect weekly travel with some overnights. We prefer that employees live in one of the six New England states (the core of our work) and will consider candidates who choose to live in eastern New York or northern New Jersey.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range for this position is $70,550-$83,000 based on experience. GSP covers full cost of health insurance for each staff member, 50% of costs of family health insurance, an additional 2.5% of salary contributed to a 403(b) retirement plan, an additional 4.5% of salary into a flex fund for health care or retirement, four weeks of vacation, five personal days, six sick days, nine holidays, tuition reimbursement, and eight weeks of paid parental leave.
GSP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of other minority or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Come join us!
Submit your application HERE. Once in the application form, you will be asked to provide information regarding your application, upload your resume, and answer three questions (250 words or less for each response):
- How has a commitment to educational equity driven your thinking, your commitment, and your actions over the last five years?
- What insights, experiences, or commitments—professionally or in your personal life—will you bring to the GSP team that will either enhance or challenge our understanding of our work?
- After reading our description of what you would be doing in this job, what experiences have you had that make you interested in submitting your application?
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Review date starting April 5, 2024.
Start Date: As soon as possible although no later than July 1, 2024.
- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
What’s the big plan for this job?
The executive director sets the strategic direction for the organization to undertake our mission and realize our vision. In this role, the executive director engages with and supports the GSP board, coordinates with directors on an individual and collective basis, monitors the quality of programming and services, networks with external organizations, and ensures organizational financial viability. The person in this position is the key external-facing advocate for the organization.
What will you be doing?
- Implementing the strategic direction of the organization. While GSP’s Board of Directors establishes and endorses a long-term strategic plan, you are responsible for bringing this to life working in close collaboration with all staff at the organization. You ensure that this plan is implemented including problem solving when inevitable struggles arise, redesigning actions to ensure success, and implementing staffing roles and responsibilities to ensure achievement of the plan.
- Supporting and engaging GSP’s Board of Directors. GSP has deliberately created by-laws that provide significant authority to the executive director to fully lead the organization. Still, the Board of Directors has legal responsibilities that depend upon support from the executive director. You help the Board of Directors carry out these responsibilities by deepening their own learning and understanding of this work.
- Serving as a thought leader. What new areas of work must GSP engage in? What new skills and understanding must staff learn? How can GSP be prepared to engage in new conversations on deepening learning for students? You engage in developing, collaborating on, and finding answers to all of these questions and more. You are always searching for growth opportunities for yourself, colleagues, and the organization. You get to imagine what may seem impossible and then get to work on achieving it.
- Helping to position GSP with emerging and ongoing work. Our marketing strategy is focused on figuring out what work we can do well and making sure our colleagues in the field and foundation offices know this. You collaborate closely with the managing director of engagement and networking to identify school and district opportunities and support GSP’s response to these various needs through written contracts or proposals.
- Leading and supporting colleagues. You engage with colleagues at GSP, helping them understand their work and strategies to employ. In addition, you have direct supervision with colleagues helping guide their work including identifying areas of growth and learning.
- Networking with other non-profit organizations, state education agencies, foundations, and professional organizations. You are the leading public face for the organization, meeting with state education agencies to help with policy and practice, with other non-profit organizations to identify areas of mutual collaboration, and with various professional organizations to help address their needs and concerns. You have strong relationships with various foundations and program officers, and support and collaborate with the managing director of learning and strategy and various project leads to develop proposals and deepen relationships.
- Ensuring the financial viability of the organization. In collaboration with the managing directors and the director of finance, you are responsible for ensuring financial revenues that will enable GSP to enact our mission and realize our vision. You work closely with the director of finance to monitor revenue and expenses. You are responsible for decisions on the investment of GSP financial resources to build financial reserves.
- Ensuring quality staff support through salaries, benefits, and working conditions. You collaborate with the director of people operations who oversees support for the staff, ensuring that the organization retains its commitment to supporting and enhancing all staff as a key to our collective success.
- Overseeing state and federal policy positions for the organization. GSP is not an advocacy organization, but we are active in supporting state policy when it impacts our beliefs on best practice. You are responsible for finalizing any positions GSP takes regarding state or federal policy.
- Supporting activities across GSP to help schools implement the following high-leverage approaches:
- Anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable practices, policies, and cultures
- Proficiency-based teaching and learning
- Multiple and flexible pathways that promote deep learning as well as student voice and choice
- Shared, data-informed decision-making among educators, students, families, and community members
- Trusting relationships between and among students, families, and educators
- Professional learning groups
What qualities do I need to succeed in this role?
- You share our commitment to equitable education for every student. You have the bravery to challenge inequities in our educational systems and the strategic acumen to gain results.
- You have leadership experience and strong leadership skills. You are comfortable leading efforts and building the leadership capacity of your colleagues. You see great value in sharing leadership roles while recognizing the importance of setting a clear vision and direction for the organization.
- You are confident in the face of ambiguity. This role will often require decision-making with limited information. Not only can you make a quick decision, but you can also support it with qualitative reasoning.
- You are a clear strategic thinker. This capacity plays out both internally in strategically leading and positioning the organization and externally recognizing how to engage in work that promotes the organization’s mission. You can view complex educational systems like large urban school districts or entire states and map out strategic and tactical steps to achieve success.
- You are a clear, concise, and confident communicator. This enables you to openly and transparently communicate internally and externally while utilizing language that is catered to your audience. You have strong writing and speaking skills that enable you to engage in small and large groups in person, to collaborate with external partners, and write for multiple audiences.
- You bring expertise and experience in facilitating, teaching, learning, and leading in K-12 education.
- You are comfortable creating budgets. While you are not responsible for tracking revenue and expenditures on a daily basis, you will work closely with the director of finance to monitor revenue and expenditures and make necessary adjustments as the fiscal year progresses.
- You have public confidence and conviction. You enjoy exploring and developing ideas extemporaneously, in collaboration with others, and in public settings. You view disagreements as opportunities to explore new ideas and develop better results.
- You have experience leading and working on a racially diverse team. You view diversity as an asset that makes everyone in the organization stronger.
- You get stuff done. You can prioritize among competing demands to manage multiple projects and identify strategic priorities. When problems arise, you figure out ways to push through to solutions.
Our process strives to screen in rather than out. We welcome your application even if you feel you are not strong in every qualification outlined above.
An additional consideration
We are especially interested in candidates who speak multiple languages, recognizing that many of the communities we work with have significant language diversity. Speaking a language in addition to English is not required but is a beneficial additional skill.
Location
Our offices are located in Portland, Maine. The executive director is not required to live in the greater Portland area but will be expected to be in the office on a weekly basis. Historically, this role included regular travel across New England and the country; recently, this travel has been reduced significantly. We are unsure of the exact nature of travel in the future, although we do expect this role will require some level of regular travel.
Compensation
The starting salary range for this position is $152,800 to $191,000 and is based on experience. GSP covers the full cost of health insurance for each staff member, 50% of costs of family health insurance, an additional 2.5% of salary contributed to a 403(b) retirement plan, an additional 4.5% of salary into a flex fund for health care or retirement, four weeks of vacation, five personal days, six sick days, eight holidays, tuition reimbursement, and eight weeks of paid parental leave.
GSP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of other minority or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Come join us!
Submit your application HERE. Once in the application form, you will be asked to provide information regarding your application, upload your resume, and answer three questions (250 words or less for each response):
- How has a commitment to educational equity driven your thinking, your commitment, and your actions over the last five years?
- What insights, experiences, or commitments—professionally and in your personal life—will you bring to the GSP team that will either enhance or challenge our understanding of our work?
- What skills, experiences, and approaches would you bring that will grow business opportunities and enhance our organizational sustainability?
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Closing Date: January 31, 2024
Start Date: Preferred between April 1 and June 1, 2024. If the new executive director is not available to start full-time until July 1, 2024, plans for part-time engagement with GSP and our current executive director will need to be developed. Springtime engagement is essential to provide extensive overlap with the outgoing executive director and to ensure a smooth and effective transition into the organization.
What’s the big plan for this job?
The executive director sets the strategic direction for the organization to undertake our mission and realize our vision. In this role, the executive director engages with and supports the GSP board, coordinates with directors on an individual and collective basis, monitors the quality of programming and services, networks with external organizations, and ensures organizational financial viability. The person in this position is the key external-facing advocate for the organization.
What will you be doing?
- Implementing the strategic direction of the organization. While GSP’s Board of Directors establishes and endorses a long-term strategic plan, you are responsible for bringing this to life working in close collaboration with all staff at the organization. You ensure that this plan is implemented including problem solving when inevitable struggles arise, redesigning actions to ensure success, and implementing staffing roles and responsibilities to ensure achievement of the plan.
- Supporting and engaging GSP’s Board of Directors. GSP has deliberately created by-laws that provide significant authority to the executive director to fully lead the organization. Still, the Board of Directors has legal responsibilities that depend upon support from the executive director. You help the Board of Directors carry out these responsibilities by deepening their own learning and understanding of this work.
- Serving as a thought leader. What new areas of work must GSP engage in? What new skills and understanding must staff learn? How can GSP be prepared to engage in new conversations on deepening learning for students? You engage in developing, collaborating on, and finding answers to all of these questions and more. You are always searching for growth opportunities for yourself, colleagues, and the organization. You get to imagine what may seem impossible and then get to work on achieving it.
- Helping to position GSP with emerging and ongoing work. Our marketing strategy is focused on figuring out what work we can do well and making sure our colleagues in the field and foundation offices know this. You collaborate closely with the managing director of engagement and networking to identify school and district opportunities and support GSP’s response to these various needs through written contracts or proposals.
- Leading and supporting colleagues. You engage with colleagues at GSP, helping them understand their work and strategies to employ. In addition, you have direct supervision with colleagues helping guide their work including identifying areas of growth and learning.
- Networking with other non-profit organizations, state education agencies, foundations, and professional organizations. You are the leading public face for the organization, meeting with state education agencies to help with policy and practice, with other non-profit organizations to identify areas of mutual collaboration, and with various professional organizations to help address their needs and concerns. You have strong relationships with various foundations and program officers, and support and collaborate with the managing director of learning and strategy and various project leads to develop proposals and deepen relationships.
- Ensuring the financial viability of the organization. In collaboration with the managing directors and the director of finance, you are responsible for ensuring financial revenues that will enable GSP to enact our mission and realize our vision. You work closely with the director of finance to monitor revenue and expenses. You are responsible for decisions on the investment of GSP financial resources to build financial reserves.
- Ensuring quality staff support through salaries, benefits, and working conditions. You collaborate with the director of people operations who oversees support for the staff, ensuring that the organization retains its commitment to supporting and enhancing all staff as a key to our collective success.
- Overseeing state and federal policy positions for the organization. GSP is not an advocacy organization, but we are active in supporting state policy when it impacts our beliefs on best practice. You are responsible for finalizing any positions GSP takes regarding state or federal policy.
- Supporting activities across GSP to help schools implement the following high-leverage approaches:
- Anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable practices, policies, and cultures
- Proficiency-based teaching and learning
- Multiple and flexible pathways that promote deep learning as well as student voice and choice
- Shared, data-informed decision-making among educators, students, families, and community members
- Trusting relationships between and among students, families, and educators
- Professional learning groups
What qualities do I need to succeed in this role?
- You share our commitment to equitable education for every student. You have the bravery to challenge inequities in our educational systems and the strategic acumen to gain results.
- You have leadership experience and strong leadership skills. You are comfortable leading efforts and building the leadership capacity of your colleagues. You see great value in sharing leadership roles while recognizing the importance of setting a clear vision and direction for the organization.
- You are confident in the face of ambiguity. This role will often require decision-making with limited information. Not only can you make a quick decision, but you can also support it with qualitative reasoning.
- You are a clear strategic thinker. This capacity plays out both internally in strategically leading and positioning the organization and externally recognizing how to engage in work that promotes the organization’s mission. You can view complex educational systems like large urban school districts or entire states and map out strategic and tactical steps to achieve success.
- You are a clear, concise, and confident communicator. This enables you to openly and transparently communicate internally and externally while utilizing language that is catered to your audience. You have strong writing and speaking skills that enable you to engage in small and large groups in person, to collaborate with external partners, and write for multiple audiences.
- You bring expertise and experience in facilitating, teaching, learning, and leading in K-12 education.
- You are comfortable creating budgets. While you are not responsible for tracking revenue and expenditures on a daily basis, you will work closely with the director of finance to monitor revenue and expenditures and make necessary adjustments as the fiscal year progresses.
- You have public confidence and conviction. You enjoy exploring and developing ideas extemporaneously, in collaboration with others, and in public settings. You view disagreements as opportunities to explore new ideas and develop better results.
- You have experience leading and working on a racially diverse team. You view diversity as an asset that makes everyone in the organization stronger.
- You get stuff done. You can prioritize among competing demands to manage multiple projects and identify strategic priorities. When problems arise, you figure out ways to push through to solutions.
Our process strives to screen in rather than out. We welcome your application even if you feel you are not strong in every qualification outlined above.
An additional consideration
We are especially interested in candidates who speak multiple languages, recognizing that many of the communities we work with have significant language diversity. Speaking a language in addition to English is not required but is a beneficial additional skill.
Location
Our offices are located in Portland, Maine. The executive director is not required to live in the greater Portland area but will be expected to be in the office on a weekly basis. Historically, this role included regular travel across New England and the country; recently, this travel has been reduced significantly. We are unsure of the exact nature of travel in the future, although we do expect this role will require some level of regular travel.
Compensation
The starting salary range for this position is $152,800 to $191,000 and is based on experience. GSP covers the full cost of health insurance for each staff member, 50% of costs of family health insurance, an additional 2.5% of salary contributed to a 403(b) retirement plan, an additional 4.5% of salary into a flex fund for health care or retirement, four weeks of vacation, five personal days, six sick days, eight holidays, tuition reimbursement, and eight weeks of paid parental leave.
GSP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of other minority or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Come join us!
Submit your application HERE. Once in the application form, you will be asked to provide information regarding your application, upload your resume, and answer three questions (250 words or less for each response):
- How has a commitment to educational equity driven your thinking, your commitment, and your actions over the last five years?
- What insights, experiences, or commitments—professionally and in your personal life—will you bring to the GSP team that will either enhance or challenge our understanding of our work?
- What skills, experiences, and approaches would you bring that will grow business opportunities and enhance our organizational sustainability?
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Closing Date: January 31, 2024
Start Date: Preferred between April 1 and June 1, 2024. If the new executive director is not available to start full-time until July 1, 2024, plans for part-time engagement with GSP and our current executive director will need to be developed. Springtime engagement is essential to provide extensive overlap with the outgoing executive director and to ensure a smooth and effective transition into the organization.
What’s the big plan for this job?
The project associate works from our Portland office to support colleagues in their work. Creating and preparing documents and resources, coordinating events, providing technology assistance, and contributing to the overall function of the work environment are the primary responsibilities of this role.
What will I be doing?
Our hiring process strives to screen in rather than out. We welcome your application even if you feel you are not strong in every qualification outlined below.
- Creating and managing project files. You will need to be proactive in creating organizational systems to facilitate collaborative planning for coaching contracts and GSP Network events. This may include managing budgets, tracking registrations, creating feedback forms, and making all related information to a particular project easy to locate and retrieve for future application.
- Organizing and managing events. GSP offers a variety of virtual and in-person events that give educators the opportunity to come together in various ways for learning and collaboration. Some events require fees, specific materials, digital tools, travel logistics, and off-site coordination. All events require thorough planning with attention to design and delivery. The project associate works behind the scenes to ensure a successful experience for participants and fellow colleagues.
- Coordinating and preparing effective communications. You’ll be working with coaches and other staff to draft and coordinate correspondence both internally and externally to communicate important content related to organizational priorities, events, and project updates.
- Ensuring the quality of all documents and resources. GSP staff collectively develop a variety of resources frequently used by educators. One of the primary roles of the project associate is to help design clear and user-friendly documents and resources. You will be asked to give feedback, edit, and format project-specific documents and materials and coordinate revision processes for tools and resources featured on our website.
- Collecting and analyzing data and research. You may be asked to compile research, collect and organize data, and analyze and report findings for both internal and external projects.
- Contributing to the overall function of the work environment. You will answer the phone, order supplies, assist with travel arrangements, and make sure staff have what they need to work effectively. You may be asked to provide occasional support to the Finance Director.
What qualities do I need to succeed in this role?
- You share our commitment to equitable education for every student. This is a job, but it is more than just filling in your time. You need to be committed to public education and believe that by improving the quality of learning we can improve the life-long outcomes of our students and fundamentally and positively impact the lives of everyone in our communities.
- Teammates matter. You know that collaboration can create better outcomes. You are dependable with colleagues, supportive of others, and able to tackle a challenge together. You value diversity, respect different ideas, and openly address concerns with your colleagues.
- You are organized and detail-oriented and you get stuff done. You have strong self-motivational skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of various teams. You are able to prioritize and work with colleagues to set up reasonable deadlines in order to allow for some flexibility and adjustment along the way. You proactively reach out to coaches and offer support for specific tasks.
- You are a problem-solver. Staff will reach out for specific requests, advice, and resources. You should be prepared to dig deeper to find out how information will be used or to what end staff are encouraged to make suggestions for leadership teams to consider.
- Technology is your friend. You have extensive knowledge of Google suite and Zoom. As new technology rolls out, you are able to seek out, problem-solve, respond to requests for better tools, and continue to learn and integrate these new opportunities. You are prepared to take on a role of technical support and assistance.
- You are prepared for shared leadership. GSP has structures for shared leadership teams. The project associate should expect to serve on various leadership teams and smaller committees and task forces within the organization which may include: finances, operations, and communications.
- You get energized when engaged in new personal growth opportunities. You enjoy developing new skills and are not afraid of ambiguity.
Location
You will be based in the GSP office in Portland, Maine. GSP currently has a remote policy where all office-based staff works in the office Mondays and Tuesdays with the option of working remotely Wednesday – Friday. The onboarding schedule for the first 30 days may require more in-office work.
Compensation
Salary range for this position is $35,607- $47,940 based on experience. GSP covers full cost of health insurance for each staff member, 50% of costs of family health insurance, an additional 2.5% of salary contributed to a 403(b) retirement plan, an additional 4.5% of salary into a flex fund for health care or retirement, four weeks of vacation, five personal days, six sick days, eight holidays, tuition reimbursement, and eight weeks of paid parental leave.
GSP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of other minority or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Come join us!
Submit your online application HERE. Once in the application form, you will be asked to provide information regarding your application, upload your resume, and answer four questions (200 words or less for each response):
- How do you stay organized when juggling multiple projects consisting of many tasks and responsibilities?
- Describe your familiarity with organizing events or meetings either in-person or virtually. If this is a new area for you, what is it about planning events that interests you the most?
- When you review the job description, which skills do you feel most confident performing immediately?
- What experiences have you had that make you interested in submitting your application?
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Review date: July 18, 2022. Applications received before the deadline will be given priority. After July 18, 2022 applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.
Start date: As soon as possible although no later than September 1, 2022.