DeKalb Preparatory Academy is a diverse community where teachers, children, parents, and leaders learn together. Students cultivate knowledge and learn to think critically and act collaboratively and compassionately.
Our experiential curriculum intertwines sciences, humanities, and the arts to prepare children to shape our world.
We believe in our responsibility to partner with parents, creating an ideal environment in which students will have the opportunity to:
- Strive for academic excellence.
- Prepare to succeed in a global environment.
- Provide service to a growing community.
- Participate in character education, developing a respect for others through exemplary mentorship.
- Experience cooperative educational communities in all content areas from fine arts to technology.
- Develop students into life-long learners.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Strategic Initiatives drives the organizational strategic planning process and helps steward the achievement of the strategic priorities of the DeKalb Preparatory Academy Governing Board and Head of School (HOS), including growth and risk management. In addition, you will directly lead key strategic workstreams and initiatives, and your leadership will strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of organization-wide processes and systems. You will receive invaluable exposure to our strategic vision and the breadth and depth of work of our senior leadership.
Position Description
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
- Oversee and/or support workstreams related to strategy development and implementation, growth planning and implementation, and annual planning processes.
- Serve as Program Lead stewarding the planning and effective implementation of the DPA multi-year organizational strategic plan.
- Help to facilitate the design and implementation of 3-year and 1-year planning processes, building on our 5-year strategic plan.
- Lead collaboration across the school’s functions to ensure coordination on annual planning.
- Lead or collaborate on growth and enrollment planning projects.
- Manage major organizational initiatives and workstreams as required, which may include leading cross-functional teams to address emerging needs; designing and implementing new processes or systems; or leading and implementing organizational change.
- Manage and/or support projects to enhance strategic support and effectiveness of the HOS and senior leadership.
Business Area Leadership:
Support business responsibilities that report to the DPA Governing Board (e.g., strategic initiatives: academic, financial, and operational).
People Management:
May organize and create Special Projects Teams to ensure strong performance, development, and special projects support in achieving the DPA Board’s priorities.
Additional Information
Required Skills/Abilities
- Dedication to the mission of DeKalb Prep Academy.
- Strong and creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning skills, including the ability to disaggregate problems and structure complex issues.
- Strong collaboration and influence skills, demonstrating an ability to navigate organizational relationships, incorporate differing perspectives, develop recommendations, and generate consensus with partners across teams.
- Excellent people and project management skills, including detail and action-orientation with excellent follow-through skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and demonstrates strong interpersonal skills with varied constituencies.
- Strong presentation design and slide development skills.
- Strong data analysis skills and familiarity with data-driven decision-making.
- Displays maturity, flexibility, comfort with ambiguity, and a sense of optimism/can-do attitude.
- Ability to take initiative, manage priorities, and work independently.
Required:
- 5+ years of professional experience, ideally with experience in management consulting or strategic planning.
- Prior experience working in schools and/or urban communities and/or interest in and alignment with DPA’s mission (preferred).
- Able to pass extensive background check.
Benefits:
- 100% employer paid health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Employer contribution into TRSGA retirement program for employee.