Professional Development Manager, OBC - Atlanta, United States - Southern Education Foundation

Description

Job Description

Job DescriptionInnovate, Excel, Succeed with Our Team The Southern Education Foundation, Inc. (SEF), located in Atlanta, GA seeks an outstanding candidate to fill our Professional Development Manager, OBC position to oversee and execute the increase and deepening engagement strategies for the Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) strategic initiative.
For more than 150 years, SEF has made substantial contributions to improving education at all levels, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. SEF works to improve equity and excellence in education for low-income students and students of color in the South. Research, policy analysis, advocacy, and programs are the primary means through which SEF pursues its mission. Candidates should be able to effectively communicate and embody the values, beliefs, purpose, and mission of the organization.
This position reports to the Director of OBC District Engagement. To learn more, please visit The Opportunity: The Professional Development Manager will be responsible for executing all elements of these strategies, including development of the infrastructure for managing relationships with districts that have already launched OBC projects and are interested in exploring new areas, managing OBC fellows in chosen districts, collecting relevant data, ensuring a series of tools and communication resources are developed and disseminated, and reporting to funders. The Professional Development Manager will have a keen understanding of K-12 district environments, including instructional service implementation and procurement of instructional services, alongside an entrepreneurial and can-do flair for getting things done. This role will collaborate with the Director to promote and support an organizational culture that pursues improving student outcomes with evidence and passion.

The Professional Development Manager will oversee all day-to-day operations of the Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) district engagement work, ensuring the strategies meet all deliverables, on-time, and within budget. This role will support participating districts to problem-solve on the ground and glean information across districts both to share lessons learned and to identify ways to strengthen the strategies over time. The Professional Development Manager will seek ways to bolster capacity for and understanding the deepening engagement of outcomes-based contracting in K-12 broadly.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Execute the increase and deepening engagement strategies for the Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) strategic initiative, in line with the organization's goals and objectives.Develop and manage the infrastructure for effectively maintaining relationships with districts that have already launched OBC projects and those interested in exploring new areas, including but not limited to educational technology and artificial intelligence products.Supervise and provide guidance to OBC facilitators working in select districts, ensuring their successful engagement in the initiative.

• Collect relevant data on OBC projects and outcomes, ensuring accurate and timely information for evaluation and reporting purposes.
• Develop and disseminate a series of tools and communication resources to support districts and stakeholders involved in OBC initiatives.
• Report on the progress, outcomes, and impact of the OBC strategy to funders and to other stakeholders.
• Possess a keen understanding of K-12 district environments, including instructional service implementation and procurement, to effectively navigate challenges and opportunities.
• Demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset and can-do attitude in fulfilling responsibilities, seeking innovative solutions, and overcoming obstacles.
• Collaborate with the Director to promote and support an organizational culture that values evidence-based practices and strives for continuous improvement in student outcomes.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the OBC district engagement work, ensuring that the strategies meet all deliverables, stay on schedule, and remains within budget.
• Provide support to participating districts in problem-solving and sharing lessons learned, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• Identify opportunities to enhance capacity and understanding of outcomes-based contracting in the K-12 education sector.
• Foster collaborative relationships across the organization, working closely with program staff, other staff members, partner districts, and instructional service providers.
• Maintain effective communication and coordination with the OBC Director, providing regular updates on progress, challenges, and recommendations.
• This role will travel frequently to districts and conferences.
• Complete additional tasks as assigned.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree; a master's degree is preferred.
• Seven years of experience coaching and/or leading adult professional learning.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to effectively engage with district partners, tutoring providers, and funders.
• Ability to cultivate trusting relationships with district partners and tutoring providers, fostering a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, with a vision for how various components come together and adaptability when faced with unforeseen challenges.
• Keen organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workload effectively.
• Proficiency in using Google Docs and/or Word, Google Slides and/or PowerPoint, and Google Sheets and/or Excel.
• Proven experience or demonstrated potential in identifying opportunities for program expansion and showcasing program work through conferences, publications, and media exposure.
• Working knowledge of K-12 school systems, including an understanding of how districts make decisions about programs and the data collected to assess program success.
• Familiarity with district purchasing processes is an advantage.
• Depth of knowledge or a willingness to quickly develop expertise in outcomes-based contracting and pay-for-success initiatives, particularly in the public sector.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to approach challenges with creativity, respect, and a willingness to take calculated risks.
• Experience implementing educational technology products is preferred.

The Professional Development Manager will be responsible for effectively managing and implementing the OBC district engagement strategies to drive positive educational outcomes through outcomes-based contracting initiatives.

These qualifications will ensure that the Professional Development Manager possesses the necessary skills and expertise to effectively oversee and execute the district engagement strategies, drive collaboration, and contribute to the organization's mission of improving student outcomes.

This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday. Compensation for this role is $90,000 - $105,000 and is commensurate with experience including a competitive benefits package. This is a grant-funded position with funding in place for two years. Extending the position will depend on additional fundraising. The Southern Education Foundation is an Atlanta based organization. SEF is currently working a hybrid schedule where employees work remotely and, in the office, based on the needs of the business. Interested candidates should submit: 1) a letter of interest; 2) a current resume 3) names and contact information of three references to ) with Professional Development Manager, OBC in the subject line of the email. Applications will be accepted until May 17, 2024.