Career Center

(Full-time exempt beginning Summer 2023 (June 1 or July 1; June 1 preferred)  

Summary

Heads Up, Head-Royce's long-running education outreach program, provides first-generation college bound students of color from Oakland public schools with challenging and enriching programming to cultivate socially responsible leaders.

Building off of the success of the past 36 years, the Executive Director of Heads Up will provide strategic and innovative leadership, focusing on operational impact and core mission delivery. Reporting to the Assistant Head of School for Policy & Strategic Initiatives, the Executive Director is responsible for managing all aspects of the programs operations, including program design/implementation, budget oversight, partnering with the schools philanthropy office for fundraising, collaborating with the schools admissions office on the Heads Up admissions process, development and execution of year-round programming, support of a 12-member advisory council, and hiring and supervision of year-round and temporary staff.

This role requires strategic program planning and evaluation to develop dynamic offerings that enhance the experience of all students enrolled in these programs, the greater Head-Royce community, and our connection to the City of Oakland.

Heads Up employs 30 part-time seasonal employees and serves 125-175 students, with an annual operating budget of approximately $400,000.

Strategic Leadership

• In step with Head-Royces upcoming strategic planning process, refine and communicate the mission of Heads Up to internal and external audiences, which may require redefining the programs theory of change and conducting an impact assessment, market analysis, and/or literature review.

• Consistently gather, analyze, and use data to assess the effectiveness of the program and guide program development and decision making.

• Coordinate with leaders of the after-school program and summer session on staffing and physical plant needs.

• Maintain engagement of and thought partnership with the Head-Royce professional community, members of the Heads Up Advisory Council, other key program stakeholders, and leaders of similar programs locally and nationally.

• Prepare an annual report for the Board of Trustees.

• Work with the Marketing & Communications team on webpages, various publications, advertisements, and marketing to promote the program.

Operational Leadership

• Hire and determine faculty teaching & administrative assignments.

• Organize the day-to-day operations of the plant, including safe Lincoln Avenue drop-off and pick-up, signage, tours, orientations (parents and staff), custodial plans, emergency plans, and supplies.

• Oversee the staff in their management of all aspects of the Heads Up program and operations throughout the year and during the 4-week summer term.

• Work closely with the director of the summer session to ensure smooth collaboration and connection between the two programs.

• Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations for document retention.

• Communicate effectively with students, faculty, and families, both in a scheduled cadence and as-needed in response to emergent issues.

• Collaborate closely with the admissions partner and program staff and supporting faculty on the recruitment, selection and admission of all students into the program.

• Coordinating feedback to faculty.

• Exploring a variety of possible approaches to building out programmatic support for young alumni, leading the development of any new programmatic initiatives, and overseeing their effective implementation.

• Maintaining connection to and deepening engagement of Heads Up alumni through events, regular communication, faculty recruitment and hiring, and Advisory Council participation, among other strategies.

• Collaborating with the Office of Communications to create materials for donor stewardship, appeals, and annual program reports.

• Contributing to grant applications and final reports.

• Develop an exciting and appropriate curricular program with supervisors and teachers.

• Oversee all facets of the Workforce Development Program, a programmatic arm of Heads Up designed to increase meaningful relationship building between the Heads Up and Head-Royce communities.

• Work closely with the business office to ensure proper hiring procedures and accounting for payroll and seasonal programming.

Budget Management

• Develop and manage budget model for salaries, supplies, and other program and instructional costs.

• Work with the Advisory Board to ensure proper metrics and reporting for the program.

• Work in close collaboration with the philanthropy office to identify and support fundraising opportunities for the program, including individual meetings and presentations with donors, foundations, and larger scale events.

Candidate Profile

• You demonstrate a clear commitment to the mission of Heads Up and have a record of successfully working with diverse and underrepresented students.

• You have a Bachelor's degree plus five-to-seven years of experience in a leadership capacity within or adjacent to K-12 education, college access and success programs, or teacher preparation programs. Familiarity with OUSD is a plus.

• You have effectively managed a board and/or advisory board, created and managed budgets, and developed and/or implemented special events.

• You have experience in fundraising and/or partnership-building, including success in securing philanthropic gifts and/or partnerships.

• You come to the role with proven communication skills, including speaking, writing, meeting facilitation, and consensus building.

• You are a team player who demonstrates a positive attitude, sense of humor, energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to collaboration.

• You are comfortable working with ambiguity and complexity, at both high-level strategy and detailed implementation, and demonstrate a high level of judgment, analytical, and conceptual skills.

• You are proficient with software and technology used in the daily processes and functioning of school (including but not limited to Blackbaud or other school-related database systems, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office).

Other Requirements

• Must be fully vaccinated (and boosted) against Covid-19 and show proof of negative TB test within the last four years in addition to participation in background screening.

Employment Consideration

• Standard annual employment agreement period runs from July 1-June 30

• Expectation is that vacation will be taken after the summer program ends with return expected by mid-August. Some vacation may be deferred to later in the year as schedule allows and in coordination with the supervisor.

Additional Qualifications

• Must be committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome, and included cultural competencies; ability to work with diverse populations.

• Must demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community.

Heads Up Program Overview

Heads Up was founded in 1987 as a partnership between the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and Head-Royce School. For over 25 years, Heads Up has provided low-income students from OUSD with challenging and enriching educational programs to prepare them for academic success and an appreciation for civic involvement.

Heads Up emphasizes academic growth, continuity, and relationship building through a yearlong program that is free to participants. In addition to the four-week summer program, Heads Up participants return to campus monthly during the school year to participate in the Saturday Leadership Academy.

Located on a 22-acre campus in Oakland, California, Head-Royce is a pre-eminent, co-educational, independent, K-12 day school with a 135-year history. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong love of learning and pursuit of academic excellence, to promote understanding of and respect for diversity that makes our society strong and to encourage active and responsible global citizenship.

Other Considerations

Compensation: $80,000-$115,000 FTE

Location: Oakland, California
Education: Bachelors degree required
Start Date: Summer 2023
Website: headroyce.org

To Apply

Interested candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest and a current resume. Application materials should be submitted through Paycom.

Head-Royce School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available person in every job. School policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, color, creed, disability, gender, marital status, national origin or ancestry, race, religion, registered domestic partner status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, a medical condition including genetic characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Head-Royce School seeks to be a community in which every individual is treated with sensitivity, courtesy and respect.

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