Special Assistant, Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging / Office of Strategy

Position: Special Assistant (40 hours per week/12 months)

Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging/Office of Strategy

Overview:
Cambridge is a vibrant, diverse city and a central hub and driver of the nation’s innovation economy. Educating about 8,000 students JK-12, the Cambridge Public Schools includes award winning faculty, cutting edge technology, and innovative programs. While each of our public schools is unique, they are joined in a shared vision of rigorous, joyful, and culturally responsive learning plus personalized support for every student. Over 30% of CPS students speak a language other than English at home, and over 65 languages are spoken by our families. Among the most common are Spanish, Haitian Creole, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, and Portuguese. Our schools proudly embrace this diversity.

The Role:
The Special Assistant’s primary responsibility is supporting the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and the Office of Strategy in their work to help ensure that the Cambridge Public Schools, in partnership with families and community, provide all students with rigorous, joyful, culturally responsive learning, as well as the social, emotional, and academic supports each student needs to achieve their goals and postsecondary success as engaged community members.

Reporting jointly to the Chief Equity Officer and the Chief Strategy Officer, the Special Assistant will work collaboratively with both departments. This role requires the ability to work flexibly, establish systems, and administer to multiple stakeholders within and outside of these departments, both of which have been recently established.

Key Responsibilities:
Provide administrative support for department activities and programs.

Manages departmental financial activities, including monitoring office budgets, processing requests for and actual purchase of goods and services; continually monitors funds to ensure monies are spent as allocated; tracks budget transfers and adjustments; and completes contracts, requisitions, and reimbursement in coordination with budget, purchasing and payroll departments.

Support personnel needs, including coordinating all temporary employment opportunities including budgeting, posting, service agreements, and payment vouchers; processing contracts;

Assist with federal, state, district, and funder reporting as needed in coordination with the program development/grants specialist.

Support annual and special projects, including scheduling meetings, liaising with stakeholders, and tracking deadlines.

Assist in the regular communication of office updates, in collaboration with the communications team.

Submit requests for document translation and interpretation, in accordance with department procedures.

Support planning for department and community events, including permit requests, materials development, supplies requests, and other planning.

Your Skill Set:
As the incoming Special Assistant for the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and the Office of Strategy, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required

2-5 years of administrative work experience, with strong track record leveraging Microsoft Office (especially Word & Excel) and/or Google/G Suite (especially Google Docs & Sheets) to manage information

Experience with and a commitment to the stated mission and values of the Cambridge Public Schools related to racial equity and anti-racism

Experience managing budgets and financial processes

Keen attention to detail

Ability to think strategically and communicate thoughtfully

Creative disposition, able to tackle challenges with persistence and a sense of humor

Ability to be flexible in fast-paced, sometimes chaotic and ambiguous environments

Possess a growth mindset and embrace risk-taking and innovation

Keen sense of discretion in handling confidential information concerning labor relations, personnel, and other confidential matters

Team-player attitude, but also with the ability to work independently and be self-directed

Skilled in working with a variety of stakeholders, including educators, families, and community partners

Customer service orientation

Alignment with CPS mission

Passion for working in education required; previous work experience in education preferred

Salary: $33.99 – 37.75 per hour

Terms of Employment: 40 hours per week/12 months per year

How to Join Our Team:
Apply online at www.cpsd.us. Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position as well as stating how you heard about this opportunity. Applications requested by May 15, 2021, however, positions may be considered open until filled.