Executive Director, Strategy and Analytics

Primary Function:

The Executive Director of Strategy and Analytics is an innovative leader who works to identify and implement key strategic initiatives that ensure all Salem-Keizer Public Schools (SKPS) have access to excellent data/analytics, systems of continuous improvement, and aligned and coherent strategies and expectations. The Executive Director of Strategy and Analytics convenes stakeholders to align long-term planning related to strategies, investments, school bond packages, portfolio decisions, and other key needs. The Executive Director of Strategy serves as a key manager of strategic work, advisor, decision-maker, and problem solver for the district and Superintendent. This work will help to support our district in achieving the goals set out by the strategic plan and board goals while simultaneously addressing the demands of the present and future.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Serves as a member of the superintendent’s executive team and cabinet.
2. Leads the development and monitors and oversees the execution of short-term and long-term strategic plans, ensuring alignment with the district’s vision, goals, and priorities.
3. Leads through data-driven identification of trends, challenges, and opportunities, and aligning major organizational routines, practices, and timelines for effective execution.
4. Collaborates with district leaders and staff to align strategic initiatives and resource allocations with the district’s mission.
5. Facilitates cross-functional coordination to maximize impact and efficiency; creates systems and processes that sustain cross-functional workstreams.
6. Monitors and communicates progress toward district goals with Board Directors and other key stakeholders
7. Provides leadership and communication to the Superintendent’s direct reports to ensure that the district’s strategic goals and objectives are coherent, on-track, and that projects are carried out in a timely manner.
8. Drives departmental and systemic change through fostering a data-driven, outcomes-focused culture.
9. Implements robust monitoring and organizational performance management practices to achieve results, recommend changes, and demonstrate progress towards goals.
10. Owns and leads the district data strategy structures and processes, focusing on the creation of user-centered, accessible, accurate, and useful tools for educators
11. Build the capacity of district and school teams to use and report on data through common, economical, and user-friendly tools and routines.
12. Plays a leading role in community initiatives supporting students, families, and staff.
13. Regularly communicates strategies, plans, and outcomes to school and district leadership as well as board members.
14. Maintains an understanding of relevant education policies, legislation, and research findings to inform strategic objectives.
15. Ensures the work of the Strategy office supports the overall needs of the district, including talent development of team leaders and individual contributors.
16. Prepares and manages budgets and district resources related to strategic initiatives in coordination with district leadership.
17. Supervises staff as assigned and aligned with the duties of this position.

Additional Responsibilities

Performs other duties as assigned.

Key Relationships

1. Superintendent: Reports to this position.
2. Executive team members: Participates on this team.
3. Cabinet members: Participates in district-wide planning and management and serves as liaison between Cabinet, Superintendent and School Board.
4. School Board: Conducts research and provides information and assistance as assigned. 

Qualifications

1. Seven (7) years full time work experience
2. Three (3) years in a cabinet or senior leadership position
3. Demonstrated experience leading complex organizational initiatives
4. Experience in leading cross-functional teams
5. Systems-level experience in K-12 settings
6. Systems-level experience in technology solutions
7. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace Suite
8. Proficient in RStudio, Power BI, Tableau, or similar data analytics software
9. Familiarity with standard project management, planning/collaboration, and presentation tools
10. Bilingual in Spanish preferred

Ability to

1. Ability to manage and develop a diverse staff, lead projects, move priorities forward from idea inception through implementation, and manage both up and down. This also includes inspiring and collaborating with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
2. Ability to effectively communicate to a wide array of audiences and create buy-in from people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds for new ideas and approaches.
3. Ability to problem solve, think critically, manage conflicts, and develop solutions based on what is needed to achieve results.
4. Open to change and able to lead at the intersection of technical and adaptive change.
5. Ability to work collaboratively to build consensus while delivering exceptional results.
6. Knowledge of budgeting and resource allocation processes and ability to implement improvement science practices in an educational organization to solve the most pressing and important problems of the district.

Work Environment

Subject to stress caused by changing environment, complexity of the organization, tight deadlines, and heavy workload.

Climate controlled office setting and exposure to moderate noise intensity levels.

High level of contact with district personnel and the community, including frequent visits to schools and evening meetings.

Physical Requirements

Frequent reaching, handling, fingering, talking and hearing. Mobility to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment. Stamina to remain seated and maintain concentration for an extended period and/or to frequently move from sitting position to standing, walking, stooping and kneeling. Hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone.

Vision: Frequent near acuity; occasional far acuity. Vision to read printed materials, computer screens and/or other monitoring devices.

Strength: Sedentary/Light – Exert force to 15 pounds occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or move objects.

Term of Employment

12 months

Salary Level

213A

Evaluation

The performance of this position will be evaluated according to the District’s process for the evaluation of supervisory personnel.