Program Operations Manager – District of Columbia Teaching Fellows Program Washington, D.C.

The New Teacher Project (TNTP) strives to end the injustice of educational inequality by providing excellent teachers to the students who need them most and by advancing policies and practices that ensure effective teaching in every classroom. A national nonprofit organization founded by teachers, TNTP is driven by the knowledge that effective teachers have a greater impact on student achievement than any other school factor. In response, TNTP develops customized programs and policy interventions that enable education leaders to find, develop and keep great teachers. Since its inception in 1997, TNTP has recruited or trained approximately 43,000 teachers and worked with more than 200 districts in 31 states - benefiting an estimated 7 million students. Meanwhile, TNTP's acclaimed studies of the policies and practices that affect the quality of the teacher workforce -- most recently including The Widget Effect (2009) and Teacher Evaluation 2.0 (2010) -- have influenced federal education policy and inspired reform efforts across the country.
TNTP is active in more than 25 cities, including 10 of the nation's 15 largest. For more information, please visit www.tntp.org .

We are currently seeking a Program Operations Manager to support the District of Columbia Teaching Fellows Program (DCTF). The Program Operations Manager will be a TNTP employee based at the DC Public Schools district office. This position is available immediately.

Teacher Recruitment and Certification
TNTP’s recruitment and certification teams are responsible for recruiting great teachers to teach in high-need schools and subject areas, and for preparing those teachers to be immediately effective in the classroom. TNTP’s Teaching Fellows programs streamline the path to teaching for accomplished career changers and recent graduates. In 2011, TNTP will recruit, select and provide pre-service training to outstanding teachers in more than 20 cities and 18 states. In 10 of those states, TNTP is also approved to recommend teachers for certification through our rigorous, relevant preparation model, which has been shown to produce highly effective teachers. Building on this strong track record, TNTP is pioneering a program to recommend certification only for teachers who can advance student learning and help poor and minority students catch up.

The Program
DC Teaching Fellows (DCTF) is a quality recruitment, selection, and training program for DC Public Schools. DCTF provides both an alternate route into the classroom for over 100 outstanding career changers from a variety of backgrounds each year (80-100 start teaching each fall and 15-20 start teaching in a midyear cohort), The DC Teaching Fellows program is grounded in a simple premise: Effective teachers can and must close the achievement gap.

Teachers are prepared through a rigorous Training Institute to ensure they are prepared to positively impact the achievement of DCPS students. DCTF holds two separate Training Institutes for incoming Fellows, one in late fall and one in the summer. During the school year, all Fellows attend a professional development series, called Teaching for Results.

For more information, please visit: http://www.dcteachingfellows.org.

 
Role and Responsibilities
The Program Operations Manager will work alongside other DC Teaching Fellows staff and will report to the DC Teaching Fellows Site Manager to ensure that the goals and deadlines of the contract are met. The Program Operations Manager will manage the process for selecting candidates into the program, maintain the Teacher Track database for candidates and Fellows, and lead test preparation strategies. Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Managing all aspects of the selection process including recruitment and hiring of selectors, coordination of selector training, and managing and developing selectors through high quality feedback
• Identifying interview event locations and planning all event logistics
• Conducting extensive candidate file review after each interview event
• Ensuring high quality messages are delivered to candidates in all interview events and communications
• Representing the program and speaking publicly at program events
• Maintaining the Teacher Track online database for the site which includes all documentation for candidate applications and Fellow requirements
• Processing and reviewing candidate applications and maintaining records of all candidate documents and requirements
• Planning and managing testing communication and Praxis test preparation for Teaching Fellows candidates
• Planning logistics for Fellows’ test preparation prior to each Training Institute
• Supporting day-to-day operations, including document collection, during the Training Institute
• Coordinating with TNTP’s Practitioner Teacher Program (DCTF’s certification provider) to ensure Fellows are highly qualified and that they experience a seamless transition into the certification program
• Assisting in various data collection efforts essential to the successful implementation of the partnership
• Working with the client and TNTP Site Manager on additional projects as necessary

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who believe deeply in our organization's mission, who thrive in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment, and who demonstrate a record of achievement. Successful candidates will also demonstrate:

• Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills
• A commitment to producing consistently high quality, detailed work
• The ability to learn quickly, work in a fast paced environment and multi-task effectively
• The ability to identify challenges and actively work to find solutions
• Strong communication and writing skills
• The ability to work effectively with others at all levels of an organization and to consistently display a high level of professionalism in all interactions
• Excellent event planning, organizational and time-management skills
• Extraordinary attention to detail
• Flexibility
• The ability to work well independently while collaborating with others on meeting common goals
• Public-speaking abilities, including the ability to inspire others
• Knowledge of the DC public school system (strongly preferred)
• Experience working with underperforming schools (preferred)
• Excellent skills working with computers, including a strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite
• A willingness to work non-standard hours and/or weekends on a seasonal basis

Compensation
The annual salary for this position is $50,000 or commensurate with experience in a similar position, with the potential for a performance based bonus.
TNTP offers a motivated team of dynamic colleagues, a collegial atmosphere that values professional development and valuable feedback, a comprehensive benefits plan effective on the first day of employment – including low cost medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, a 403(b) plan with matching - as well as the chance to impact the direction of a growing, mission-driven company that is committed to the success of our nation’s children.
To Apply

Please submit your resume and a tailored cover letter online at:
http://tbe.taleo.net/NA5/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=THENEWTEACHERPROJECT&cws=1&rid=851

We review applications on a rolling basis – so it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible. We will not consider applications without a cover letter tailored to this position, which can be addressed to the Human Capital Team. The New Teacher Project is committed to fostering and capitalizing on the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply to this position.

To Apply

Please submit your resume and a tailored cover letter online at:
http://tbe.taleo.net/NA5/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=THENEWTEACHERPROJECT&cws=1&rid=851

We review applications on a rolling basis – so it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible. We will not consider applications without a cover letter tailored to this position, which can be addressed to the Human Capital Team. The New Teacher Project is committed to fostering and capitalizing on the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply to this position.