• Job Description

  Req#: 3600

  Chief of Staff to the Superintendent

  Reports to: Superintendent

  Classification: Executive

  Job Status: Full-Time

  Work Schedule: 245 Days

  Salary Range: $118,590.85 - $147,315.55

  FLSA Status: Exempt

  Amount of Travel: 30% In District Travel

  Level: District Administration

  Date Created: October 2024

  Position Summary: The North Little Rock School District (NLRSD) is seeking exceptional applications for the executive leadership position of the Chief of Staff to the Superintendent. This newly reorganized role is responsible for supporting the Superintendent in executing daily organizational strategies, improving operational efficiency and effectiveness while fostering exceptional communication within the educational institution and outside the organization. This role provides strategic counsel and support directly to the Superintendent to assist in effectively running the day-to-day operations of the school district. This role involves strategic planning, project management, communication, team management, crisis management, improving organizational culture, hiring, and acting as a liaison between the Superintendent and all other departments. The Chief of Staff reports directly to the Superintendent and works closely with senior executive level leaders to ensure the institution’s strategic plan goals and action steps are met while prioritizing student achievement, faculty development, and overall educational and organizational excellence. Expected to be highly visible across the organization and in the community to support and carry out the Superintendent’s long-range vision for the NLRSD. The Chief of Staff may act on behalf of the Superintendent at the request of or in the absence of the Superintendent as directed.
  
  

  The Chief of Staff will assist the Superintendent in working directly and collaboratively in establishing a high performing executive leadership team to execute actions steps to improve all aspects of the organization with an emphasis on key district performance targets outlined in the NLRSD’s strategic plan and improve any organizational dysfunctions affecting the service delivery of support to all schools. The Chief of Staff will directly supervise the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director of Human Resources, Director of Safety Services, Coordinator of Communications, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Director of Transportation, Director of Maintenance and Facilities, Coordinator of Custodian Services, and the Director of Information Technology and other departments as directed by the Superintendent. The realignment of departments will improve operational support and services to schools focused on improving teaching and learning with high levels of customer service and hospitality.
  
  

  In addition, ideal candidates will be committed to high organizational standards with a successful background and record of accomplishment related to the duties and responsibilities to include managing time, focusing on data and results, building on organizational strengths, concentrating on top priorities, and researching effective decisions and executing identified actions steps with fidelity.

  NLRSD continues its transformational journey to high academic excellence. The district is seeking an experienced executive leader who will assist the Superintendent in bringing together all stakeholders to serve the individual needs of students, employees, and families while implementing a new vision, mission, moral purpose, core values, NLRSD graduate profile, and five strategic goals.

  Essential Functions: The following duties are representative of performance expectations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  The Chief of Staff responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Directly reports to the Superintendent and may act on behalf of the Superintendent at the request of or in the absence of the Superintendent as directed.
  • Serves as a key member of the Superintendent’s executive leadership team and acts as the chief advisor to the Superintendent.
  • Partners with the Superintendent to implement long-term strategic initiatives that align with the institution's new vision, mission, moral purpose, organizational core values, NLRSD graduate profile, and five-year strategic plan goals.
  • Assist the Superintendent with executive level leadership and management to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students and staff while obtaining, allocating, aligning and effectively utilizing human, fiscal, and technological resources for maximum organizational performance.
  • Assist the Superintendent in planning and executing weekly Executive Team Meetings for maximum organizational effectiveness and assisting executive leaders in planning for monthly school board meetings and weekly school board reports.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the Superintendent and executive leadership team on political and governmental matters, including legislation, state and local policy and regulations, operational efficiency, institutional planning, and strategic operations.
  • Leads special projects and cross-functional initiatives to advance the institution's priorities including the development and implementation of executive level department Strategic Thinking for Action and Collaborative Knowledge (S.T.A.C.K.) plans that align with district strategic plan goals and performance targets to enhance collaboration and eliminate silos between executive level departments.
  • Deploys, manages, and monitors the work of Targeted, Immediate, Group Execution and Response (T.I.G.E.R.) teams based on the organizational needs of the school district and as directed by the Superintendent within a project-management structure.
  • Deploys, manages, and monitors the work of the Visionary, Implementation of key actions, for Performance, while Empowering others for Results (V.I.P.E.R.) teams.
  • Leads the NLRSD Policy and Regulation Development Committee (PRDC) to create, revise, and manage all policy development in the district based upon internal auditing of outdated policies or gaps in policies that need to be created to ensure maximum performance and efficiency as directed by the Superintendent. Areas of priority and focus include BoardDocs Policy Sections: 1,2,4,5,6, and 7.
  • Prepares presentations, reports, and briefs for the Superintendent, highlighting progress, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Creates time and space for the Superintendent to focus on key executive leadership priorities by managing the time, schedule, tasks and communication flow for the Superintendent.
  • Coordinates and monitors the progress of organizational initiatives, ensuring timely completion of key deliverables and projects.
  • Leads the operational planning process to ensure resources are allocated effectively across all programs and departments.
  • Oversees expenditure; demonstrates fiscal responsibility and ethical practices related to oversight of budgets, maintains an aligned instructional program that addresses state, local, and federal requirements to ensure academic achievement and organizational effectiveness. Recommends to the Superintendent any strategies or initiatives for reducing operational costs.
  • Directs all executive level leadership department heads to streamline effective processes, procedures, systems, and structures for maximum organizational effectiveness as directed by the
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for key internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, parents, and the community to assist the Superintendent in the day-to-day operations as
  • Facilitates communication between the executive team and departments, ensuring alignment and fostering a culture of collaboration while ensuring all internal communication protocols are
  • Represents the Superintendent in meetings, both internal and external, when needed and as
  • Tracks and evaluates the institution’s performance against its strategic goals, identifying gaps and recommending solutions through project-management tracking systems to keep leaders on task while ensuring accountability of deliverables and strategic initiatives are delivered on time.
  • Support the collection and analysis of organizational data to inform decision-making and improve educational and operational outcomes as directed by the Superintendent.
  • Advises, interprets, and communicates policy/regulations, budget, school/district goals and priorities for the Establishes and monitors systems of accountability for job performance, community involvement, adherence to ethical practices, and compliance to local federal and state policy/regulations for the district.
  • Assists the Superintendent during Collaborative Observation Back by the Responsibility and Accountability (C.O.B.R.A.) of statistics (STAT) meetings with school principals and executive level department heads to ensure key performance metrics for improvement are monitored and actions taken based on real-time data.
  • Monitors feedback from students, teachers, parents and caregivers, employees, business, industry, and political leaders, higher education partners, and the community for continuous Receives suggestions, advice and general feedback on the operations of the district; helps ensure an open line of communication across the district hierarchy, bringing insight from all levels to incorporate in policy and decision-making.
  • Assists the Superintendent with prioritizing the work, professional development and training needs, staffing allocations, and resource allocation for the district.
  • Oversees performance management systems and initiatives for staff development and
  • Acts as the first responder for issues requiring immediate attention on behalf of the superintendent, facilitating resolution in a timely and effective manner.
  • Serves as the chief advisor to the Superintendent during Emergency Incident Command Operations in the event of any issue related to the safety and security of the entire school
  • Provides guidance in navigating challenges related to policy, staff relations, and community
  • Assists the Superintendent and other district administrators with building and maintaining positive school and district culture, especially during periods of significant change, transformation, and accountability.
  • Serves as a liaison and provides support with the community and other stakeholders to address interests and Publicly responds to concerns of the community regarding the district; coordinates with community agencies to address the problems and needs of the district and its stakeholders. Assists district staff with developing and maintaining positive and collaborative community interactions.
  • Perform other related work as required and directed by the

  Competencies: Must possess a diverse set of competencies that enable effective executive leadership and organizational management. Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities are essential for driving long-term initiatives and handling complex challenges. The role requires exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and must liaise between leadership, staff, and external stakeholders, ensuring clear and effective information flow. A high level of emotional intelligence is crucial for navigating relationships across diverse teams and fostering a positive work culture. Project management and organizational skills are critical for overseeing initiatives, managing multiple priorities, and ensuring deadlines are met on time. Must be adaptable and proactive, able to anticipate the needs of the NLRSD and pivot when necessary. A deep understanding of organizational effectiveness, including policies, regulations, and best practices, is also necessary to guide decision-making and operational efficiency. Ability to demonstrate strong internal and external support for the NLRSD. Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences. Excellent knowledge and understanding of all facets of operational effectiveness. Knowledge and understanding of the change process, organizational development, conflict resolution, and facilitation skills. Highly effective organizational and consensus building skills. Knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures of the NLRSD. Ability to conceptualize, initiate, monitor and evaluate new and/or current programs.

  Minimum Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree required in a field related to the job duties and
  • At least 7-10 years of executive level leadership experience, with significant experience in organizational leadership, management, strategic planning, strategy implementation, and operations are required.

  Skills and Abilities Required: The following characteristics and physical skills are important for the successful performance of assigned duties.

  Chief of Staff Leadership Knowledge and Expertise:

  • Leadership : Knowledge and skills to lead cross-functional teams and strategic initiatives, so strong leadership skills are essential.
  • Communication : Knowledge and skills to be able to communicate at a high level, both in writing and verbally, and be able to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  • Strategic thinking : Knowledge and skills to be able to think critically and strategically, identifying long-term goals and developing plans to achieve them.
  • Project management : Knowledge and skills to be able to manage projects and people
  • Problem-solving : Knowledge and skills to be able to quickly identify issues and develop
  • Adaptability : Knowledge and skills to be able to deal with unexpected
  • Data analysis : Knowledge and skills to use data analysis to make informed decisions, identify trends, and provide insights to the executive team.
  • Business standards : Knowledge and skills regarding the business operational standards and functions of a school system.
  • Policy development : Knowledge and skills to development

  Work Environment:

  • Work is primarily conducted in an office, school setting, or across all NLRSD facilities and operations. Prolonged stationary work and attention to desk or computer tasks are This position is cognitively demanding and requires especially well developed professional social skills and communication skills. Movement in and about schools and office buildings/grounds is a frequent requirement and ability to carry or lift items 75 lbs. or less.

  Empathy and Commitment to Cause:

  • Deep commitment to improving the
  • Demonstrates cultural competence, equity, and a deep understanding of and empathy for issues facing minority and economically disadvantaged families and students requiring special

  Problem Solving and Systems Thinking:

  • Understands how various systems and departments interact to achieve district
  • Makes decisions using data and
  • Takes initiative to solve problems and create stakeholder buy-
  • Identifies and prioritizes mission critical issues with alignment of people, time and resources.
  • Offer innovative solutions to seemingly intractable
  • Exhibits strong focus on goals and Sets clear metrics for success.
  • Removes barriers or obstacles that make it difficult for schools and departments to achieve their goals and ensures that leaders have the resources they need to succeed.
  • Demonstrates excellent execution and project management skills, including attention to detail, organizational skills, ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps to reach the end goal, and ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines.

  Leadership Skills:

  • Motivates, inspires, and moves other adults to action to achieve ambitious
  • Skilled at re-envisioning, building, and managing a team, especially in a time of growth and change; excellent at identifying talent and taking advantage of each person’s skills and contribution to team effort.
  • Builds and maintains positive relationships with individuals and
  • Moves groups to consensus and resolves Exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations.
  • Builds coalitions and works collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels, including but not limited to district personnel, students, families, communities, and/or advocacy groups.
  • Establishes clear expectations, deliverables, and
  • Holds direct reports accountable for their actions and results to improve organizational
  • Sets clear agendas and facilitates effective
  • Ability to train, supervise, and evaluate staff from different cultural backgrounds and skill
  • Exhibits transformational and servant leadership characteristics in daily

  Additional Responsibilities:

  • Performs such other tasks and assumes such other roles and responsibilities as assigned by the

• About the company

  North Little Rock School District is a public school district headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States.

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