The Board is Hiring

The Seattle Public Schools Job Board has two jobs posted for people to work for the School Board.

Administrator, Board Office pays from $45,573.00 - $62,920.00

Manager, Board Office pays $68,474.00 - $94,578.00

Here's the scoop on the Administrator job:

This position is designed to provide a high level of staff support for the School Board Directors and the School Board Office. This position provides both secretarial and administrative services including: serving as the public representation of the Board office; serving as a liaison between the Directors and staff; providing School Board Directors with documents and other information they need prior to Board or Committee meetings; creating and maintaining a variety of databases, including historical policy archives and meeting archives; creating and maintaining a tracking system for Board Director requests for information from staff; creating and maintaining a tracking system for constituent correspondence with the Board; creating and maintaining the School Board, Policy, and Government Relations internal and external web pages; and ensuring that School Board meetings run smoothly and on time.

Position reports to: Manager, Board Office

Here's the scoop on the Manager job:

The Manager of the Board Office plans, organizes and manages services and communication between Board Leadership, Board Committee Chairs, Board Directors, the Superintendent, and Senior Staff. The incumbent is responsible for managing complex and highly confidential information for the district, provide focused support to the School Board on strategic planning and strategic communications and is considered one of the "public faces" of the district. S/he also provides strategic research and policy development services, including communicating with key stakeholders about policies. The Manager of the Board Office is responsible for issue management, problem resolution, and long and short term agenda management for the Board. The incumbent exercises considerable authority and discretion in carrying out responsibilities independently and with awareness of School Board and district issues, including a focus on compliance obligations and community concerns.

Position reports to: Director of Policy & Government Relations

The Manager job is obviously a new position. Here's a little more about the duties:

Essential Functions:
1. Provides strategic support for Board Directors, including strategic communications and strategic research on issues before the Board. (20% of time)

2. Is the primary liaison between Board Directors and Senior Staff and as such exercises quality control over information that is provided to the Board. (20% of time)

3. Participates in developing annual Board goals and is charged with developing work plans to meet those goals, in conjunction with the Superintendent and Executive Management Team. (10% of time)

4. With the direction of the Policy & Governmental Relations office, develop reform and routine policies and vet for best practice. (20% of time)

5. Serves as ombudsman for Board members, keeping Board members apprised of relevant matters of concern to the district and handling matters of protocol. (15% of time)

6. Provides orientation to new Directors and keeps current Directors up to date on legal changes. (5% of time)

7. Maintains the Board Office budget, including making planning recommendations. (10% of time)

Other Functions:
1. Attends District Leadership meetings or other professional development opportunities as appropriate
2. Attends meetings with individual Board Directors or Senior Staff
3. It is a requirement of this job to regularly work evenings and occasionally weekends

Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy or a comparable field.

Years of Experience:
Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible employment, including time spent as a policy analyst or in strategic communication.

Preferred:
Master's Degree. Experience in a school district or other large public agency

Clearances:
Criminal Justice Fingerprint or Background Check

Honestly I would apply for the manager job and be thrilled to do it, but I don't meet the minimum qualifications. The Director of Policy and Government is Holly Ferguson. Maybe I should call her and ask how firm they are about those minimum requirements.