Operations Manager - Charter School Commission

EXEMPT JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Operations Manager

Salary:  $78,000 - $88,000

Closes May 15, 2024

The Washington Charter School Commission (Commission) is seeking a mission-aligned and detail-oriented team member to join the team as the Operations Manager. This critical and innovative full-time position is based in Olympia, Washington, with the option of a hybrid work environment. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the Commission's website (www.charterschool.wa.gov) to gain insight into the agency's mission and strategic plan.

Agency Overview

The Commission is an independent state agency whose mission is to authorize high-quality public charter schools throughout the state, especially schools that are designed to expand opportunities for systemically marginalized students, and to ensure the highest standards of accountability and oversight for these schools. The Commission leads the charter school application process, manages authorization and oversight, and provides support services to Washington state charter public schools.

Per the Commission’s Educational Equity Policy the agency is committed to closing opportunity gaps between the state’s most and least privileged groups of students within the educational system. It has a moral obligation and legal obligation to cultivate charter schools where socio-economic status and protected groups status such as race, gender, language, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability cease to be a predictor of academic and life outcomes. The Commission believes that educational equity benefits all students and our entire community.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to visit the Commission’s website (www.charterschool.wa.gov) to gain insight into the agency’s mission, vision, strategic plan and educational equity policy.

Key Responsibilities
The Operations Manager will provide comprehensive support to the Director of Operations for internal agency operations and provide occasional support to other members of the Commission team, in support of the Commission's work. To be successful in this role, the selected candidate must take initiative, work independently, multitask, and set priorities. This position provides professional contract management and business administrative support on diverse and evolving projects. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is interested in applying their proven administrative professional skills, state contracting rules and regulations knowledge, and business management experience.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
•    Develop agency reports summarizing agency contract status
•    Support agency procurement processes from start to finish, including documentation, monitoring deadlines, and reviewing competitive proposals.
•    Support development of agency biennial and supplemental budget requests
•    Prepare documents for publication
•    Understand and keep apprised and apply procurement and purchasing rules and regulations.
•    Assist with financial processing of agency transactions
•    Support Commission committee staffing
•    Support Commission meeting planning
•    Build interagency relationships
•    Support the agency with public records requests
•    Support agency with charter school contract amendments
•    Provide general administrative support to the Director of Operations
•    Support of the agency’s commitment to equity actively participating in professional development on cultural responsiveness and equity analysis.
•    Update agency electronic files
•    Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications
•    Five years of experience with general accounting, budgeting and policy implementation in finance. With at least two years of progressively responsible experience in finance and operations.
•    Proficient in all Microsoft Office applications.
•    Demonstrated resource and time management skills, demonstrated ability to work on multiple projects concurrently, prioritize work, and handle short deadlines.
•    Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively
•    Strong problem-solving, flexible thinking, and troubleshooting skills
•    Experience developing agency budget estimates and proposals  

Desired Qualifications
•    Bachelor’s degree OR demonstrated professional work history of five years or more in business administration, public administration, or a closely aligned field
•    Knowledge of state agency contracting, purchasing, travel, and meeting regulations and processes
•    Familiar with State Administrative & Accounting Manual (SAAM)
•    Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) knowledge
•    Internal Auditing Experience  
•    Washington State government or school district/charter school experience  

Compensation

The annual compensation for the position is $78,000 - $88,000 per year and will depend upon experience, educational background, and qualifications. Washington State has a generous benefit package, including health, dental, and life insurance, retirement, and an optional deferred compensation program. Please go to the following websites for benefit information: www.hca.wa.gov for information regarding health benefits and www.drs.wa.gov for retirement plan information.  This position serves at the pleasure of the Executive Director and is civil service exempt.

Application Process
Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word or PDF format only:
 

• A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement;
• A current résumé, and;
• A list of three or more professional references.

Please address any questions to:
 Sal Salazar, Human Resources Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
 600 Washington Street Southeast
 Olympia, Washington 98504-7200
 (360) 725-6278; sal.salazar@k12.wa.us 
 
 Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail hroffice@k12.wa.us.
 
New Jobs Alert Service
OSPI offers a subscription service, which regularly notifies subscribers of new OSPI employment opportunities on careers.wa.gov. Subscribers are notified via text or email alert. If you are interested in this service, then please subscribe at this location.
 
OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity. OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. If you would like, please include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resource consultant listed in “Application Process.”