Job Description

ABOUT CANOPY SOUTH

We are a nonprofit community development organization founded in 2019 to lead the holistic revitalization of 3 square miles in South Omaha. We believe every family deserves to thrive in a neighborhood full of opportunity. Guided by the Purpose Built Communities model, we focus on four pillars—mixed-income housing, cradle-to-career education, community vibrancy, and economic vitality—to create safe homes, strong schools, healthy spaces, and pathways to opportunity in South Omaha.

THE ROLE

The Director of Education will be responsible for leading a robust, equitable, and diverse education strategy for current and future residents of the Southside Terrace - Indian Hill neighborhood and surrounding areas within South Omaha. This strategy focuses on the execution of a long-term approach to ensure that children from birth have access to high-quality education to prepare them for college or a career path. These strategies should support 3 specific goals outlined within the Transformation Plan:

• Children enter kindergarten ready to learn 
• School-age youth participate in enrichment programs and activities outside of school hours
• Students graduate high school on-time and are college or career ready

In 2022, the City of Omaha, Omaha Housing Authority, Brinshore Development, and Canopy South were awarded a $50M Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant (CNI) for the holistic revitalization of the Southside Terrace – Indian Hill neighborhood. This position is partially grant funded through the CNI and is intended to support Canopy South as the Principal Education Partner.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Executive Director of Canopy South, the Director of Education will: 

• Update, refine, and oversee the implementation of a comprehensive and equitable education plan based on data, feedback, and metrics to further educational outcomes within the neighborhood 
• Manage education referrals through the CNI and collaborate with OPS to ensure families receive the necessary educational supports throughout the relocation process
• Manage all aspects of the Cradle-to-Career Community of Practice, including logistics, scheduling, speaker coordination, communications, and participant registration, to ensure engaging and impactful convenings
• Convene and lead the with the Education Implementation Committee on a regular basis ( also referred to as READ, Resident Education Advisory Delegates) 
• Serve as a liaison by managing key relationships with our education partners including Omaha Public Schools, Indian Hill Elementary School, Kids Can Community Center, Educare, and external education partners
• Work directly with Canopy South and OPS leadership to assess, refine, and update the existing MOU
• Establish, develop, and cultivate relationships with strategic partners to continually assess educational needs and opportunities 
• Work with education partners to establish and manage data-sharing agreements, ensuring the accuracy of quarterly and annual reports and supporting data-informed decision-making across programs and initiatives
• Work with our education partners to establish a catchment area that prioritizes enrollment for Southside Terrace residents 
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to cultivate and formalize a partnership between an established early learning center to operate in and serve the Southside Terrace - Indian Hill neighborhood
• Sets up systems and structures across the education pipeline as part of a long-term sustainability strategy
• Identifies policy and institutional barriers and assists schools in joint problem solving (i.e. facility/staffing, district relationship management, contract negotiations, parent engagement)
• Manage, assess, and adjust approach based on changes in need and success of interventions
• Partner with Purpose Built Communities, Purpose Built Schools and the Network Member Services Team for consultation on education pipeline development
• Regularly communicate with internal and external stakeholders regarding efforts to recruit collaborative partners and delivery of enrichment, recreational, and educational services 
• Support grant applications and reporting related to the Cradle-to-Career Education pipeline
• Prepare necessary content and documents for internal and external meetings, including agendas, reports, and other necessary materials 
• Given the nature of our organization, there will be other duties that are not listed above. The ideal candidate will enjoy a range of responsibilities and embrace unanticipated challenges as they emerge 

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking a Director of Education who is not only committed to our mission but also possesses the vision to build and lead a successful educational program from the ground up. They should be capable of creating a long-term vision for educational initiatives in alignment with the Purpose Built Communities model. This role necessitates a self-starter attitude and the ability to take initiative. The ideal candidate should be able to independently initiate and manage tasks and initiatives in an environment without pre-established frameworks.

Qualities the ideal candidate would display:

• We are looking for someone with a proven track record of creatively solving challenges and obstacles in the educational landscape.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience within early childhood, K-12 education, or a related field
• The DOE should embody an entrepreneurial spirit, demonstrating the ability to identify opportunities, take calculated risks, and turn ideas into sustainable initiatives
• Confidence to take initiative and responsibility to deliver expected outcomes with minimal guidance on a variety of projects 
• Track record of effectively leading initiatives with a complex array of variables, with the ability to leverage strengths across program areas; excellent project management skills
• Analytical decision maker with the ability to prioritize and communicate key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organizational goals
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation
• Superior verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate with people from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds and diverse cultures 
• Strong organizational and time management skills 
• Action-oriented, flexible, and innovative thinker
• Dependable, reliable, and conscientious 
• Humility, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
• Skills in a variety of products and platforms, including Microsoft and Google products, experience in Salesforce is a plus!
• Graduate degree in related field is preferred 

COMPENSATION + BENEFITS 

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to assume a pivotal role in the evolution of a fast-growing, highly respected organization. We are seeking an individual of outstanding quality with a respected track record. Canopy South is prepared to offer an attractive compensation package, including:

• Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience ($90,000 +) 
• 401K, employer contributes 3% 
• Health, dental, and vision insurance 
• 11 federal holidays paid + Christmas Eve 
• One personal day
• Holiday break from December 26th – December 31st
• Paid time off – accrual is equivalent to 12 days on an annual basis, with an increase based on tenure at the organization 
• Paid professional development 

HOW TO APPLY 

Send a cover letter and resume to info@canopysouth.org by Friday, November 7th at 11:59AM CST

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