Strategic Planning Specialist American Student Achievement Institute
Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Organization: American Student Achievement Institute, Bloomington, Indiana
Description: The American Student Achievement Institute (ASAI) is an established, proven non-profit organization dedicated to enabling all students to prepare for postsecondary success by helping K-12 schools and communities undergo systemic change. ASAI seeks a STRATETIC PLANNING SPECIALIST who will report to the Executive Director. The Strategic Planning Specialist will help multiple leadership teams develop a vision-based and data-driven improvement plan using ASAI’s Vision-to-Action strategic planning process. This is a full-time, twelve-month position.
Type: Full-time
Twelve- Month
Duties: The Strategic Planning Specialist filling this position will primarily serve county-based Leadership Teams participating in a statewide initiative designed to increase the percentage of students and adult learners who enter and complete postsecondary education. The specialist will assist Leadership Team members as they 1) recruit community based organizations as coalition members, 2) work with the coalition members to developing a strategic plan for their county, and then 3) help the member organizations implement activities to help the county reach its postsecondary goals.
1. Leadership Team Support
a. Assist with the recruitment of Leadership Teams for ASAI initiatives
b. Attend leadership development workshops for assigned Leadership Teams (held throughout the state)
c. Hold periodic conference calls with Leadership Teams following leadership development workshops
d. Make minimal Leadership Team visits
e. Provide scheduled and on-call telephone and email support for Leadership Team members with regard to:
· ASAI’s Vision-to-Action process
· ASAI’s Strategic Planning Online Systems
f. Provide “friendly reminders” to Leadership Teams that do not meet deadlines
g. Evaluate Leadership Team submissions and provide feedback using ASAI’s admin system, assign a status to each submission and provide written feedback.
h. Provide accurate workshop participation counts for the ASAI Business Manager
2 Communication
a. Write a monthly email to Leadership Teams as requested by the Executive Director
b. Participate in a weekly staff meeting through Google Hangout
c. Communicate with staff via phone, conference calls, instant messaging, Goggle Hangouts, and fax
b. Create and edit Word and Excel documents
4. Assist and/or manage other ASAI initiatives as assigned by the Executive Director, for example
a. Speakers Bureau
· Review applications from those seeking to be approved speakers
· Receive applications for a speaker from event hosts
· Match speakers and event hosts
b. Conferences
· Recruit session presenters and volunteers
5. Accountability
a. Immediately available via instant messaging during office hours
b. Written reports and/or time logs as requested by the Executive Director
c. Written comments to leadership teams
d. Compliance with staff deadlines
Logistics Home Office:
ASAI Strategic Planning Specialists work in a home office which consists of a private, quiet space where uninterrupted work may occur during contract hours. ASAI provides a business phone line (voice-over-internet), Internet access and office equipment as needed.
Office Hours:
ASAI office hours fluctuate from month to month as follows:
· August through May: Full time employees work 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday
· June: Full time employees work 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday
· July: Full-time employees work eight four-hour days during the month to be scheduled by the Executive Director with consideration given to staff work day preferences
ASAI The core values listed below* depict ASAI’s belief that those served by ASAI should be AMAZED
Core Values by the quality of resources and services they receive. The core values listed below are the basis for ASAI’s work culture. ASAI employees strive to live by these Core Values every day.
1. Deliver more than is expected to those we serve
2. Embrace and drive change
3. Create fun and a little silliness
4. Be adventurous, creative and open-minded
5. Pursue growth and learning
6. Build open and honest relationships with communication
7. Build a positive team and family spirit
8. Do more with less
9. Be passionate and determined
10. Be humble
* Adapted from Zappos, Inc.
Qualifications: Education and Experience
Minimum – bachelor degree
Pluses
o Experience on an ASAI Steering Team in any initiative
o Experience in K-12 education
o Experience in postsecondary education
o Experience in community development
Knowledge and Skills
· Proficient in:
o Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point
o Keyboarding
o Technical writing, including:
§ Spelling, grammar, punctuation
§ Proof reading
o Verbal communication
· Strong analytic and problem solving skills
Personal Attributes
Work ethic
o High sense of personal integrity
o No excuses, what-ever-it-takes work ethic
o Strong commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement
o An eye for the big picture and minute details
o Commitment to accuracy
o Passion for ASAI’s mission
Independence / Organization
o Ability to work independently with little supervision
o Strong sense of organization and efficiency
o Ability to structure one’s work day (set priorities, meet deadline, etc.)
o Able to multi-task
Interpersonal
o Service orientation
o Sensitivity and compassion with regard to people of various backgrounds, abilities, and belief systems
o Ability to hold others accountable with kindness
o Loyalty to ASAI and staff members
o Patient, kind, cheerful, positive
o Team player
Compensation: ASAI provides employees with a compensation package including a competitive salary (26 equal pays), health insurance, life insurance, worker’s compensation, retirement fund, unemployment insurance, and leave provisions (sick, bereavement, maternity, paternity, jury duty, vacation, holidays).
Apply: Interested individuals should submit the following to the ASAI Office prior to Wednesday, February 26, 2014
1) Cover letter
2) Resume
3) Personal statement (not more than 800 words) including four separate sections:
· The applicant’s reasons for seeking the position
· An experience in the applicant’s life in which they demonstrated one or more of ASAI’s Core Values
· What it means to be a “team player”
· Salary requirements
Application packets may sent as an email attachment to:
Qualified candidates will be invited to interview for the position. At that time, references will be requested.