We seek thoughtful, inclusive, skilled communicators, and creative problem-solvers who value continuous learning and who are excited to serve our students and families.
Now is the time to join a team making enduring change within the Central Valley of California and beyond.
This role can be based in Los Angeles or the Central Valley of California.
The role will require travel between Los Angeles and the Central Valley.
A day in the life: The Chief Business Officer (CBO)/COO will manage the $36M+ annual budget across two LEAs in Delano and Lost Hills, steward the school’s finances and supervise the overall business services of the Academy, including operations (food service, campus supervision, maintenance), fiscal services, and compliance.
The CBO reports directly to the Superintendent and is a central part of the executive leadership team acting as a thought partner and key “systems designer” for cross-functional collaboration and problem-solving.
Achieve annual operating goals to ensure long-term financial stability
Work with Superintendent to set time-bound, strategic performance goals for financial health and operational viability at the Academy Lead and manage senior operational and business office directors and set performance goals for departments Develop multi-year forecasts and financial risk-mitigation solutions Lead the annual budgeting process for both LEAs Monitor budget process to ensure it is aligned with strategy and fiscally conservative Make organization-wide financial decisions aligned with the long-term fiscal health of WCPA Monitor budget and year-end projections monthly to ensure on-track performance to achieve targets Ensure the organization adheres to the requirements of federal and state grant programs Adopt processes to ensure the most efficient utilization of operations resources and vendor contracts to yield savings Create and implement financial accounting and reporting systems, as needed, across the organization
Lead the WCPA operations team by maintaining high standards and fostering high impact teams that are focused on results and quality delivery of services
Lead and manage the operational and business office senior directors in the continuous improvement process and towards annual performance goals Establish and maintain standard operating procedures for financial reporting, recordkeeping, purchasing and procurement, inventory management, and distribution in alignment with industry standards, legal guidelines, and state compliance Foster teams that are results-oriented and mission/value-aligned Produce annual improvement plans that drive performance management and operational/business efficacy Align operational resources towards school-wide priorities and student-centered impact Work in partnership with external partners in order to maintain business relationships (reporting, resource management, contractor management, vendor relationships, etc.)
Drive accuracy and efficiency of the Academy’s financial position and financial management and accounting practices
Manage external vendor contracts, including contract set-up, approval processes, and deliverables against contracts Identify and implement efficiency and cost-saving measures across the Academy, including periodic review of vendor contracts and internal audits of business and operations functions Manage current third-party back-office accounting contract and deliverables Build financial and operations capabilities, potentially bringing externally contracted services in-house
Maintain the highest levels of integrity and financial stewardship over all funds, both public and philanthropic, while providing outstanding customer service and support to both WCPA campuses
Ensure all business operations reporting is accurate and in compliance with county, state, and federal legal and auditor guidelines Communicate clear expectations for adherence to financial and operational policies and procedures Develop and manage internal mechanisms for program and operations personnel oversight and accountability Build and improve the standard operating procedures for business functions at the Academy, in compliance with an authorizer, state policy, grant guidelines as well as industry standards Invest in tools and processes to scale best practices, reduce costs in personnel and program expenses, and improve program efficacy Maintain high levels of transparency in financial operations and reporting across the organization Collaborate with philanthropic partners to support common strategic objectives
Provide leadership, develop and support team members, and cultivate high functioning teams
Establish annual performance targets and management plan for departments in alignment with the annual performance goals Partner with the Superintendent to ensure quality operational service for all academic programs Design and implement professional learning support for operations staff, through one-on-one meetings, coaching, modeling, planning, and feedback Establish annual staff development plans for managers and staff that are informed by performance data and program evaluation Cultivate data-driven and evidence-based systems focused on results; and fostering continuous feedback loops to drive performance management
Your contribution:
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain financial operations systems and structures for a $20M+ charter school or traditional school district Demonstrated history leading and coaching individuals and teams through continuous improvement cycles Demonstrated ability to lead business functions and operational systems towards industry standards and beyond Demonstrated ability to solve complex and nebulous problems School district-level business management/operations experience preferred Demonstrated ability to lead high functioning teams, continuous improvement cycles, and high-quality professional development to sustain effective and efficient professional practice Minimum Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s degree in education or business management preferred Minimum of 10 years of increasing responsibility within governmental/school finance roles Demonstrated ability to build financial operations systems and structures within a $20M+ charter school or traditional school district Demonstrated history leading and coaching others through continuous improvement projects Demonstrated ability to solve complex and nebulous problems District level business management/operations experience preferred
Skills/Traits:
Passion for working with traditionally underserved communities in high-performance settings An entrepreneurial spirit capable of managing many complex tasks with competing priorities Proven track record developing and delivering rigorous academic programs within challenging student settings Strong leadership and execution abilities including project management, strategic planning, prioritization and capacity-building Excellent problem-solver Organized and self-managed, able to drive toward outcomes Dependable with excellent follow-through Proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders Strong interpersonal and communication skills, orally and in writing A self-reflective leader who is committed to ongoing learning and growth of self and others