7/21/23

We’re hiring!

Senior Manager, Finance & Operations

About Great MN Schools

We work to ensure that every child is able to attend an excellent and equitable school that prepares them to thrive in their lives, careers, and communities.

Great schools that enroll kids from low-income backgrounds make a difference. These students grow academically at twice the rate, are twice as likely to graduate, and are six times as likely to earn a postsecondary degree. We focus on developing and sustaining great schools in Minneapolis for all students through:

• Creating more high-performing schools for underserved communities. Our school-centered approach starts with identifying schools with strong leaders and culture, and helping them diagnose their strengths and gaps. We facilitate the development of a strategic roadmap, and surround schools with support to ensure the implementation of strategic interventions and evidence-based solutions.
• Building community partnerships to support underserved families’ ability to navigate K-12 systems. We work with community organizations to provide families with helpful tools and resources, resulting in families choosing better options for their children, stronger family-school relationships and stronger schools.
• Advancing proven solutions toward more high-performing schools. We elevate what’s possible, and engage the community as partners in change.

By working alongside schools and supporting families, we’re committed to transforming education equity for students—of all backgrounds—and elevating what’s possible.

Position description 

Great MN Schools is looking for a Senior Manager, Finance & Operations to lead the organization’s team operations, HR, budget development and monitoring, and accounts payable. This position will report to the Sr. Director of Schools & Operations. Key activities include:

Finance

• Develop and manage the organization’s $7mm annual budget, including tracking and managing expenses and cash flow, working with staff to update budget forecasts, and managing multi-year forecasts.  
• Prepare for and lead quarterly board Finance Committee meetings, as well as prepare all relevant finance materials for the Board of Directors.
• Manage accounts payable, working in coordination with the CEO and administrative support.  
• Oversee contract accountant in the monthly reconciliation and reporting processes.  
• Review, coordinate approvals for, and track all contracts and grants.
• Manage accounts receivable. Work in partnership with the Director of Development to track revenue against forecast and manage allocation and monitoring of restricted gifts; provide the Director of Development with financial- or budget-related information for grant applications and reports.
• Act as primary liaison with the board, the organization’s accountant (consultant), and auditors on annual audits and 990 submissions; ensure the audit process is smooth and timely.
• Ensure the organization is in compliance with its financial policies, facilitating policy updates when necessary.
• Review and approve monthly payroll.

Operations & team support

• Support the CEO with the organization’s Board of Directors meetings, including facilitating the development of board meeting and committee packets and materials, ensuring that the board calendar and organization policies are in place, and overseeing board and committee meeting logistics.
• Lead the annual production of Great MN Schools family-facing tools and resources, including the Minneapolis School Finder. Production processes include working closely with vendors and the Great MN Schools team, identifying, and implementing online and physical copy enhancements, and collecting and proofing school data to ensure tool accuracy.  
• Ensure the organization has physical resources and infrastructure needed to execute on its mission, including serving as the facilities point person, and managing providers and subscriptions to meet the team’s technology, CRM database, and communication needs. 
• Supervise and provide guidance to Operations Coordinator, who provides team with administrative and logistical support.
• Ensure organizational policies are up-to-date and manage renewals for nonprofit insurance, workers compensation, etc. 
• Support the planning and lead the production of various convenings and events, including the organization’s annual meeting, the citywide Minneapolis School Finder fair, quarterly community convenings, literacy working group convenings, and funder site visits with grantees. 

Human resources

• Lead all HR functions for the organization, including annual benefits renewal and administration process. Serve as point person for any team members who need support navigating benefits and/or HR issues.
• Work closely with the CEO, external consultants, and team to ensure that the organization and board are operationalizing Great MN Schools’ values and DEI priorities. Track ongoing progress against efforts. 
• Lead implementation of the organization’s compensation policy, including updates to or audits for compensation benchmarking. 
• Onboard new employees and board members.
• Ensure the team is functioning at a high level. Responsibilities include annual organization goal-setting process, facilitating weekly team meetings, identification and execution of annual retreats/team professional development opportunities/team bonding activities/annual team survey, etc.  
• Identify and implement new solutions to strengthen team operations and culture.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate has 5-7 years of professional experience managing finance and operations. They are detail oriented, able to juggle multiple projects and priorities at once, enjoys working in a team setting, and will bring a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to their work. They are passionate about education and closing the achievement gap in Minneapolis and brings the following skills and personal characteristics:

Skills 

• Understanding of organizational functions, including human resources, finance, and operations
• Prior experiences working alongside racially or ethnically diverse organizations or people 
• Experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously with strong attention to detail, ability to operate independently and in collaboration with others
• Demonstrated ability to manage timelines and meet deadlines, and proactively identify problems and potential solutions, resulting in an ability to move forward work in a fluid environment with significant flexibility
• Quick learning; interest in a diverse work portfolio, with changing priorities and deadlines 
• A high bar for quality and accuracy
• Experience collaborating with external consultants and contractors 
• Knowledge and experience with IT, Microsoft Suite, QuickBooks, Dropbox, project management platforms (e.g., Wrike), and payroll and benefits platforms (e.g., Gusto)

Personal characteristics

• Strong commitment to Great MN Schools’ mission and vision for transforming K-12 education so that children of all races, means, and origins access excellent and equitable schools:
  • Mission—Ensure every child attends a great school that prepares them to thrive in their lives, careers, and community
  • Values—Honesty, Inclusivity, Intentionality, Courage, and Collaboration
• Growth mindset; a good attitude and willingness to get the job done and done well!
• Ability to apply an equity lens in their work and collaboratively lead the organization’s DEI work
• Enthusiasm, team-orientation, strong work ethic, and positive energy
• Comfort in entrepreneurial environment, and desire to build systems and structures to support a growing organization.
• Results orientation; ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with a strong commitment to collaboration

Location 

Great MN Schools offices in the Uptown Minneapolis WeWork office located at 729 N Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Team members are currently expected to work from the office a minimum of two days a week (currently Tuesday and Wednesday). 

Compensation

$75,000-$90,000, plus a competitive benefits package, including 401K match, health, vision, and dental insurance, disability coverage, and access to HSA and FSA plans. Employee is also eligible for the team bonus program, designed to support collaboration and collective ownership, and to recognize shared impact on organizational goals.

Open until filled.

Please apply using the following application link.

Great MN Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity within our team. We encourage applicants who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and people from households with low incomes to apply.