ABOUT COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CISTN) is a nonprofit that partners with K-12 public schools to surround students with a community of support empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. With a budget of almost $12M, we support 85+ employees in 65+ schools that serve more than 30,000 students and families across Tennessee.
As part of the CIS national network, CISTN achieves this mission by placing program managers in schools across the state to provide school-wide interventions and case managed services for students in need.
To best support the students, families, schools, community partners, and our staff members involved in this work, CISTN staff and board members center all decisions, actions, and services on the following core values:
- Integrity – We openly share how our work is done, and we hold ourselves accountable to the commitments we make.
- Empathy – We intentionally build relationships so we can learn about people’s stories, validate their experiences, and deepen our understanding of situations different from our own.
- Equal Opportunity – We identify and work towards removing barriers, so everyone has the opportunity to achieve.
- Authenticity – We create space for the people we work with, and for, to be their truthful, complete selves without judgement.
- Collaboration – We bring people together to plan and take action in our work, understanding we make lasting change in partnership with one another.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Vice President of Programs (VPP) provides oversight to the Nashville area of CISTN programs. The VPP reports to the Chief Program Officer (CPO). The primary responsibilities of the Vice President of Programs include, but are not limited to:
- Program Leadership
- Lead and serve on the State Support Team with organizational leaders, making recommendations for and providing insight into statewide operations and strategic direction of the organization.
- Ensure implementation of annual program plan and ensure all program managers serve students in alignment with program standards.
- Develop an annual professional development plan for program directors in their region.
- Regularly evaluate and update the plan based on feedback, data, and trends.
- Review programs for quality improvement.
- Identify and recommend policy and procedural changes to the CPO to ensure consistent program implementation and alignment with agency priorities.
- Engage with the CISTN Board of Directors by participating in the Program Committee.
- Implement a proactive approach to financial planning and expenditure monitoring, ensuring that all program activities are executed within budgetary constraints and contribute to the organization’s long-term financial health and sustainability.
- Embed principles of equal opportunity in all aspects of work, from program development to organizational practices.
- Supervision
- Supervise a team of program directors; including onboarding, training, and conducting the performance management and individual development plan processes, to ensure all program managers serve students in alignment with program standards, achieving program outcomes, and meeting departmental goals.
- Supervise additional program support staff as assigned (e.g.; program development manager, post-secondary, career, and alumni director, etc.), including onboarding, training, and conducting the performance management and individual development plan processes.
- Review and approve time, budgets, and expense reports in accordance with organizational policies and procedures for direct reports.
- With support from the operations team, engage in the recruitment and hiring process for new program managers and directors.
- Visit all school sites in assigned region 1-2 times annually, conducting skip level meetings with all associated program managers annually.
- Review and utilize data, at least monthly, to inform programming and team coaching and supervision.
- Reinforce relevant information regarding CISTN and school policies, procedures, and practices to the regional team.
- Oversee the implementation and adoption of process, policy, and procedural changes among program staff, including but not limited to budget, human resources, operations, programming, and other necessary functions.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Strengthen and deepen existing relationships with regional stakeholders, strategic partners, and school district leaders to ensure alignment with expectations, enhance program quality and sustainability, and address emerging needs.
- Establish and coordinate new regional community partnerships to secure resources, expand professional learning opportunities, and elevate CIS impact.
- Represent CISTN at regional conferences, meetings, workshops, forums, etc. to promote CISTN’s mission and programming.
- Oversee regional implementation of programmatic and geographic expansion, and onboard school and principal partners.
- Negotiate annual and multi-year contracts with school district partners.
- Ensure program documents are accurate and up to date, including but not limited to MOUs, principal toolkit, and checklist.
- Contribute to grant report narratives by drafting content related to assigned region(s).
- Identify potential local funders and make connections with the advancement team, including businesses, local governments, and civic organizations.
The VP of Programs – Nashville is a hybrid role based in Nashville, TN. The CPO and the VP of Programs will work together to determine the arrangements for both in-person and remote work, considering the season of work and organizational needs.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload. Other duties may be assigned by the CEO or CPO as required.
CORE COMPETENCIES
The core competencies for the Vice President of Programs includes, but are not limited to:
- Team Leadership: Supervises and coaches team members effectively, establishes goals and expectations, and fosters a collaborative and supportive team culture. Provides ongoing evaluation, support, and professional development opportunities.
- Communication Skills: Clearly and concisely communicates technical information and data results to various audiences. Tailors communication strategies to different stakeholders and ensures messages are clear, consistent, and culturally responsive.
- Relationship Building: Develops and maintains positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Utilizes effective communication strategies to engage stakeholders and advance the organization’s mission.
- Cultural Competence: Demonstrates a clear understanding of racial and other forms of discrimination, including but not limited to historical discrimination, that may impact students and families and applies that understanding to work in schools and across the organization.
- Decision Making and Problem Solving: Analyzes complex problems, identifies underlying causes, and consults appropriate resources to make informed decisions in a timely manner. Takes accountability for decisions and ensures proposed solutions are thoughtful, inclusive of varied perspectives, and responsive to the needs of different stakeholders.