Operations Associate

Operations Associate

Location: Greater Boston

The preferred application deadline for this position is June 12, 2023. Please note that we do not guarantee review of applications after this date.

About WPS

Since its inception in 2017, the WPS Institute has offered programs for teachers and students with a focus on fostering educational innovation and opportunity. As a non-profit education start-up, we seek to advance a model of education where learning thrives everywhere, not just in school; where young people and their families are empowered to shape their own educational journeys; and where entire communities contribute to the education of their young people.

As a partner to communities, WPS provides wraparound support to launch innovative experiments in student-centered learning, including research and development; program design; professional learning; implementation support; evaluation; and seed funding. In 2022, we launched our first Community Innovation Partnership in Salem, MA, working in collaboration with local schools, families, and community partners to reimagine middle school with offerings that are relevant, experiential, and open-walled. In 2023, WPS is expanding programming to other communities in Massachusetts, with an emphasis on supporting a learning ecosystem on the Northshore.

WPS employees are currently working as a hybrid team. Most team members are based in Greater Boston and divide their time between the WPS campus in Newton, MA, our pilot site in Salem, and home offices.

About the Role
WPS seeks an Operations Associate to join its small and growing team. The Operations Associate will provide administrative and project management support, enabling our team to execute at a high level in a fast-paced, start up environment. The Operations Associate will manage internal systems, facilitate high-functioning collaborations and partnerships, and support activities that are critical to our mission-driven work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Administration

• Manage office services and systems, including bill payments, IT maintenance, vendor contracts, supplies/procurement, and knowledge-management systems.
• Coordinate and participate in staff meetings, serving as notetaker, generating meeting summaries, and documenting next steps.
• Create budgets and complete work as needed during the budget season, track and approve expenses, review monthly financial reports, make sure they adhere to the overall budget, and communicate to team and ED as appropriate.

Project Management

• Maintain systems that support clear communication and efficient collaboration between WPS, vendors, and partners.
• Contribute to the coordination and execution of action steps that emerge from the WPS teams’ strategic planning and partnership development, including creating work plans, timelines, budgets and reports as appropriate.

Event Coordination

• Partner with the team to plan and execute in-person and virtual events, including coordinating event attendance, ensuring smooth day-of logistics, responding to the complex and unique needs of each gathering, and executing on major next steps that emerge.

Desired Mindsets

• Enjoys collaboration, thought-partnership, the exchange of ideas, and working with highly committed colleagues in a professional learning community
• Exercises comfort, flexibility, and adaptivity in a highly fluid start-up environment that requires team members to take on a range of responsibilities and contribute on multiple fronts
• Displays an open-minded, curious and creative approach to work
• Exhibits a systems mindset and enjoyment of problem-solving and testing new methods, tools or approaches
• Displays eagerness to engage with a variety of stakeholders, including but not limited to teachers, education leaders, community partners, and youth.

Desired Skills, Education and Experience

WPS understands that restrictive job requirements may exclude historically marginalized groups from applying to jobs for which they are qualified. We strive to take an equitable and holistic screening approach. If you feel you have demonstrated experience and expertise relevant to perform this role, please don’t hesitate to apply.

• 4+ years of professional experience with proven ability to manage and coordinate complex tasks and projects and to work on a collaborative, fast-paced team
• Detail-orientation with strong organization and project management skills
• Strong interpersonal communication skills with ability to work well individually and with others
• Strong ability to execute high-quality work with accuracy and timeliness
• Proven capacity for receiving and integrating feedback from colleagues, working collaboratively in a fast-paced team
• Experience with Google Suite and Microsoft; familiarity with Salesforce a plus.
• Experience in K-12 education or youth development is a plus

Compensation

The salary for this position will be between $45,000 and $60,000 per year. WPS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous vacation time, health, vision, and dental insurance (90% employer paid premiums), 401(K) with 5% employer match, life and disability insurance, and ancillary health benefits with access to a flexible spending account, Teladoc virtual health services, and online mental health therapy.

How to Apply

Please submit your application here. The preferred application deadline for this position is June 12, 2023. Please note that we do not guarantee review of applications after this date.

WPS is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.