Director of HOPE Innovation

Company Overview

Open Sky Education (OSE) is an entrepreneurial not-for-profit, Christian organization in tireless pursuit of a full and lasting education for all children. OSE works to ensure that world-class academics, character formation and faith-based educational choices are accessible and affordable for all. We support and manage a national growing network of learning environments, including HOPE Christian Schools, EAGLE College Preparatory Schools, Compass Educational Program, Character Formation Project, and Soaring Education Services.

Job Purpose

There are three major challenges that threaten traditional forms of education both in our Wisconsin region and nationally: teacher shortages, student chronic absenteeism, and substantial learning gaps especially in urban centers most impacted by COVID. New, innovative, scalable solutions to these challenges are desperately needed for the benefit of thousands of scholars and more broadly for our society as a whole.

The purpose of this new role for Open Sky Education is to establish an innovation framework, catalyze and oversee the launch of a portfolio of transformational innovative new solutions that align with our mission, serve our children at HOPE (and beyond over time), and that address these three issues in ways that are financially sustainable and scalable. We believe these new solutions will focus on dramatically increasing the flexibility for how teachers teach and scholars learn, and that they will substantially improve the student, parent and educator experiences in education.

S/he will work closely with the Open Sky Education and HOPE Christian School Board and Leadership to ensure we offer rigorous educational programming solutions to increase our impact on children and our workforce, while building sustainable partnerships with the community. The National Director of Innovation is an integral part of advancing OSE’s model for high quality, full, and lasting education across the nation and is a member of the Open Sky Education National Leadership Team.

Success will be measured by the outcomes achieved for children, the financial sustainability of the innovations, and capacity of the innovations to solve for these three major challenges at scale.

Essential Responsibilities And Competencies

Transformational Innovation Leadership

• Build and oversee a sustainable and scalable long-term innovation strategy that provides appropriate plans, timelines and activities to address the learning, workforce, and absenteeism gaps, starting with a focus in the HOPE Christian Schools region.
• Collaboratively conceptualize and develop compelling transformational innovations that will enhance OSE learning environments and drive sustainable growth
• Establish and manage an innovation framework aligned to OSE mission, idea funnel, KPIs, funding structure and board governance within the context of the scholars and families we serve and the talent and other resources delivering our mission.
• Work with OSE and HOPE leadership, stakeholders and SMEs to capture and qualify ideas for consideration for the innovation pipeline
• Manage a portfolio of ideas across all stages of maturity (from concept through operations) and execute approved innovation ideas, concepts and solutions. Oversee all financial, operational, and compliance related aspects of ideas.
• Conduct project-level diligence and competitive analysis related to innovation opportunities
• Develop strong, collaborative relationships with cross-functional internal and external teams
• Build and manage an Innovation Fund by leading prospective fundraising activities to raise funds and collaboratively making decisions on the deployment of investments into our innovation strategies.
• Be a face and voice of Open Sky Education, HOPE Christian School and any other related innovation activities.
• Be a thought leader in day-to-day problem solving that bring solutions for the future
• Build momentum by leading and informing concept updates
  
  

Community Partnerships

• Based on a deep understanding and relationships with the communities and educators we serve with, ensure all innovations are created in partnership with, contextualized for, and embedded in our local communities.
• Establish relationships and communications with stakeholders to build a strong culture and inform our plans for growth and innovation
• Build meaningful relationships with centers of influence in the community and key local connectors to talent, families, and innovators.
• Work closely with Leadership and HOPE Board members to use their talent, experience, expertise and networks to support shared vision and innovation strategies
• Work effectively with local media outlets and national communications team to elevate the organization’s presence as an educational leader
  
  

Christian Character

• Live and act as a biblical role model and Open Sky Education and HOPE Christians Schools representative in your life for our scholars, team members and community.
• Agree to comply at all times with our Code of Conduct and Statement of Faith.
• Agree to engage in the faith life of our scholars and in collaboration with other team members
  
  

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in an educational leadership/administrator role
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading an innovative program, innovation lab or dedicated incubator with a portfolio of ideas spanning multiple stages of maturity
• Both exposure and working knowledge of a range of established educational innovation practices and methodologies
• Strong ability to both assess and manage the educational and business viability of innovative concept and teams.
• Must have an excellent track record of partnering with internal and external customers and partners and new bringing ideas from concept to development
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills
• Possesses an innovation mindset -- able to adapt and evolve based on changing market conditions and growth opportunities
• Minimum bachelor’s degree, MBA preferred
• Strong proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
  
  

Personal Qualities

• A serving leader with a mindset of humility willing to do whatever it takes to ensure every scholar has an excellent education and ability to lead their team successfully.
• Demonstrates Open Sky Education’s five pillars of Loving, Learning, Leading, Lasting, and Laughing, and promotes those values through team members in our Christian organization.
• Integrity, credibility, and passionate commitment to our mission of providing a full and lasting education for all children coming from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds
• High energy, constantly aspiring to improve and grow the organization
• Embodies and promotes Christ-centered, caring, and committed organizational norms, core values, and beliefs
• Commitment to mentoring, training, and retaining a diverse team
• Keen analytic, organization and complex problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; experience in effectively building relationships and communicating at all levels
  
  

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.