Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. With over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color, we exemplify diversity, equity, and inclusion. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Job Description

As a member of Uncommon’s Product Management Team, the Product Manager will own work streams that will help ensure the Team achieves its goals and objectives. Beyond technical knowledge, the Product Manager must have strong change management, planning, and communication skills in order to manage technology and processes at Uncommon’s scale and high standard. Star team members are focused, self-driven, fast, and hold themselves and their work to a high standard.

Responsibilities:

Manage Use Cases: Deeply understand stakeholders’ goals and use cases for the platforms (i.e. respond to general questions, manage VIPs, track SLAs, coach new support staff, and understand how documents and files are stored and used by Instruction, Operation, and team like HR in support of our schools)Own Processes: Develop and manage implementation of all processes for day-to-day platform use (i.e. automations, security protocols, deletion policies, best practices for cross-team work)Own Policy & User Management: Build policy resources, including user management policy around roles, access level, and responsibilities for stakeholders and the Data & IT teamTroubleshoot: Troubleshoot & work with vendor to resolve Tier 3 issuesOwn the Product Roadmap and Maintenance Strategy: Manage system upgrades, backups, testing, connectivity with other enterprise applicationsBuild Expertise: Attend training/webinars offered by vendor to build expertise

Work with Business Process Owner(s) to understand and champion the appropriate long-term vision for the platforms [Zendesk, Qualtrics]:

Process improvement: Use robust product knowledge to improve systems and processEnhancements: Identify new areas/ways the product can be used (either internally and externally)Project Support: Support the implementation and roll-out of new applications alongside our Data & IT team colleagues

Training and documentation:

Knowledge Base: Own creation and management of all internal and school-facing Knowledge Base articles on support, troubleshooting, and best practices for the platform[s] - including home office policy and best practice documentation in the form of an intranetTraining: Develop and Facilitate TrainingSchool facing: Develop and facilitate training for school leaders, which they will turnkey to their staff Data & IT: Help define and coordinate vendor-offered training sessions at the right level for those managing the Service Desk and Relationship Managers.Process Documentation: Work with School Leaders and other Home Office Leads to document existing processes related to supported applications (e.g. documentation of methods and procedures)

Vendor Management:

Contract & Payment: Manage renewal and payment of yearly contractManage Relationship: Build relationships with vendors, act as a liaison between vendor and Uncommon on any projects, and own school-level escalations & difficult conversations.Escalations: Work with Director to manage vendor issues

Organizational Relationships:

Work closely with regionally-based Associate Chief Operating Officers, school-based Directors of Operations, other Home Office Leaders, and members of the Data and IT Team. 

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree; Master's preferred 

Experience Requirements:

5+ years of work experience (customer-focused role preferred) 3+ years in K-12 environment 1+ years supporting user provisioning based on an ERP or Active Directory1+ years managing Zendesk Ticketing System OR 2+ years managing a Ticketing System other than Zendesk2+ years managing or supporting student-facing technology Familiarity with Agile principles of product management Experience creating and managing shared knowledge sharing sites, including intranets and learning management systems (LMS)Demonstrated ability to diagnose issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutionsExcellent verbal and written communication skills, and experience developing communication plansProven ability to create and execute complex, detailed project plans affecting more than fifty stakeholdersGrowth mindset and interest in giving and receiving feedback with the goal of constantly improvingDemonstrated excellent personal effectiveness strategies (organization, time management, and follow-up skills)Willingness to perform hands-on work as well as assisting in strategic projectsAdvanced skills in Excel and Google Sheets/Forms

Travel/Schedule:

Minimum 3 days a week in our central office located in downtown ManhattanOccasional travel to other Uncommon Regions (New Jersey, Rochester, Boston) as needed to support schools.

Additional Information

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent. 

Compensation

Compensation for this role is between $95,200 to $112,000

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. If you meet all job description requirements you will likely receive an offer of $100,800. 

Benefits

19 days of paid time off3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidaysComprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans403(b) retirement savings program + employer matchPaid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefitsPre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].