Senior Associate, Special Services

Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.

The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.

Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.

We are looking for an organized and proactive Senior Associate to join our Special Services team.

The Senior Associate, Special Services is a critical operational backbone of the Team Special Services (TSS). This role ensures that special education data is accurate, current, and acted upon so that school-based Special Services Leaders (SSLs) across our network have the information and resources they need to serve students with disabilities effectively. From maintaining compliance systems to coordinating team communications, planning professional development, and supporting related services recruitment in New York, this role touches nearly every function within TSS.

Reporting directly to the Associate Chief of Special Services you will be responsible for:

• Compile a bi-weekly SPATA Lite and a 5x-per-year SPATA Report to track and audit special education data in Infinite Campus across the network.
• Train every SSL in the network on the Special Services module in Infinite Campus; troubleshoot system issues as they arise.
• Manage all data related to the Empower ID and Anchor ID process, and support the Special Education census in Rhode Island.
• Build and manage CT SPED billing tools, restraint and seclusion reporting systems, caseload trackers, IEP trackers, and misalignment data trackers.
• Partner with TSS Regional Directors to develop compliance tools and systems throughout the year; respond to ad hoc data requests from other teams (compliance, renewals, grants, etc.).

• Coordinate planning and event operations for TSS professional development days; manage and preserve all PD materials.
• Create and maintain TSS Comprehensive Calendars and ensure SSLs across the network have clear, timely information.

• Own the weekly Team Special Services newsletter and manage overall team communication and meeting logistics.
• Manage the TSS dashboard and identify trends in special education achievement data.
• Manage TSS credit card invoices and shared administrative operations.

• Compile projected mandate numbers for related services providers in New York.
• Coordinate with Deans of Special Services to identify roles to be filled and manage related services provider interviews; serve as a point of contact for hiring with the NY DOE’s Office of Related Services.

• Build and maintain Homeroom (Many Minds) pages so SSLs can easily access PD materials, templates, and important documents; develop a library of exemplar materials from across the network.
• Maintain and improve TSS and SSL Google Drives so shared resources are organized and up to date.

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.S., or equivalent) required.
• Prior experience creating and managing a project plan with multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly among diverse stakeholder groups.
• Exceptional organizational skills and prior experience providing timely information and results in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently and be self-directed within a team environment.
• Experience in K–12 education or special education operations is a plus.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Google Suite.
• Strong data analytics skills and comfort working with large, complex datasets.
• Ability to navigate special education data systems including Infinite Campus, ERide, SESIS, TIENET, IEP Direct, and EDSight.
• Strong written communication skills; able to produce clear newsletters, reports, and internal materials.
• Ability to anticipate the needs of internal partners and develop creative, durable solutions.

This is a hybrid role. The expectation is that the person in the role is able to come into the Network Support office (NYC, CT, or RI) at least 3 days a week. There may be additional travel to regions outside of your own on a monthly basis.