Director of Board Initiatives, Cleveland Board of Education

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

4d•$77,158 - $104,164•Onsite

About The Position

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is hiring a Director of Board Initiatives to support the nine-member Cleveland Board of Education. Reporting directly to the Board Chair, the Director will serve as a strategic partner to Board members and the Board’s primary liaison with District leadership, City of Cleveland partners, and community stakeholders. The role supports the Board’s Student Outcomes-Focused Governance approach and its Building Brighter Futures initiative, helping turn Board priorities into action and strengthen how the Board governs. This is a new builder role on a small Board Office team. The Director will create and document systems, routines, and processes that support efficient, sustainable Board operations, including tracking and responding to Board questions, governance calendars, records management, and new-member onboarding. The Director will support Board oversight, meeting and committee administration, communications, stakeholder engagement, and governance compliance. The role does not include authority to direct or supervise District staff, make policy decisions, or act independently on behalf of the Board without authorization. The position is based at CMSD’s central office in Cleveland and is primarily in person, with limited telework consistent with District policy. It reports to the Chair of the Cleveland Board of Education, is classified as exempt, and has a salary range of $77,158 to $104,164. Evening Board meetings and events are required as needed; the Board meets twice monthly. Occasional travel for conferences, training, and external engagements is expected. CMSD offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in public sector administration, governance, public policy, education, or a related field.
Track record of building systems and processes from scratch in a complex organization.
Working knowledge of public sector governance, Open Meetings laws, and policy development, or ability to learn them quickly.
Exceptional writing skills, including drafting communications and statements for senior leaders.
Experience managing budgets.
Exceptional organization and project management, reliable follow-through, and ability to close loops and complete work independently.
Professionalism and sound judgment when handling sensitive and confidential information.
Presence and judgment to engage senior District and City leaders as a peer and deliver messages on the Board’s behalf.
Political astuteness and ability to anticipate legal, political, and communications risks.
Ability to seek feedback and adapt to the Board’s priorities and voice.
Ability to build trust with elected officials, attorneys, staff, and community stakeholders.
Ability to attend evening Board meetings and events as required.
Ability to travel occasionally for Board conferences, training, and external engagements.
Ability to move, walk, and stand consistently in an office environment and occasionally lift 15 pounds.
Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear; close, color, and depth vision and ability to adjust focus are also required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or JD in public administration, public policy, education, law, business, or a related field.
Experience working with boards, elected or appointed officials, or public sector governance.
K-12 public education experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic partner and trusted resource to the full Board, helping members stay informed, aligned, and focused on Board-adopted goals.
Report to the Board Chair, meet weekly to set priorities, and independently carry plans forward.
Attend District senior leadership and other leadership meetings on the Board’s behalf and ensure Board priorities are understood and acted upon.
Represent Board goals and interests within the District and with external stakeholders, and speak on behalf of the Board within parameters set by the Board Chair.
Anticipate needs, identify issues early, and recommend solutions.
Liaise among Board members, the Board Chair, the Board Attorney, and District leadership on governance matters.
Coordinate with District staff to prepare briefing materials for public monitoring sessions and support monitoring of Board-adopted goals.
Track Board questions and requests about agendas, reports, and data; establish response timelines and ensure answers reach the Board.
Coordinate data and updates from District monitoring processes to support Board oversight.
Collaborate with the Board Chair and Board Attorney on agendas, briefing materials, policy documentation, and compliance documentation.
Design and lead Board member orientation, onboarding, and development, coordinating legal requirements with the Board Attorney.
Plan and support Board meetings, work sessions, and retreats, including logistics, agendas, packets, minutes, and public posting.
Coordinate meetings among Board members and with the Board Chair, including scheduling, agendas, notes, and follow-up actions.
Support ad hoc Board committees and attend external Audit Committee meetings as needed.
Build and document Board Office systems, including meeting workflows, request tracking, governance calendars, and records management.
Manage the Board Office budget and approve and track expenditures within budget constraints.
Maintain governance records and planning calendars, including term schedules, conflict disclosures, and policy reviews.
Manage Board conference attendance, travel, recognitions, and other Board-related events and official functions.
Coordinate communication and information flow between the Board, District leadership, and stakeholders, including regular informational updates to Board members.
Connect Board, District, and City of Cleveland staff to handle requests efficiently and work with City staff on matters involving the Board.
Ensure the Board’s legal and governance considerations are reflected in joint plans and public communications.
Draft and edit statements, media responses, and Board communications in collaboration with the District’s Division of External Affairs.
Serve as a contact and spokesperson for Board-related inquiries from constituents, community partners, and stakeholders; manage emails and constituent requests.
Identify external and stakeholder meetings where Board representation is needed and coordinate engagement on the Board’s behalf.
Support compliance with Open Meetings laws, records retention, public records requests, conflict-of-interest procedures, and other governance requirements.
Serve as an internal resource on Board policies, bylaws, meeting protocols, and oversight processes.
Coordinate legal reviews with the Board Attorney and support governance compliance in closed and open meeting contexts.