Senior Director, Office of School Modernization - 1.0 FTE - Prophet Center

PPS strongly encourages and recommends everyone who is able, to be vaccinated and remain current on the COVID-19 vaccine.

This job is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received. Portland Public Schools reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any point during the posting period.

Portland Public Schools (PPS) is seeking talented people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to lead change and inspire PPS students. At PPS, every employee, despite having different roles, is an educator. We hope to attract talented educators who model the core PPS Educator Essentials. With the District’s focus on eliminating systemic racism and its adverse impact on student learning, we seek to hire individuals who bring to our district a deep commitment to racial equity and social justice.

The District is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all its educational and employment activities. The District prohibits discrimination based on perceived or actual race; national or ethnic origin; color; sex; religion; age; sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; veteran’s status; familial status; economic status or source of income; mental or physical disability or perceived disability; or military service.

504 Coordinator: Katie Loewen, kloewen@pps.net, 503-916-3337 x63337
ADA Coordinator: Jey Buno, jbuno@pps.net, 503-916-3360
Director of Civil Rights: Dr. Bobby Cruz, bcruz@pps.net, 503-839-3660

Accessibility Statement

Basic Function:
Under administrative direction, the Senior Director of the Office of School Modernization provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the District’s capital construction bond program. The Senior Director is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, equitable, and community-trusted modernization projects by aligning technical excellence with transparent, collaborative, and empowering leadership practices.
This position assumes responsibility and accountability for the successful implementation of complex plans, schedules, and budgets across multiple projects, while supporting the operational systems that sustain them. The Senior Director ensures that inputs from architects, engineers, planners, and other professionals are accurate, integrated, and aligned with the District’s goals—balancing innovation with accountability to achieve consistent, community-centered outcomes.

Representative Duties:
The classification specification does not describe all duties performed by all incumbents within the class. This summary provides examples of typical tasks performed in this classification.

• Provide executive oversight, strategic direction, performance monitoring, and contract management of a program management firm responsible for delivering the District’s multi-billion-dollar school bond program, including rebuilding comprehensive urban high schools; ensure program alignment with District goals, Oregon and Pacific Northwest standards, and community commitments; deliver projects that meet scope, schedule, budget, quality, and equity objectives while ensuring accountability and transparency. “E”
  Assist with the development and execution of voter-approved capital programs that advance student success through teaching, learning, equity, inclusion, and operational efficiency. “E”
• Direct implementation of the District’s capital construction bond program, ensuring adherence to scope, quality, budget, schedule, and communications objectives; establish and monitor operational metrics and project benchmarks. “E”
• Proactively identify, mitigate, and manage financial, operational, contractual, and reputational risks associated with large-scale capital investments “E”
• Oversee coordination of program management, Construction Manager / General Contractor (CM/GC), architecture, and other consultants according to district policies and project requirements. “E”
• Direct the development of timelines and critical path schedules, including phased construction to minimize disruption of school operations; provide accurate, timely budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. “E”
• Ensure compliance with District contracting policies and procedures for all assigned projects, as well as enforcement of contract provisions. “E”
• Exercise proactive management of project scope, quality, schedules, and budget; recommend options and strategies to resolve budgetary shortfalls.. “E”
• Review and coordinate project designs and specifications; engage stakeholders, professional and technical experts, and community representatives to address differing perspectives and project challenges. “E”
• Participate in planning meetings with design professionals, district stakeholders, community representatives, and governing agencies. “E”
• Oversee certification of consultant and contractor payment requests, change order requests, requests for information, and all project processes necessary for quality assurance and compliance with district policy.
• Collaborate with the Communications Department to ensure clear and consistent communication of project updates across platforms. “E”
• Prepare and edit reports and presentations for the School Board, Superintendent, Bond Accountability Committee, and others; attend Board meetings and present updates on bond program performance and issues. “E”
• Coordinate design, construction, commissioning, occupancy, and warranty processes with District stakeholders “E”
• Compile, analyze, and present complex technical and financial information to support leadership decision-making regarding school modernization and capital improvement programs. “E”
• Advance the District’s Equity Initiative by demonstrating knowledge and application of the Racial Educational Equity Policy and related board policies; participate in equity-focused training; model inclusive practices; and recommend improvements to school and business operations with awareness of impacts in a diverse community. “E”
• Ensure timely and complete contractual and financial closeout for projects; participate in the development of future Bond capital programs. “E”
• Oversee development and update of capital program policies, procedures, and manuals. “E”
• Supervise assigned staff; participate in hiring, training, evaluation, and performance management, and make recommendations on personnel actions. “E”
• Represent the District in meetings, hearings, workshops, conferences, and professional activities. “E”
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Note: At the end of some of the duty statements, there is an italicized “E”, which identifies essential duties required of the classification. This is strictly for use in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Distinguishing Characteristics of the Class:

• The Senior Director – School Modernization provides day-to-day operational leadership over programs, projects, and staff engaged in the planning, design, construction, and modernization of District schools funded by voter-approved school modernization bonds. This position serves as a key leader in advancing the District’s mission by ensuring that capital improvement projects are delivered with efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and quality.
• The Senior Director distinguishes this class by its broad scope of authority and accountability for the performance of large-scale, complex, and highly visible capital programs. This role requires balancing technical expertise with collaborative leadership, transparent decision-making, and consistent communication with diverse stakeholders, including students, families, staff, community members, and oversight bodies. Through this work, the Senior Director strengthens public trust, supports the PPS community, and ensures the successful completion of projects that create safe, modern, and equitable learning environments.

Employment Standards:

Knowledge of:

• Public contracting procedures for large public agencies.
• K-12 school building design and construction systems.
• Pacific Northwest, Oregon, City of Portland, and PPS dynamics, construction, and permitting standards.
• Trends, approaches, and problem-solving techniques used in design, construction, inspection, and compliance processes.
• Techniques, equipment, and materials used in public works construction.
• Technical fluency across planning, design, and construction disciplines.
• Project management governance techniques and related software.
• Laws governing bond-funded public agency capital projects.
• The ethnic, cultural, geographic, and socio-economic diversity of the populations served by the District.
• Written and public communication skills.
• Risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies for complex, multi-phase construction and capital programs.
• Qualities of judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• People and process management skills, including coaching-based leadership practices, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
• Financial management, budgeting, and forecasting practices.
• Political, community, and operational context of K-12 modernization projects in urban settings.
• District organization, operations, policies, and objectives.
• Elements of effective management and supervision.

Ability to:

• Design, implement, monitor, and evaluate department programs, policies, and procedures in compliance with relevant legislation and funding guidelines
• Provide strategic and executive leadership and oversight of contracted program management firms to ensure alignment with district goals, standards, and performance expectations.
• Analyze and manage program risk, applying sound judgment and foresight to anticipate and mitigate schedule, cost, and compliance challenges.
• Conduct research, analyze data, and prepare recommendations for program development or modification.
• Interpret, explain, and apply complex rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Plan, organize, assign, coordinate, review, and evaluate the work of professional, technical, consultant, and administrative support staff.
• Prepare, administer, and monitor a project budget and anticipate future budgetary needs.
• Interpret and apply complex rules, regulations, laws, and ordinances.
• Provide assistance and leadership on all aspects of assigned projects.
• Analyze technical design engineering, construction engineering, and surveying problems.
• Evaluate alternative project approaches and adopt effective solutions.
• Prepare accurate and detailed written material, including staff and administrative reports.
• Manage budgets and audits.
• Review and negotiate agreements and contracts.
• Actively participate as a member of a highly dedicated and professional team.
• Exercise sound professional judgment to evaluate risk exposure and recommend mitigation strategies that safeguard public funds and district reputation.
• Work with and engage a variety of stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Develop effective communication strategies for a diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multilingual population.
• Demonstrate the highest levels of professional conduct, including but not limited to integrity, honesty, confidentiality, and equity.
• Build and maintain effective, trust-based relationships with internal teams, consultants, and contractors.
• Work on multiple projects at one time with constantly changing priorities and deadlines.
• Lead with transparency, collaboration, and decisiveness.
• Communicate a culture of equity and inclusion.
• Advocate, model, implement, and communicate Portland Public Schools’ Racial Educational Equity Initiative and board policies.
• Learn and implement the PPS Equity in Public Purchasing and Contracting board policy.
• Act judiciously under pressure.
• Model ethical behavior and communicate high expectations of ethical behavior to others.
• Operate a variety of office machines, technologies, and software.
• Manage and supervise assigned staff and operations.

Education and Training:
A Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, construction management or a related field is required. An MBA or Master’s degree in one of these disciplines is preferred.

Experience:
A minimum of seven (7) years of experience managing large capital construction programs, budgets, and staff is required. Experience working in a school district, municipality, or other public agency in a richly diverse community is preferred.

Special Requirements:

• Positions in this classification require the use of a personal automobile and possession of a valid driver’s license.
• Positions in this classification require variable work hours, including on-call, evenings, and weekends.

Working Conditions:

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Persons with certain disabilities may be capable of performing the essential duties of this class with or without reasonable accommodation, depending on the nature of the disability.

Work Environment: Office and construction site environment; driving a vehicle to conduct work; occasional evening, weekend, and variable hours.
Hazards: Exposure to hazardous conditions, equipment, substances, and materials found at construction sites; potential conflict situations.
Physical Demands: Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard; hearing and speaking to exchange information and make presentations; sitting for extended periods of time; walking over rough and uneven surfaces; climbing ladders, stairs, scaffolding and ramps to inspect construction sites; emotional stability to work effectively under pressure and to keep all aspects of the job under control; hearing and speaking to exchange information in person or on the telephone; seeing to read, inspect construction sites, identify potential work site hazards, prepare and assure the accuracy of documents.
Remote Work: Ad hoc.

Salary Grade: SL150, $174,070 - $186,621

Portland Public Schools (PPS) offers several competitive and comprehensive benefit packages to employees. Fringe benefits include medical, dental, vision, prescription, life and disability insurance, employee assistance program, 403(b) retirement savings plan and various leave and professional development programs. Depending on the insurance option selected by the employee, there may be an employee contribution toward insurance.

Portland Public Schools is a public employer and participates in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP). Eligible employees are required by statute to contribute 6% of salary on a pre-tax basis to OPSRP/IAP, after serving six months under a PERS employer.

For more information about additional benefits or compensation options by employee group, please visit our website at: https://www.pps.net/Page/1635