Director of Project AWARE

Director of Project AWARE

Position Summary:

The Project AWARE project director is responsible for leading the planning and execution of the SAMHSA-funded Project AWARE federal grant program. The project director will be responsible for developing contracts for services, coordinate grant advisory team, and provide leadership in all facets of the OKC AWARE development and ensure alignment with Oklahoma City Public Schools’ multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework for mental health, EmbraceOKC. Oversee the AWARE grant to ensure goals are met, with all reports filed on time, and all rules are followed.

Essential Duties:

• Great Teaching & Learning (Instructional Infrastructure):
• Oversee access to and/or facilitate mental health awareness and suicide prevention training for all project staff and school personnel.
• Coordinates and supports evidence-based training programs to expand mental health literacy across participating school sites.
• Great People (Talent Management):
• Collaborate with project staff on day-to-day management of the grant program implementation.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to school-based personnel and community service providers.
• Great Culture (Systems Leaders):
• Coordinate with the grant’s required advisory team and engage formal and informal partners to effectively implement the initiative.
• Take part in regular meetings, planning groups, and related activities with community partners.
• Promote positive school climate and safety strategies by supporting trauma-informed practices and alignment with EmbraceOKC.
• Great Systems (Support & Accountability):
• Liaise with the SAMHSA project officer to ensure all grant requirements and deadlines are met.
• Develop and monitor contracts for services required under the grant program, including community-based organizations providing children’s services.
• Coordinate with the district evaluator and monitor key performance indicators and progress towards the grant program.
• Develop a strategic plan for implementation of all required grant activities and provide program leadership.
• Other tasks, duties, or services consistent with this position assigned.

Job Specifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities):

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in public administration, social work, psychology, education, school counseling or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience in project management, community-and/or education-based settings and mental health programs and services.
• Must have a working knowledge of grant coordination, community-and/or school-based mental health services and delivery and applying a three-tiered public health framework.
• Considerable knowledge and experience of children’s mental health and social service systems and best practices in K-12 and/or higher education settings is preferred.
• Ability to provide strong leadership and knowledge of project management methodology; knowledge and experience in K-12 and/or higher education settings preferred.
• Proven ability to manage tasks, resources, vendors, analyze complex concepts/ideas and assess risks.
• Ability to work on fast-paced projects of varying complexity with tight deadlines, continually adapting to changing priorities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and work collaboratively with various stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities):

• Master’s degree in public administration, social work, psychology, education, school counseling or related field.
• Preferred credential in mental health services, such as an LPC, LMSW, LCSW, or School Counseling.

Physical/Mental Requirements:

• Able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
• Exhibit manual dexterity to enter data into a computer.
• Ability to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids.
• Hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone.
• Speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors and on the telephone.
• Physical agility, able to bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach.
• Ability to lift, push, pull up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

• Frequent use of personal vehicle for travel within and outside the district to meetings with community partners, advisory board meetings, trainings, outreach and engagement events, and other community-based meetings that are needed to ensure the success of the grant.
• Office duties will be performed in a well-lighted, climate-controlled environment.
• Must maintain a consistent daily in-office presence during designated work hours and remain available to respond to school-site needs requiring in-person support.
• Must be able to work in the office each day during work hours, and be on call for in person school site needs.
• May require participation in meetings and activities outside of normal business hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Able to bend and stoop, lift 25lbs, stand and/or sit for extended periods of time.

Reports To: Executive Director of Counseling, College and Career Readiness FLSA Status: Exempt Compensation: 803 (salary determined by experience) Work Days: 242

FTE: 100

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive. The employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by the supervisor or appropriate administrator. Oklahoma City Public Schools reserves the right to, update, revise or change job duties as the need prevails. This document is for communication only and not intended to imply a written or implied contract of employment. The Board of Education and Superintendent may approve alternatives to the listed qualifications.