Philosophy

Phoenix Charter Academy's mission is to challenge teenagers in our area with an academically rigorous and individually tailored curriculum. Talented students who have not succeeded in other schools will have the support, resources and training needed at PCA to succeed academically in high school and college, and become economically secure in their future. Phoenix Charter Academy is named after a mythological figure of strength, healing and renewal.

Phoenix schools challenge resilient, disconnected students with rigorous academics and relentless supports, so they take ownership of their futures and succeed in high school, college, and as self-sufficient adults.

Role Summary

The Front Office Manager works under the guidance of the School Director of Operations, and supports school operations, academics, and culture through prompt and thorough handling of administrative and clerical tasks during the course of the school day and year.

The Front Office Manager serves as the initial point of contact for all school visitors and is an important liaison responsible for communication between families and other members of the local community, administration, and staff.  

The ideal candidate for this position possesses excellent communication skills (verbal and written, ability to speak more than one language, professional), strong organizational and time-management skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, school environment.  

Commitments

It is a given that all of the faculty work very, very hard. All staff acknowledge that we will do more than just work hard; we each seek – through formal and informal feedback – to dramatically improve our own progress and that of our students.  At PCA, an ongoing quest for leadership improvement is not considered remedial; it is essential and ongoing for all staff.

Qualities of a Phoenix staff member:

• Unwavering Belief in Phoenix Scholars - Phoenix staff operate with the deeply held belief that all young people want to and can succeed even in the face of what can seem like insurmountable barriers and societal constraints.
• Ability to Put Scholars First - Phoenix staff go above and beyond to ensure student mastery of the skills and development of positive self-identity that will ensure success for college, careers and beyond.  Phoenix staff find every opportunity to engage in teaching and learning with scholars, using conflict to build supportive relationships with scholars and never taking things personally.
• Eager to Learn Under Pressure - Phoenix staff must be able to learn as they go in a fast paced, ever evolving, urgent environment. They have the desire to receive direct feedback and the ability to implement the feedback into practice quickly.
• Humility - Phoenix staff approach problem solving with curiosity and desire to understand the perspectives of others.  They carry an internalized sense of “I can always learn more”  from others, and know that adults at Phoenix must model the qualities of being open-minded and willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
• Experience with Low Income Communities -  Staff have the proven ability to work across cultures and experience serving low-income communities and/or academically-disconnected adolescents.  
• Ability to Find Inspiration In the Small Things - In the face of challenge and hard work,  Phoenix staff must have the ability to find humor, inspiration, success and joy in the day to day interactions with scholars and the larger Phoenix Community.
• Personal Commitment to Cultural Proficiency and Ongoing Development - Phoenix staff are ongoing learners about diversity, equity and inclusion and seek to understand the ways that their self-identity and experiences impacts and interacts with their daily work, colleagues and scholars.

Specific Responsibilities

Internal and External Communication

• Answer the front office phone, take messages, and transfer incoming calls to the appropriate staff member.
• Oversee the work of those covering reception or the Front Office Manager’s work.
• Welcome guests and make sure they follow proper guest protocol (signing in/out, name tags, etc.).
• Greet and assist students in the front office, including arrivals, dismissals, dress code checks, lockers, student IDs, bus passes, and other student needs.
• Manage attendance, ensuring that teachers took attendance, attendance in Powerschool is properly updated, attendance lists go out accurately and timely, attendance calls are made, and any other attendance actions are taken
• Collaborate with the Director of School Culture to manage all adult supporter communication, ensuring that teachers, members, and non-teaching staff are in regular contact with adult supporters.
• Support family engagement initiatives as necessary.

Office and School Management

• Manage all incoming and outgoing school mail and faxes, ensuring that mail/faxes gets to the appropriate staff member.
• Coordinate all student record-keeping and filing needs.
• Assist students with non-instructional needs including, lockers, student IDS, and bus issues.
• Maintain an orderly and efficient front office that is a pleasant space for family members and other visitors to the school.
• Oversee Members running the Student Ambassador Program.
• File and submit invoices to Operations and CMO team
• Update and maintain all school calendar.
• As directed by the Operations Team, order supplies for school (including but not limited to: uniforms, books, instructional material, food / snack, feather purchases).
• Manage daily lunch orders and processing.
• Conduct daily building walk through to ensure facilities are speaking the Phoenix mission, and the school is presented in a way that reflects the culture of high achievement.
• In collaboration with the Operations Team, maintain the scheduling and calendars of the common meeting spaces in the school.

Head of School Support

• Assist the Head of School with schedule troubleshooting, planning visits to the school, etc.
• Complete projects as directed by the Head of School, and Leadership Team.
• Support the Head of School with their calendar and scheduling.

School and Staff Culture

• In collaboration with Leadership Team, plan events for students and families that support culture.
• Internalize mission and make it central to all decisions and actions.
• Keep a record and update student feather bank.
• Create a positive, safe, and professional learning environment for all students.
• Create personal, warm relationships with all students, always holding hope for them.
• Acknowledge positive student behavior or achievement and reward students.
• Communicate regularly with parents/adult supporters through phone calls, email correspondence, and/or in-person meetings.
• Support the Director of School Culture and the Student Support Team with phone calls, adult support meetings, and community outreach.

Other Skills

• Bilingual candidate required - Spanish/English preferred
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining flexibility
• History of demonstrated strong work ethic

**It is understood that this Job Description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the position. It is not intended to be a complete and total description of each and every duty and responsibility. As such, this job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor.

It is also understood that the Network retains the right to modify this Job Description at any time, for any reason, at the Network’s sole discretion**

We seek a diverse workforce. Phoenix Charter Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to providing equal opportunity to staff and applicants in all areas of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, or any other area protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodation necessary to support an individual's employment.