Job Description
Job Type Full-time Description WHO WE ARE In 2020, 11.6 million children in the U.S.—16% of all children nationwide—lived in poverty, and those children were disproportionately children of color. Students living in poverty often have physical and mental health, social-emotional, cognitive, and identity development needs that schools are not equipped to support. Rooted in community for more than 45 years, Communities In Schools (CIS) strives to bring community resources inside public schools, where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable. CIS Co-Founder Bill Milliken said, “It’s relationships, not programs, that transform children. A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children.” Bill Milliken’s vision is alive through a strong network of trained CIS staff imbedded in schools nationwide building support and relationships inside schools. Today, CIS serves more than 3,500 schools, the overwhelming majority are Title I-eligible schools across two channels: (1) independent affiliates and (2) licensed partnerships. Grounded in the power of transformative relationships to unlock a young person’s potential, CIS has a national, research-based history of delivering local results that support improved student relationships with adults, better-quality relationships with peers, and increased engagement and sense of belonging. These outcomes lead to improved attendance, improved academic success, and improved on-time high school graduation rates. MISSION AND VALUES Communities In Schools (CIS) is “all-in” for kids. It is our passion—it is our mission. At the National Office, CIS collaborates with local affiliate organizations to provide resources and create communities of caring adults who work hand-in-hand with educators to make sure young people have the tools they need to stay in school and achieve in life. We are the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, and we achieve our mission by hiring bright, creative, and innovative team members who demonstrate a passion for what they do. ‘Within the national office, we foster a culture inspired by our mission, our values of integrity, accountability, equity, collaboration, and excellence, and a commitment to Equity, and Inclusion. Our culture is centered on three core tenants: We acknowledge contributions and perspectives. We collaborate across roles and departments. We honor a whole-person approach and encourage balance. We aim to create a psychologically safe environment where relationships matter, and mutual respect is paramount. About The Role Are you ready to be the go-to person who keeps our office running smoothly, our hybrid workplace welcoming, and our HR operations on track—all while bringing positive energy, independence, and a “I’ve got this” attitude? This hybrid role includes commuting weekly to our Arlington, VA office (2 days onsite / 3 days remote) from within the DMV area . The Sr. Specialist, Office Administration & HR Operations, is responsible for delivering reliable, high-quality office, facilities, and HR operational support that enables the efficient functioning of the CIS National Office and a positive employee experience across on-site, hybrid, and remote environments. This role serves as a trusted senior operational resource, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and responsiveness across office administration, HR systems, and employee lifecycle processes. The Sr. Specialist, Office Administration & HR Operations acts as a primary administrator for HR systems and documentation, supports payroll and benefits coordination, maintains workforce data and organizational charts, and contributes to compliance, audit readiness, and continuous process improvement. In addition, the role provides administrative and operational support to the VP, Human Resources and HR team members, including the development and preparation of presentations, reports, and visual materials for leadership, board facing, and internal audiences. This position requires strong attention to detail, technical proficiency, sound judgment, and discretion when handling confidential information. Sr. Specialist, Office Administration & HR Operations works collaboratively with internal stakeholders and external partners to maintain accurate systems, well documented processes, and a safe, efficient, and welcoming office environment. Primary Duties & Responsibilities Office & Facilities Management (50%) Oversee day to day office operations to ensure a safe, efficient, and welcoming work environment for on-site, hybrid, and remote employees. Serve as a primary point of contact for office and facilities related inquiries, ensuring