Edtech.com's Summary

KIPP is hiring a Director of Strategy. This role involves leading cross-functional strategic projects, coordinating planning and execution, and monitoring progress to support KIPP Texas Public Schools' multiyear plan. The Director will solve complex problems, manage stakeholders, and ensure projects meet their goals within scope and budget.

Highlights

Lead design, planning, and execution of strategic projects for KIPP Texas Public Schools.
Manage risk, progress tracking, and stakeholder engagement on cross-functional initiatives.
Report directly to the Senior Director of Strategy and collaborate with multiple departments including academics, talent, finance, and operations.
Use both qualitative and quantitative data for complex problem solving.
Develop and implement project plans and facilitate productive meetings.
Strong project management, analytical, organizational, and communication skills required.
Bachelor's degree and minimum of 5 years’ experience in project management, strategy, education, or consulting preferred.
Experience working with charter schools, non-profits, or in urban education environments is a plus.
Requires occasional travel (10-20%) to KIPP Texas locations including Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
Salary based on experience; full-time employees have access to comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and disability plans.

Director of Strategy Full Description

Company Description

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 59 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 34,000 students across Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more fair world.

Founded in Houston in 1994 and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, we are looking to hire a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. KIPP Texas is a team and family with an unwavering commitment to creating classrooms, offices, and communities rooted in belongingness, academic success and joy.

KIPP Texas is part of the national KIPP network of 255 college-preparatory public charter schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, KIPP students complete four-year college at a rate of 36 percent, comparable to the national average for all students.

Job Description

ROLE OVERVIEW:

Team Purpose: The Strategy Team, a sub-team under the broader Chief of Staff Team, exists to collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders, clarify ambiguity in internal and external opportunities, and create solutions to support the current and future state of the organization. The Team is directly responsible for the planning, execution, and progress monitoring of the KIPP Texas multiyear plan.

The Director of Strategy will directly report to the Senior Director of Strategy. The Director will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the design and scoping, planning, execution, and progress monitoring of cross-functional strategic projects identified as priorities for KIPP Texas. While strong project management skills are a necessity in this role, the successful candidate will also be a proven problem solver who can leverage impact and influence to find clarity in complex and gray situations.

Projects belonging to this project portfolio include, but are not limited to: assessing strategic initiatives and interventions based on organizational health and competitive landscape, collaborating with cross-functional partners to enhance and support planning and execution, codifying cross-functional playbooks and policies, and shepherding the KIPP Texas multiyear plan creation, execution, and progress monitoring.

This position may be based out of the Austin, Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio offices. Some travel may be required.

Key Responsibilities

Complex Problem Solving: Balance a data-driven, analytical, and rational problem solving skill set with the understanding that people and relationships matter (leading with both head and heart). Utilize both qualitative and quantitative data synthesis to formulate recommended solutions on the right path forward. Engage in innovative thought to solve complex problems the organization faces. Demonstrate an adaptive mindset with an ability to concurrently see the big picture while focusing on the details (can see the forest for the trees).
Project Design and Planning: Collaborate with project sponsors to identify the objectives, scope, budget, and timeline for the project. Facilitate robust discussion around what is possible given the existing constraints and set clear goals and project limits. Create and manage robust project plans as needed to ensure project success. Create and implement a cycle of focused, productive meetings to drive the project from kick-off to completion.
Risk Mitigation: Identify, analyze, and respond to risk factors throughout the life of the strategic project and in the best interests of its objectives. Elevate concerns, challenges, and roadblocks appropriately, and utilize impact and influence with stakeholders and leaders in recommending and implementing action plans to ensure effective and timely mitigation of issues.
Progress Monitoring: Create, revise, and maintain the systems to monitor progress throughout the life of the strategic project, including cross-functional processes as necessary. Ensure that all assigned projects are completed on time, within scope and budget, and that project goals are achieved.
Stakeholder Management: Identify all key stakeholders of the strategic project and create an engagement and/or change management plan that engages stakeholders at the right level and right time, including: developing agendas and facilitating cross-functional work group/project team meetings, engaging senior leaders across the network, and drafting communications to the Board and other high-level stakeholders. Intentionally build buy-in and gather feedback on the project when appropriate. Build influence across KIPP Texas to ensure project success.
Team Culture: Contribute to Chief of Staff Team culture through authentic engagement and participation in meetings and retreats. Participate actively in development opportunities and lead sessions for the team as asked and/or interested. Give honest, constructive feedback via established feedback mechanisms (e.g., staff surveys) to ensure the continued improvement of the team and the organization. Seek to work by the values of the organization and to act in alignment with the Chief of Staff Team’s community agreements. Represent the Chief of Staff Team responsibly to other stakeholders within and outside the organization.

Qualifications

Required Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university.
Minimum of 5 years of work experience in a project management, strategy, education, or consulting-type role preferred.

Skills and Qualifications:

Demonstrated ability to have impact and influence across multiple functional areas (e.g., academics, talent, finance, operations, etc.).
Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative.
Experience fostering strong working relationships with critical stakeholders
Excellent analytical, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.
Excellent organizational and planning skills.
Excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
Strong stakeholder management and service-orientation.
Self-directed and results-oriented, demonstrating proactivity and follow-through.
Experience with charter or charter-like schools, non-profit strategy, non-profit consulting, and/or with students in low-income urban environments is preferred, not required.
Ability to model KIPP’s values at all times.

Required Licensure/Certification/Specialized Training:

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer/laptop
Attending conferences or training sessions

Work Environment:

Typical office environment with frequent interruptions. Hybrid policy requires three days in office per week.
This role can be based in the following locations with KIPP Texas Public Schools: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio

Travel Requirements:

Ability to travel to various locations, travel time approximately 10-20% of the time

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is based on years of experience, degree of education, and level of expertise.

As a full-time KIPP Texas employee you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Texas’ benefit plans. KIPP Texas offers a robust variety of benefits choices with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, life insurance, fertility, and disability plans starting as low as $25/month.

KIPP provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Original Job Description

Company Description

Job Description

ROLE OVERVIEW:

This position may be based out of the Austin, Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio offices. Some travel may be required.

Key Responsibilities

Complex Problem Solving: Balance a data-driven, analytical, and rational problem solving skill set with the understanding that people and relationships matter (leading with both head and heart). Utilize both qualitative and quantitative data synthesis to formulate recommended solutions on the right path forward. Engage in innovative thought to solve complex problems the organization faces. Demonstrate an adaptive mindset with an ability to concurrently see the big picture while focusing on the details (can see the forest for the trees).
Project Design and Planning: Collaborate with project sponsors to identify the objectives, scope, budget, and timeline for the project. Facilitate robust discussion around what is possible given the existing constraints and set clear goals and project limits. Create and manage robust project plans as needed to ensure project success. Create and implement a cycle of focused, productive meetings to drive the project from kick-off to completion.
Risk Mitigation: Identify, analyze, and respond to risk factors throughout the life of the strategic project and in the best interests of its objectives. Elevate concerns, challenges, and roadblocks appropriately, and utilize impact and influence with stakeholders and leaders in recommending and implementing action plans to ensure effective and timely mitigation of issues.
Progress Monitoring: Create, revise, and maintain the systems to monitor progress throughout the life of the strategic project, including cross-functional processes as necessary. Ensure that all assigned projects are completed on time, within scope and budget, and that project goals are achieved.
Stakeholder Management: Identify all key stakeholders of the strategic project and create an engagement and/or change management plan that engages stakeholders at the right level and right time, including: developing agendas and facilitating cross-functional work group/project team meetings, engaging senior leaders across the network, and drafting communications to the Board and other high-level stakeholders. Intentionally build buy-in and gather feedback on the project when appropriate. Build influence across KIPP Texas to ensure project success.
Team Culture: Contribute to Chief of Staff Team culture through authentic engagement and participation in meetings and retreats. Participate actively in development opportunities and lead sessions for the team as asked and/or interested. Give honest, constructive feedback via established feedback mechanisms (e.g., staff surveys) to ensure the continued improvement of the team and the organization. Seek to work by the values of the organization and to act in alignment with the Chief of Staff Team’s community agreements. Represent the Chief of Staff Team responsibly to other stakeholders within and outside the organization.

Qualifications

Required Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university.
Minimum of 5 years of work experience in a project management, strategy, education, or consulting-type role preferred.

Skills and Qualifications:

Demonstrated ability to have impact and influence across multiple functional areas (e.g., academics, talent, finance, operations, etc.).
Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative.
Experience fostering strong working relationships with critical stakeholders
Excellent analytical, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.
Excellent organizational and planning skills.
Excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
Strong stakeholder management and service-orientation.
Self-directed and results-oriented, demonstrating proactivity and follow-through.
Experience with charter or charter-like schools, non-profit strategy, non-profit consulting, and/or with students in low-income urban environments is preferred, not required.
Ability to model KIPP’s values at all times.

Required Licensure/Certification/Specialized Training:

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer/laptop
Attending conferences or training sessions

Work Environment:

Typical office environment with frequent interruptions. Hybrid policy requires three days in office per week.
This role can be based in the following locations with KIPP Texas Public Schools: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio

Travel Requirements:

Ability to travel to various locations, travel time approximately 10-20% of the time

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is based on years of experience, degree of education, and level of expertise.

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Director of Strategy

Edtech.com's Summary

Director of Strategy Full Description

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