KIPP NYC
Job Description
Position Overview:
The
Chief Schools Officer (CSO)
is KIPP NYC’s quarterback and force-multiplier – responsible for driving school performance, supporting a rigorous, joyful culture for both staff and students, developing exceptional leaders, and ensuring organizational coherence across 18 schools serving nearly 10,000 students.
The CSO leads a team of Managing Directors of Schools and other senior leaders to ensure every KIPP NYC school is a place where excellent teaching, strong leadership, and joyful learning thrive every day.
This leader will guide school management across a complex, high-performing network that includes a multi-campus high school serving more than 2,600 students and multiple governing boards. The CSO will build coherence across schools, invest in principals, strengthen leadership pipelines, and ensure that systems, supports, and culture are aligned to deliver exceptional outcomes for students.
This is a pivotal moment for KIPP NYC. With strong academic foundations, a highly tenured staff, and an evolving leadership team, the CSO will inherit a thriving yet complex system poised to reach the next level of excellence and equity.
The right leader will bring the discipline of a systems builder, the empathy of a leadership coach, and the commitment of a servant leader. Their values will require them to center students and families first, holding themselves and KIPP NYC to an uncompromising standard of excellence. This leader sees challenge and opportunity as one and the same, and will help KIPP NYC elevate its legacy while laying the groundwork for its next decade of impact.
Reporting Structure & Location
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a core member and fulcrum of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the CSO will join a team of experienced executives who prioritize collaboration; value vulnerability, humility, and direct feedback; and view themselves as collectively responsible for the organization’s talent, culture, long‑term organizational health, results, and broader impact. The SLT prides itself on holding the nuance and complexity of leading a large organization at scale, while understanding the importance of proximity to change leadership. Recognizing the centrality of their role, this leader partners effortlessly and instinctively to build alignment from vision to execution at scale. This is a full‑time, in‑person role based in New York City.
Specific Responsibilities Include
School Leadership & Management
Lead the Managing Directors of Schools and Principals to deliver strong academic, cultural, operational, and equity outcomes across all campuses.
Provide clear vision, coaching, and accountability for systems and school leaders, ensuring alignment with network goals and values.
Build systems of support and performance management that promote continuous improvement, collaboration, and excellence.
Balance the complexity of systems leadership at scale with the proximate needs of schools, by frequently and rapidly changing altitude from individual classrooms to organizational data and decision‑making.
Organizational Systems & Change Management
Strategize to embed KIPP NYC’s Graduate Aims as a measurable north star of student success.
Strengthen organizational systems for decision‑making, communication, and accountability, ensuring KIPP NYC’s structures promote clarity, consistency, and effective execution across schools.
Ensure consistent, equitable application of systems across schools while respecting the unique contexts of individual campuses and communities.
Build cross‑functional alignment with Academics, Talent, Operations, and Finance to ensure schools are fully supported to focus on ambitious outcomes.
Lead change with transparency and empathy, helping teams adapt to evolving structures and expectations.
Collaboration & Strategic Leadership
Work in close partnership with the CEO to align school performance and management with KIPP NYC’s long‑term vision for elevating student and community power.
Partner closely with the Chief Academic Officer to co‑lead academic systems, professional development, and academic performance management.
Collaborate with other senior leaders to integrate academics, equity, talent, and operations into a coherent strategy for school success.
Serve as a visible ambassador for KIPP NYC in schools, community forums, and board meetings.
Provide strategic counsel to the Senior Leadership Team on network health, leadership pipelines, and school performance.
Talent Development & Culture
Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional school leaders, building pathways for Principal and Managing Director growth.
Invest in adult culture by modeling trust, collaboration, and open communication across teams.
Promote leadership behaviors that create healthy, high‑performing teams and a culture of joy and accountability.
Build the capacity of Managing Directors to be strong managers of people and stewards of culture.
Key Priorities in the First 12‑18 Months
The first chapter of this leader’s tenure will focus on trust‑building, alignment, and systems design while tackling critical priorities that will shape the next era of KIPP NYC’s schools.
Key Priorities
Build trust and visibility across all KIPP NYC schools through consistent school visits, transparent communication, and authentic partnership with Principals and Managing Directors.
Lead the expansion and execute the redesign of KIPP NYC’s multi‑campus high school (serving more than 2,600 students), ensuring a clear instructional vision, strong school culture, and smooth student transitions between campuses.
Tackle persistent and complex challenges, from 9th‑grade GPA and college matriculation metrics to enrollment and retention, through targeted interventions and stronger systems of accountability and support.
Strengthen leadership team collaboration by aligning systems and shared accountability among senior leaders, particularly with the Chief Academic Officer, President, and Chief Information Officer.
Clarify systems and roles by establishing clear decision‑making structures, communication, and performance management processes for school leaders.
Invest deeply in leadership development, with a particular focus on coaching and growing Principals and Managing Directors of Schools, while building sustainable pipelines for future leaders.
Advance adult culture and morale by modeling relational leadership, reinforcing clear expectations, and recognizing excellence across teams.
Drive student outcomes through strong school leadership, ensuring that each campus delivers excellent instruction, a robust culture, and consistent results.
Model visible, community‑centered leadership that keeps KIPP NYC grounded in its mission, values, and deep commitment to students and families.
How to Apply: KIPP NYC has engaged JoHo Talent Network to lead the search for our Chief Schools Officer. To apply, please complete the application here by December 22, 2025.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Position Overview:
The
Chief Schools Officer (CSO)
is KIPP NYC’s quarterback and force-multiplier – responsible for driving school performance, supporting a rigorous, joyful culture for both staff and students, developing exceptional leaders, and ensuring organizational coherence across 18 schools serving nearly 10,000 students.
The CSO leads a team of Managing Directors of Schools and other senior leaders to ensure every KIPP NYC school is a place where excellent teaching, strong leadership, and joyful learning thrive every day.
This leader will guide school management across a complex, high-performing network that includes a multi-campus high school serving more than 2,600 students and multiple governing boards. The CSO will build coherence across schools, invest in principals, strengthen leadership pipelines, and ensure that systems, supports, and culture are aligned to deliver exceptional outcomes for students.
This is a pivotal moment for KIPP NYC. With strong academic foundations, a highly tenured staff, and an evolving leadership team, the CSO will inherit a thriving yet complex system poised to reach the next level of excellence and equity.
The right leader will bring the discipline of a systems builder, the empathy of a leadership coach, and the commitment of a servant leader. Their values will require them to center students and families first, holding themselves and KIPP NYC to an uncompromising standard of excellence. This leader sees challenge and opportunity as one and the same, and will help KIPP NYC elevate its legacy while laying the groundwork for its next decade of impact.
Reporting Structure & Location
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a core member and fulcrum of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the CSO will join a team of experienced executives who prioritize collaboration; value vulnerability, humility, and direct feedback; and view themselves as collectively responsible for the organization’s talent, culture, long‑term organizational health, results, and broader impact. The SLT prides itself on holding the nuance and complexity of leading a large organization at scale, while understanding the importance of proximity to change leadership. Recognizing the centrality of their role, this leader partners effortlessly and instinctively to build alignment from vision to execution at scale. This is a full‑time, in‑person role based in New York City.
Specific Responsibilities Include
School Leadership & Management
Lead the Managing Directors of Schools and Principals to deliver strong academic, cultural, operational, and equity outcomes across all campuses.
Provide clear vision, coaching, and accountability for systems and school leaders, ensuring alignment with network goals and values.
Build systems of support and performance management that promote continuous improvement, collaboration, and excellence.
Balance the complexity of systems leadership at scale with the proximate needs of schools, by frequently and rapidly changing altitude from individual classrooms to organizational data and decision‑making.
Organizational Systems & Change Management
Strategize to embed KIPP NYC’s Graduate Aims as a measurable north star of student success.
Strengthen organizational systems for decision‑making, communication, and accountability, ensuring KIPP NYC’s structures promote clarity, consistency, and effective execution across schools.
Ensure consistent, equitable application of systems across schools while respecting the unique contexts of individual campuses and communities.
Build cross‑functional alignment with Academics, Talent, Operations, and Finance to ensure schools are fully supported to focus on ambitious outcomes.
Lead change with transparency and empathy, helping teams adapt to evolving structures and expectations.
Collaboration & Strategic Leadership
Work in close partnership with the CEO to align school performance and management with KIPP NYC’s long‑term vision for elevating student and community power.
Partner closely with the Chief Academic Officer to co‑lead academic systems, professional development, and academic performance management.
Collaborate with other senior leaders to integrate academics, equity, talent, and operations into a coherent strategy for school success.
Serve as a visible ambassador for KIPP NYC in schools, community forums, and board meetings.
Provide strategic counsel to the Senior Leadership Team on network health, leadership pipelines, and school performance.
Talent Development & Culture
Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional school leaders, building pathways for Principal and Managing Director growth.
Invest in adult culture by modeling trust, collaboration, and open communication across teams.
Promote leadership behaviors that create healthy, high‑performing teams and a culture of joy and accountability.
Build the capacity of Managing Directors to be strong managers of people and stewards of culture.
Key Priorities in the First 12‑18 Months
The first chapter of this leader’s tenure will focus on trust‑building, alignment, and systems design while tackling critical priorities that will shape the next era of KIPP NYC’s schools.
Key Priorities
Build trust and visibility across all KIPP NYC schools through consistent school visits, transparent communication, and authentic partnership with Principals and Managing Directors.
Lead the expansion and execute the redesign of KIPP NYC’s multi‑campus high school (serving more than 2,600 students), ensuring a clear instructional vision, strong school culture, and smooth student transitions between campuses.
Tackle persistent and complex challenges, from 9th‑grade GPA and college matriculation metrics to enrollment and retention, through targeted interventions and stronger systems of accountability and support.
Strengthen leadership team collaboration by aligning systems and shared accountability among senior leaders, particularly with the Chief Academic Officer, President, and Chief Information Officer.
Clarify systems and roles by establishing clear decision‑making structures, communication, and performance management processes for school leaders.
Invest deeply in leadership development, with a particular focus on coaching and growing Principals and Managing Directors of Schools, while building sustainable pipelines for future leaders.
Advance adult culture and morale by modeling relational leadership, reinforcing clear expectations, and recognizing excellence across teams.
Drive student outcomes through strong school leadership, ensuring that each campus delivers excellent instruction, a robust culture, and consistent results.
Model visible, community‑centered leadership that keeps KIPP NYC grounded in its mission, values, and deep commitment to students and families.
How to Apply: KIPP NYC has engaged JoHo Talent Network to lead the search for our Chief Schools Officer. To apply, please complete the application here by December 22, 2025.
#J-18808-Ljbffr