Job Description

KIPP Texas is seeking a Chief of Staff (COS) committed to educational equity and passionate about creating joyful, academically excellent schools. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief of Staff will oversee and manage the Office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) acting as a critical thought partner to the CEO and ensuring that resources are maximized in pursuit of the CEO’s and organization’s priorities. The Chief of Staff will support the CEO with strategic and annual planning efforts to lead KIPP Texas in pursuit of becoming the highest performing large school system in Texas. As a key player in the execution KIPP Texas’ strategy, the Chief of Staff will own and advance state and regional-level strategic projects and will facilitate coordination and communication among Team Texas (T2 - KIPP Texas Senior Leadership Team), statewide departments, and the senior most leadership members of the organization (One Song Team). As a senior leader at KIPP Texas, the Chief of Staff will champion KIPP Texas’ culture, and foster high performance and continuous improvement, rooted in a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in pursuit of belonging. Finally, the Chief of Staff will engage with the CEO to manage the statewide governing board and the four regional advisory boards.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Manage the Office of the Chief Executive Officer

• Serve as a critical thought partner to the chief executive officer on matters related to strategy, annual planning, strategic execution, board management, and internal communications.
• Develop and lead implementation of special projects that will boost the organization’s efforts to become more effective and efficient as we grow.
• Plan and manage all administrative, financial, and operational activities for the CEO.
• Optimize resources within the Office of the CEO so the CEO’s time is leveraged towards the most critical priorities.
• Lead a high performing team, including the Managing Director of Governance, project managers, senior executive assistant, and office manager responsible for achieving the Office of the CEO’s goals.
• Drive results across the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, including progress tracking, monitoring, and reporting, holding team and self accountable to short and long term outcomes.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, belongingness, and innovation across the Office of the Chief Executive Officer.
• Serve as a representative for the Chief Executive Officer in meetings.

Support KIPP Texas Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Assist the Chief Executive Officer to shape and evolve the organization’s strategic and annual planning efforts, ensuring strong communication and coordination across the executive leadership team enabling KIPP Texas’ growth, academic and operational excellence, and fiscal sustainability.
• Coordinate and optimize the KIPP Texas Executive Leadership Team to enact initiatives, strategies, and programs to realize the organization’s commitment to becoming the highest performing large school system in Texas.
• Collaborate with the CEO to develop and implement an executive leadership team meeting cadence.
• Foster KIPP Texas Team and Family through championing KIPP Texas’ organizational culture and modeling our core values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Manage change across the organization and invest internal and external key stakeholders in strategic evolutions, always ensuring that little KIPPsters and academic excellence are at the center of decision making.
• Together with the Executive Leadership Team lead operational management of the organization.
• Provide relevant and timely communication to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team.

Serve as KIPP Texas Board Liaison and Manage Board Relationships

• Serve as primary liaison and relationship manager, alongside CEO, of board members.
• Manage the full life cycle of board members; identification, cultivation, selection, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Steward members of regional and state-wide boards through group and individual engagements.
• Work with Chiefs and Board members identify and coordinate issues of concern for the organization to be considered by the Board of Directors.
• Prepare board engagement materials, including briefings, meeting decks, and communications.
• Have working knowledge of Texas public school board governance and ensure that KIPP state and regional boards operate within compliance.
• Guide, support, and coach regional leadership on effective board management.
• Work closely with legal counsel on legal and board matters.

Assist the CEO with internal communications

• Collaborate with the CEO and the marketing and communications department to implement an internal communications strategy.
• Identify critical communications needs across the executive leadership team, school sites, and statewide departments.
• Represent the voice of the CEO in written and verbal communications.
• Facilitate a written and verbal communication cadence on behalf of the CEO, so that departments and teams across the organization have relevant and timely information.
• Leverage internal communications to build a culture of joy across the Big KIPPster team and family.
• Prepare the CEO and executive leadership team for all in-person or virtual internal engagements (emails, townhalls, videos messages).
• Model KIPP Texas’ mission, core values, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all written and verbal communications.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, relevant Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience working in education, non-profit or another mission-driven organization.
• 7+ years of people management experience, including 5 years of systems-level or executive leadership experience.
• Experience leading strategic planning efforts at large organizations.
• Experience managing local, regional and/or statewide Board of Directors.
• Demonstrated record of delivering excellence.

Skills

• Compelling oral and written communication to a wide variety of internal and external audiences;
• Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands and solve complex problems;
• Exceptional project management skills with the ability to move from concept to implementation;
• Exceptional leadership judgment with the ability to navigate ambiguity and complex legal, political, and community issues
• High self-awareness, humility and integrity; personally driven to learn and grow;
• Strong agility to understand the needs and motivations of internal and external stakeholders and build relationships marked by respect, trust, and integrity;
• Unwavering belief that we can all learn.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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 spent at a desk using a computer/laptop.
• Attending conferences or training sessions. ****

Work Environment

• Hybrid work - in office/at schools a minimum of 3 days a week.
• Typical office environment with frequent interruptions.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel to various locations, travel time approximately 40-50%.

Additional Information

What We Bring to the Table

• Salary
• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.
• Paid family leave.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with varying coverage for employees and their families, inclusive of virtual physician visits. High deductible health plan with HSA also offered.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Participates in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).
• 457 Roth retirement plan option with KIPP matching contribution up to $1,200 a year. 403b plans also supported.
• KIPP also offers the following employee-paid benefits: legal plans, LifeLock identity protection, life insurance and disability insurance.
• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.

Compensation

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, as well as life insurance and disability plans.

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