Sector

Function

State

Our client, KIPP NYC is a non-profit network of free, public charter schools that prepares students for success in college and life. In 1995, KIPP NYC started its first middle school, KIPP Academy in the Bronx. Its goal was to graduate students with the strength of character and academic abilities needed to succeed in high school, college, and beyond – and in so doing, to prove what is possible in urban schools. Almost 17 years later, KIPP NYC alumni are now graduating college at 4 times the rate of their peers nationwide.

KIPP NYC is part of the nationwide Knowledge Is Power Program network, which started in a single fifth grade classroom in Houston, Texas and now comprises 109 schools in 20 states serving 32,000 students. KIPP NYC runs nine schools in Harlem, Washington Heights, the Bronx and Brooklyn, as well as KIPP Through College, a comprehensive support program for our alumni. In 2012-13, KIPP NYC will serve more than 3,500 students and alumni, employ 400 talented professionals, and have a combined operating budget of $58 million. Over the next four years, KIPP NYC will finish building-out five schools that are currently in mid-growth, add at least two new schools, serve almost 6,000 students and alumni, and our budget will approach $84 million.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will manage all core operations functions that support KIPP NYC’s mission. The COO will lead the 39-person central staff – KIPP NYC’s Shared Services Team – in designing and delivering best-in-class support services to KIPP NYC schools, and building an operating platform that effectively enables current and future growth. The COO will play a key role in developing and implementing KIPP NYC’s vision and strategy, oversee organizational planning, and serve as a critical thought partner and advisor to the Superintendent as part of the senior leadership team.

This role is an ideal opportunity for a highly motivated, collaborative, entrepreneurial and strategically-minded operator with diverse talents to shape the future of a growing charter network impacting thousands of students in New York City.

Responsibilities include:

I. Operational Leadership Manage six direct reports responsible for driving operational excellence in the following functions: Finance, Data, Human Resources, Recruiting, Operations, Special Projects, Facilities, Development, Marketing and Technology.

• Coach functional teams in designing and implementing the systems, processes and services that support KIPP NYC schools and programs in delivering transformative educational outcomes to our KIPPsters.
• Collaborate with key internal stakeholders – senior instructional leadership, school principals and Director of Operations – to ensure the alignment of shared services team execution with overall organizational goals and the day-to-day needs and realities of KIPP NYC schools. Drive school satisfaction by delivering excellent service across functions and maintaining effective relationships and communication channels with school leadership.
• Supervise design and execution of KIPP NYC’s school expansion strategy, working with leadership, charter authorizers, NYC DOE and legal counsel to launch new schools. Build a sustainable, scalable, cost-efficient operational infrastructure that supports continued growth.
• Promote and ensure KIPP NYC’s continued financial sustainability. Oversee sound, timely and accurate financial management, planning and reporting processes.
• Supervise fundraising, ensuring that short-term and long-term organizational needs are and will be met.
• Collaborate with legal counsel to manage and mitigate legal risk and ensure compliance with city, state and federal laws and regulatory mandates.
• Lead real estate negotiations and real estate financing activities; oversee development and implementation of facilities plan to manage and operate high school facility.

II. Strategic Planning & Budgeting Oversee organizational budgeting process and annual strategic planning, collaborating with KIPP NYC network leadership and school leadership. Ensure strategic priorities are aligned with budget priorities and translated into rigorous, executable plans.

III. Organizational Leadership Play a key role in developing and refining KIPP NYC’s overall vision and strategy, and managing change processes in support of organizational objectives. As member of the senior leadership team, act as a key adviser and thought partner to KIPP NYC’s Superintendent and Managing Directors of Schools.

Maintain and enhance an organizational culture that (i) puts students and student outcomes first; (ii) embodies our motto, “work hard, be nice”; (iii) prizes execution rigor, continuous improvement and innovation; and (iv) recognizes the primacy of recruiting, developing and retaining great talent.

IV. Boards & Governance Oversee development of agendas and materials for KIPP NYC Boards of Trustees; act as key management interlocutor with governing boards regarding operations, strategy and compliance.

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience including at least seven years of executive / senior management experience, ideally with general management experience overseeing multiple functions or successive experience leading varied functions.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or master’s degree in a related field strongly preferred.
• Track record of leading, motivating and developing high performing teams that deliver results.
• Experience building and scaling operations in high growth environments.
• Strong financial fluency; demonstrated ability to specify the financial analyses required to support strategic decision-making and use financial indicators to manage organizational performance.
• Strong data fluency; demonstrated ability to lead teams and organizations in designing and implementing strong data-driven cultures and the systems, processes and tools required to support them.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus, facilitate collaboration and problem-solving and manage conflict among varied stakeholders in matrixed environments.
• Experience with strategic planning in complex, dynamic settings.
• Ability to clearly define strategic issues and make tough decisions in the face of ambiguity and incomplete information.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, lead multiple projects, ruthlessly prioritize, and manage a tsunami of tasks, deadlines, requirements and decisions.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collegial working environment, and a healthy measure of the character traits we value: zest, grit, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor.
• External relations experience preferred.
• A passion for the mission of KIPP NYC.

Salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. Additionally, KIPP NYC offers a comprehensive benefits package.