Democracy Prep Public Schools, Chief Executive Officer
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- New York City, NY
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Set Vision & Strategy
- Define and implement a bold, forward-looking strategy aligned with Democracy Prep’s mission and values.
- Guide long-term planning with clearly articulated academic, operational, and civic goals.
- Connect regularly with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the strategic vision reflects the evolving needs, priorities, and aspirations of the Democracy Prep community.
- Ensure coherence between organizational vision and on-the-ground practice across all campuses.
- Continuously assess the internal and external landscape to identify opportunities and risks.
- Drive Academic Excellence
- Partner with instructional leaders to ensure high-quality teaching and learning across the network.
- Establish clear systems of accountability and support to improve student outcomes.
- Elevate and replicate best practices across schools to close opportunity gaps.
- Foster a mindset shift toward collective ownership of academic excellence and a culture that prioritizes high expectations for all students.
- Support & Strengthen a High-Performing Team
- Empower and align the senior leadership team to execute on strategic goals with clarity and accountability.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, high expectations, and shared ownership across central office and school-based teams.
- Ensure leaders have the support, resources, and development opportunities they need to thrive and grow in their roles.
- Maintain systems for effective team communication, cross-functional alignment, and consistent performance tracking.
- Ensure Financial Sustainability & Operational Effectiveness
- Partner with the CFO to build a durable financial structure, optimize resource allocation, and ensure long-term sustainability.
- Address enrollment and retention challenges through data-informed strategies and targeted investment.
- Build scalable systems that reduce dependency on individuals and increase organizational resilience.
- Lead External Relations & Development
- Serve as the public face of the organization with funders, families, authorizers, and the broader education ecosystem.
- Strengthen the Democracy Prep brand and narrative, raising visibility and trust.
- Build and maintain relationships with donors and partners to expand and diversify revenue.
- Foster Equity, Innovation, & Organizational Health
- Champion a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization, leading with transparency and cultural competence.
- Develop clear performance management systems that recognize and reward excellence.
- Nurture a culture of learning, innovation, and feedback among staff at all levels.
- Engage & Steward Governance & Stakeholders
- Collaborate with the Board of Directors, providing timely updates and strategic counsel.
- Build trust with students, families, and community members through consistent and authentic communication.
- Lead through transitions with steadiness, adaptability, and a deep sense of care for the people of DPPS.
- 10+ years of senior leadership experience in a multi-site education or nonprofit organization; experience as a CEO, COO, CSO, or similar preferred.
- Deep understanding of educational equity and a track record of serving diverse student populations, where racial, linguistic, and economic equity must be centered in all decision-making.
- Deep knowledge of charter school environments, ideally including experience in New York or comparable markets.
- Demonstrated success leading through organizational change, growth, or turnaround at scale.
- Board engagement and fundraising experience; able to build relationships and secure resources.
- Hands-on experience in schools or community-based organizations, grounding decision-making in the lived experience of educators and students.
- Experience developing strategic partnerships and engaging in education policy work to expand organizational influence, visibility, and fundraising opportunities.
- Inspirational and visionary leader who can rally stakeholders around a shared mission.
- Skilled in change management, with the emotional intelligence to guide teams through transition.
- Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and an authentic ability to build trust across lines of difference.
- Strong financial acumen; experienced in managing budgets, ROI-driven decision-making, and sustainability planning.
- Compelling communicator and relationship-builder, both internally and externally.
- Maternity and Paternity Leave: a twelve-week fully paid maternity or paternity leave is available to employees who have been with DP for at least two years;
- Retirement planning: you have the option of enrolling in a pre-tax 403b or post-tax Roth with matching options;
- As a DPPS employee, you can choose between three medical plans to select what best suits your needs. DPPS also provides options for dental, vision, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), a Dependent Care Account (DCA), a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and an Employee Assistant Program (EAP).