Deputy Head of Schools

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate students in grades K-12 across schools in Newark, Camden, and Paterson. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals.

Position Overview

The Deputy Head of Schools (DHOS) is a leadership role designed for successful School Leaders/Principals ready to transition into systems-level leadership.The DHOS is responsible for managing and coaching school leaders (Principals) to meet quantitative and priority goals. This role is a systems leadership role, focused on developing systems-level thinking and supporting the continuous growth of school leadership and ensures alignment with regional standards.

 

Manage and Develop School Leaders (55%)

• Manage a small portfolio of School Leaders (2-3)and set the direction of the schools you support through annual planning and phase planning, leveraging the SL playbook.
• Progress-monitor the ongoing results of schools by analyzing academic data, student culture data, and staff culture data and action-planning the most important metrics with School Leaders.
• Provide on-the-ground observation, coaching, and walkthroughs to support School Leaders to increase their impact.
• Build culture across your portfolio of schools and deliver school-level professional development.
• Serve as on-call support for student, family, or staff emergencies for the schools you support.

Collaborate on Regional Decisions (35%)

• Collaborate with Heads of Schools to learn regional systems and bring the voice of your schools to regional decisions and drive towards shared regional goals.
• Participate in weekly regional team meetings.
• Effectively communicate regional decisions back to school sites and ensure high-quality implementation.
• Support with the monitoring of academic systems across content areas and grade levels through quarterly Academic Progress Monitoring meetings (in conjunction with T&L and SPED Director).
• Meet with CMO/regional departments regularly to progress monitor and problem solve (Recruitment, HR, Leader Development, Student Experience, etc.).
• Collaborate with MDSO for your schools to proactively problem-solve operational opportunities.
• Where needed, own ad hoc projects across the region within predefined functional area (e.g., extracurricular and summer school planning).

Grow the Leadership Bench (10%)

• Model the organization's core values and leadership behavior and develop them in others.
• Develop and maintain a healthy and equitable bench of leaders through identifying and cultivating internal talent by participating in hiring processes at the school-level
• Actively participate in professional growth opportunities and contribute to the growth of the regional leadership team.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience: Minimum of 5+ years as a highly successful School Leader/Principal (demonstrated student achievement results).
  • This role is anticipated to support K-8 schools; experience and outcomes at these levels will be prioritized.
• Leadership: Ability to set direction across multiple school sites and at the individual school level, motivate others to achieve ambitious outcomes, and ability to develop leadership capacity in others.
• Analytical: Adept at data analysis; ability to extract meaningful insights and translate them into instructional plans.
• Critical Thinking: Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think at a "systems" level.

Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

• Prolonged periods of working at a computer and sitting at a desk.
• Travel to various school locations in Newark, Camden, Paterson, and Miami.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

 

KIPP New Jersey offers a market-competitive salary ranging from $160,000-$170,000. Salary ranges at KIPP are set based upon the role level and function using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector and allow for growth within the role. Individual compensation within this range will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant professional experience and qualifications; education, skills and training; and market conditions.

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ  offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:  

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision 
• Participation in the New Jersey Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund, provided appropriate teacher certification and role classification
• Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• A school-issued laptop
• Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
• Generous Time-Off including 3.5-4 school vacation weeks (depending on the year), allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break 
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
• Employer paid life insurance
• Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.

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