Lead a Movement: Chief College Officer with IDEA Public Schools
Do you believe that every student deserves a life of meaningful choice. Do you want to be the leader who helps thousands of students achieve that dream. IDEA Public Schools is looking for a Chief College Officer. This is not just a job. It is a mission. You will be the guardian of our “College for All” promise. You will ensure that every student who walks through our doors is prepared for college and for a fulfilling life beyond.
This is a senior leadership role that reports directly to the Deputy Superintendent. You will be the visionary for our college success programs. Your work will span from high school counseling all the way through alumni college graduation. You will lead a dedicated team and shape the future for students across Texas. If you have a passion for educational equity and a track record of driving results this is your chance to make a historic impact.
Your Mission and Key Responsibilities
Your main goal is powerful and clear. You will lead the strategic initiatives that guarantee one hundred percent of IDEA seniors go to college. You will also work to ensure a growing number of our alumni persist and earn their degrees. But your role goes beyond enrollment numbers. You will strengthen each student’s capacity to navigate their own path toward an empowered future.
You will oversee the entire college journey. This includes college matriculation and match. You will ensure every senior has a plan after graduation. You will lead a strategy to make sure over half of our seniors enroll in Tier 1 or Tier 2 colleges. This means overseeing everything from college applications and financial aid to final follow up after graduation.
You will be responsible for college counseling excellence across our network. You will coach and support college counselors school leaders and regional leaders. Your guidance will help students make choices that expand their long term opportunities not just secure immediate enrollment.
You will drive alumni success and college completion. We aim to increase our alumni college graduation rates to over sixty percent. You will oversee our alumni coaching program and lead innovation in how we support our graduates whether through virtual check ins or campus based systems.
A huge part of your role is building and leading a powerful team. You will recruit develop and retain top talent for college counseling roles. You will foster a national culture of achievement joy and mission alignment. You will lead your headquarters team with a clear vision and strong strategic planning. You will build a culture of feedback recognition and shared accountability.
What You Bring to the Table Your Qualifications
To be successful in this role you need a strong foundation of education and experience. You must have a Bachelor’s degree. A Master’s degree in Education Counseling or a related field is preferred. You need at least ten years of progressive experience in college access student success or education leadership.
You must have experience managing multi functional teams and large scale initiatives. Most importantly you must have a demonstrated success in improving college enrollment and completion outcomes for underrepresented students. Your past work should prove that you know how to help students from all backgrounds achieve their dreams.
You also need a specific set of skills and competencies. You must be a strategic thinker who can make big decisions balancing a bold vision with ethical rigor. You need to be excellent at managing work and teams designing systems that can grow and last. You should be a leader who grows yourself and others embedding development into everything you do.
You must be a builder of trust exemplifying integrity and transparency. You need to be a deliberate communicator who can set clear standards and lead through times of change. Additional skills include strategic planning coaching large teams using data to drive decisions and influencing stakeholders across complex organizations.
The Practical Details Location and Travel
This position can be based in any of IDEA Public Schools’ regions. This includes Austin San Antonio Rio Grande Valley Houston Tarrant County El Paso or Permian Basin. It is a national role that supports multiple regions.
You must be ready to travel. The job requires up to forty percent travel depending on organizational priorities and the time of year. You will be visiting our various regions to support your team and connect with students.
What We Offer You A Comprehensive Package
Your salary for this role will be commensurate with your relevant experience and qualifications. It will be aligned with our internal equity standards. When the organization succeeds you will be rewarded.
We also offer a full suite of benefits to support you and your family. This includes medical dental and vision plans. You will have disability and life insurance. We offer parenting benefits and flexible spending account options. You will receive generous vacation time referral bonuses and opportunities for professional development. We also provide a 403(b) retirement plan. You can find more information about all our benefits on the IDEA Public Schools careers website.
Are You Ready to Lead with Us
If you are a visionary leader who is ready to commit to this mission we encourage you to apply. The application process is simple. You just need to submit your application online through Jobvite. Please know that we will review applications on an ongoing basis until we find the right person. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
At IDEA Public Schools we are committed to our core values. We use them to promote human connection and a culture of integrity respect and belonging for every team member. Learn more about our commitment to these values on our website.
This is more than a career move. It is a chance to change the life trajectory for thousands of students. It is an opportunity to build a legacy of empowerment and choice. If you are ready for this challenge we are excited to receive your application.
Click on one of the links below to apply through your preferred platform.
Apply on IDEA Public Schools Careers
Apply on Jobvite
Apply on Indeed