Chief Advancement Officer

About the Role

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is a strategic executive leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of KIPP Texass advancement efforts including fundraising advocacy community partnerships marketing communications and regional boards. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team the CAO plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the organizations longterm vision ensuring that KIPP Texas remains financially sustainable wellpositioned in the education landscape and deeply engaged with external stakeholders. Additionally the CAO will oversee marketing and communications efforts including brand management digital marketing crisis media and internal communications. 

This leader will drive strategic advancement initiatives that align with KIPP Texass mission and multiyear strategic plan while fostering a strong internal culture of collaboration and accountability. The CAO will be a key external representative of the organization strengthening relationships with donors policymakers community leaders and the broader KIPP Texas network. Additionally the CAO will mobilize community leaders including regional boards of directors to provide strategic counsel to advance the organizations goals.

The CAO will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and oversee a team of senior leaders across development advocacy community partnerships communications and marketing ensuring that these teams work in concert to elevate KIPP Texass impact and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership 

• Serve as a member of KIPP Texas executive leadership team (Team Texas) and collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer and other Chiefs to advance the mission of KIPP Texas.

• Collaborate with Team Texas to oversee day to day organizational operations ensuring fiscal sustainability efficiency and excellence.

• Identify strategic opportunities and risks and partner with the Chief Executive Officer and Team Texas to develop organizational wide solutions.

• Assist in planning and implementing organizational change management initiatives.

• Attend and participate in internal and external meetings related to KIPP Texas Public Schools

• Serve as a key thought partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team and provide expertise on fundraising external positioning community relations communications and marketing.

• Provide highlevel insights and recommendations on fundraising advocacy community partnerships and regional boards.

• Engage with the state and regional  Boards of Directors to provide updates on advancement initiatives and mobilize board members in fundraising community partnerships and advocacy efforts.

• Foster strong relationships with key external stakeholders including donors policymakers community leaders and partner organizations.

• Represent KIPP Texas at public events industry conferences and highprofile meetings to elevate the organizations brand and impact.

Oversee the Advancement Division

• Establish a vision direction and strategy for the advancement division comprising fundraising community partnerships advocacy marketing and communications.

• Manage a team of senior leaders overseeing fundraising community partnerships advocacy and marketing and communications departments.

• Establish key performance metrics ensuring accountability and continuous improvement across the Advancement Division.

• Lead coach and develop a highperforming Advancement Team fostering a culture of collaboration accountability and continuous growth.

• Provide direct supervision to senior leaders within the Advancement Team supporting their professional development and leadership effectiveness.

• Create structures for team learning professional development and performance management to drive results and innovation.

• Champion our core values amongst the team ensuring a supportive work environment where all team members can thrive.

• Set clear expectations provide regular feedback and ensure alignment with KIPP Texass values and goals.

• Monitor and evaluate strategic initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness.

Marketing Communications & Brand Management

• Develop and implement a cohesive marketing and communications strategy to strengthen brand awareness reputation and engagement.

• Oversee a comprehensive internal communications strategy to ensure communication mechanisms and practices champion KIPP TX mission model our values and drive staff engagement.

• Ensure effective crisis communication strategies and media relations.

• Oversee branding efforts across digital platforms social media print materials and events.

• Align messaging with KIPP Texass mission and core values ensuring consistent and impactful storytelling.

• Collaborate with operations and talent divisions to align communication messages to family and employee value propositions through comprehensive marketing initiatives.

• Act as a strategic partner to student enrollment staff recruitment and development to support functional marketing initiatives programs and projects.

Fundraising & Development

• Lead and execute a multiyear comprehensive development strategy focused on ensuring the longterm health of KIPP TXs fundraising program.

• Annually raise $12M  in critical funds through individuals foundations corporations and government sources.

• Oversee capital campaigns annual fundraising efforts special initiatives and events to meet and exceed revenue goals.

• Manage refine and redesign development and stewardship events that reflect the needs and fundraising profiles of all regions across the state.

• Cultivate and steward relationships with highimpact donors at all existing and potential new regions ensuring alignment with KIPP Texass priorities.

• Engage the Board in fundraising strategy supporting their efforts to expand and diversify funding sources.

• Oversee the creation of compelling donor communications grant proposals and stewardship materials.

External Relations Advocacy & Community Partnerships

• Lead KIPP Texass advocacy efforts at the local state and federal levels to advance policies that support KIPP Texas mission and charter school sustainability.

• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials community leaders and education policy organizations.

• Develop and oversee community engagement initiatives empowering KIPP families staff and stakeholders to advocate for highquality public education.

• Ensure KIPP Texas leaders and stakeholders remain informed on legislative developments affecting charter schools and public education funding.

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with community organizations businesses and local leaders to enhance the schools impact and resources.

• Work collaboratively with the CEO and leadership team to develop and implement communication strategies that enhance the schools reputation.

Qualifications :

Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree required; Masters degree preferred.

• 10 years of organizational leadership with executive level experience in fundraising external relations advocacy or a related field.

• Proven track record of securing significant philanthropic investments leading largescale fundraising campaigns and cultivating highnetworth donors.

• Experience in nonprofit management education or advocacy preferred.

• Experience influencing policy and advocacy efforts at the local and state level.

• Experience leading marketing and communications efforts.

• Knowledge of Texas public education policies and the charter school landscape is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional executive leadership presence with the ability to inspire trust and confidence and demonstrate courage and composure especially under pressure.

• Strong systems level thinking and problem solving skills.

• Excellent collaboration skills with the ability and comfort to lead work across an organization.

• Skilled at balancing day to day operations driving innovation and change and managing the longterm health and sustainability of the organization.

• Exceptional relationshipbuilding and stakeholder management skills with the ability to cultivate trust and credibility with internal and external partners.

• Strategic and innovative thinker with a datadriven approach to decisionmaking able to analyze complex issues and develop actionable solutions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including public speaking negotiation and persuasive storytelling.

• Ability to lead and manage a highperforming team of senior leaders while fostering a collaborative and resultsdriven culture.

• Financial acumen including experience managing budgets financial forecasting and aligning financial strategies with organizational goals.

• Ability to navigate a complex multistakeholder environment and drive consensus among diverse groups.

• High level of integrity accountability and commitment to KIPP TX mission.

• Proficiency with CRM systems donor management tools and data analytics platforms to support fundraising and stakeholder engagement.

Additional Information :

What We Bring to the Table

• The salary range for this position is $200000$250000 and is commensurate with  experience and internalequity.

• 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 $1200 a year.  403b plans also supported.

• KIPP also offers the following employeepaid benefits: legal plans LifeLock identity protection life insurance and disability insurance.

• Flexible spending account or highyield HSA.

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. 

Location & Travel

• This role may be based in Austin DallasFort Worth Houston or San Antonio;

• On Site working from a KIPP Texas region office or in the field Monday through Friday; 

• Regular travel required between KIPP Texas regions and occasional national travel.

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

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Fulltime