Chief Advancement Officer

CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

ABOUT KHAN LAB SCHOOL:

Khan Lab School founded by Sal Khan in 2014 is an innovative K-12 independent school with 3 campuses serving over 260 students in Silicon Valley CA and Wichita KS. Our Lower School (grades K-5) is in Palo Alto CA our Middle and Upper Schools (grades 6-12) are in Mountain View CA and the newest KLS campus (grades 4-9) is in Wichita KS.

We were established to test and refine the educational vision outlined in Sal Khans 2012 book The One World Schoolhouse which explores the development of modern education the origins of Khan Academy and a forward-thinking approach to both in-person and online learning.

Building on this foundation Sal Khans latest book Brave New Words further expands on his educational philosophy and vision for the future. At Khan Lab School were committed to implementing these innovative ideas and preparing students for success in the rapidly evolving knowledge economy.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is a key member of Khan Lab Schools senior leadership team reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving as a strategic partner in sustaining and growing the schools innovative mission. This pivotal role combines development leadership enrollment strategy marketing vision and community engagement to ensure KLS has the resources and community support needed to reimagine education for the future.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on entrepreneurial advancement leader who thrives in fast-paced mission-driven environments and brings deep experience building revenue strategies that align with organizational values. This role requires someone who can authentically articulate KLSs distinctive mastery-based approach to diverse audiences from prospective families to major donorswhile building systems and strategies that create sustainable growth. As a member of the senior leadership team the CAO will be comfortable working collaboratively across the organization rolling up their sleeves to support enrollment events craft compelling campaign materials or personally steward key donor relationships.

Beyond traditional advancement functions this leader will help shape the future of KLS by developing multi-year fundraising strategies that support innovation building enrollment pipelines that attract mission-aligned families and creating marketing narratives that position KLS as a leader in the educational field. The role is designed for an experienced professional who deeply believes in the power of student-centered learning thrives on creative problem-solving and is energized by the opportunity to build something meaningful in a collaborative environment where decisions are made through the lens of whats best for students.

The Chief Advancement Officers team includes a Director of Admissions an Assistant Director of Admissions a Marketing & Communications Manager and a Director of College Counseling & Alumni. The role also works closely with the Chief Finance & Operations Officer and the Director of Business Operations & Development who supports the Annual Fund. The school also supports and encourages the involvement of Upper School student interns in advancement efforts.

SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Partnership:

• Serve as a key strategic partner to both the Executive Director and the Chief Financial & Operations Officer (CFOO) in shaping long-term financial sustainability and institutional growth.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement plan that aligns fundraising enrollment and marketing strategies with the schools mission and strategic priorities.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators across all advancement functions to measure effectiveness and ensure accountability.
• Present regular reports to the Board of Trustees on advancement progress enrollment trends and philanthropic projections.
• Serve as a member of the Board of Trustees Finance Committee.

Philanthropy:

• Build and lead a culture of philanthropy throughout the KLS community inspiring support from parents alumni board members and friends of the school.
• Design and implement annual giving strategies that engage the entire community and achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• Identify cultivate and help steward relationships with major gift prospects and donors.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and board to plan and execute capital campaigns and special initiatives as needed.
• Oversee donor research gift acknowledgment and stewardship processes to ensure exceptional donor experience.

Admissions & Enrollment Management:

• Provide strategic leadership for student recruitment and retention efforts in partnership with the Admissions team.
• Develop data-informed enrollment strategies that attract and retain mission-appropriate families while meeting financial objectives.
• Ensure seamless alignment between marketing messages admissions processes and the actual student experience.
• Collaborate with the CFOO to develop financial aid strategies that support enrollment goals and family accessibility.

Marketing & Communications:

• Develop and oversee an integrated marketing and communications strategy that strengthens KLSs brand identity and supports both enrollment and fundraising goals.
• Serve as a key storyteller and ambassador for the school articulating KLSs innovative approach to education across multiple platforms and audiences.
• Ensure consistent compelling messaging across all channelsdigital print social media and community-facing platforms.
• Oversee website management social media presence and content creation to showcase student learning and school culture.

Community Engagement & Alumni Relations:

• Build authentic relationships with current families alumni and community partners to deepen engagement and create lasting connections.
• Partner with faculty staff and parent volunteers to foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose across the KLS community.
• Develop and implement an alumni engagement strategy that keep graduates connected to the school and its mission.
• Create opportunities for families and alumni to contribute time expertise and resources to enhancing educational experiences.

Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives:

• In collaboration with the Executive Director and the CFOO lead strategic Campus Master planning.
• Lead the development and execution of KLSs first comprehensive capital campaign to support facility improvements program expansion and endowment growth.
• Design and implement a data infrastructure for tracking donor engagement enrollment pipelines and marketing effectiveness.
• Build out alumni programming and engagement strategies as KLSs first graduating classes move through college and beyond.
• Other related job duties as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES:

• Bachelors degree required masters degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of senior leadership experience in advancement development enrollment or marketing preferably at an independent school and/or mission-driven educational organization.
• AI literacy skills and a deep familiarity with how those tools can be used effectively by an Advancement Team.
• Demonstrated success building and executing fundraising strategies with experience securing major gifts and leading annual giving programs.
• Proven ability to develop enrollment strategies and marketing campaigns that drive growth while maintaining mission alignment.
• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills with the ability to inspire diverse audiences and articulate complex educational concepts.
• Experience building and leading a high-performing team in a collaborative fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort using data to inform strategy measure impact and drive continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with CRM systems marketing platforms and data analytics tools.
• A deep appreciation for innovative student-centered educational approaches and the ability to authentically communicate their value.
• An entrepreneurial mindset with a track record of building systems processes and strategies from the ground up.

PHYSICAL WORK REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE:

• Ability to occasionally lift carry push and pull up to 20 pounds as some regular organizational tasks involve moving desks chairs equipment and other school supplies as needed.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time.
• Capable of moving around inside an office setting to access file cabinets office equipment etc.
• Ability to proficiently and frequently operate a computer and keyboard as well as other office equipment such as calculators copy machines printers and projectors.
• Consistently practice safe working habits while using school supplies equipment and electronics and be able to maintain a safe and hazard-free workstation for yourself and others.
• Occasionally required to work weekends nights or be on-call for special events which are sometimes outside and require working in varying weather conditions at all times of the year.
• Ability to properly communicate information and ideas so other people can understand as well as the ability to ascertain and understand information communicated from others.

PAY & BENEFITS:

• Start Date: July 1st 2026
• Location: Mountain View CA 94041 or Palo Alto CA 94306
• Reports to: Executive Director
• Classification: Exempt; Salaried
• Status: Full-time Employment
• Salary Range: $180000.00 to $200000.00 per year.
• Benefits:
  • Medical dental and vision insurance coverage.
  • 401K retirement plan with an employer match.
  • Basic life insurance.
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
  • Generous paid time off including paid holidays sick time and floating holidays.
  • Tuition assistance for dependents.
  • Professional development opportunities and more.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Khan Lab School has engaged DovetailED to lead this search. Interested candidates should email their cover letter (ATTN: KLS Executive Director Kimberly Dow) resume and a list of at least 3 professional references in a single consolidated PDF document to Senior Recruiters Zack Lehman at and Madison Sunley at

• Please do not contact the school directly.

LIVING & WORKING IN THE BAY AREA:

Living in Mountain View or Palo Alto California offers a calm and welcoming atmosphere with a strong sense of community. Tree-lined streets local parks and a lively downtown area filled with cafés and shops make life feel comfortable and connected. The city keeps a relaxed approachable rhythm where small moments of beauty like blooming gardens and sunlit sidewalks define the day. Heres some of the highlights:

• 
  Downtown Palo Alto: A charming area filled with cafés local boutiques and restaurants that give the city its lively yet laid-back character.
• Downtown Mountain View: A local favorite for its weekend farmers market cozy restaurants and neighborhood feel.
• Standford University Campus: Open to the public the beautiful grounds and art museums make it a favorite place for walking exploring and enjoying outdoor art.
• Rinconada Park: A community hub with picnic areas tennis courts and pools perfect for a relaxing afternoon in the sun.
• Baylands Nature Preserve: One of the largest tracts of undisturbed marshland remaining in the Bay Area offering scenic trails and birdwatching.

Khan Lab School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The organization does not unlawfully discriminate based on race color creed gender (including gender identity or gender expression) religion (all aspects of religious beliefs observance or practice including religious dress or grooming practices) marital status registered domestic partner status age national origin ancestry physical or mental disabilities medical conditions (including medical history or genetic characteristics) sex (including pregnancy childbirth breastfeeding or related conditions) genetic information sexual orientation military or veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal state or local laws or regulations.

Required Experience:

Chief