Deputy Chief, Information Technology

Company Description

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 54 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 32,000 students across Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose - college, career, and beyond - so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Founded in Houston in 1994 and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in our classrooms, offices, and communities is unwavering. We are looking to hire a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Join our Team and Family and champion equity, chase excellence, persist with purpose, bring joy, and help us rise together.

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 278 schools with nearly 16,500 educators and 190,000 students and alumni.

About the Role

The Deputy Chief Information Technology Officer at KIPP Texas will play a pivotal role in establishing reliable and consistent IT services, creating the foundational infrastructure that meets the immediate needs of our organization. This is an essential position focused on stabilizing and standardizing IT operations, ensuring that core services function smoothly and efficiently across all sites.

As The Deputy Chief Information Technology Officer, you will take ownership of building out key systems, processes, and support structures necessary for dependable day-to-day operations. This role requires a leader experienced in transforming IT departments to reach their full potential as reliable service providers, addressing immediate operational gaps, and laying the groundwork for future advancements. Working within a resource-conscious environment, the Deputy Chief Information Officer will work closely with organizational leaders to address immediate IT needs, stabilize service levels, and set up sustainable operational practices that will support KIPP Texas’s growth over the long term.

This role is ideal for a candidate who thrives in environments where they can shape foundational systems, optimize essential services, and create impact through efficient, reliable IT solutions.

Leadership Development and Team Empowerment

• Manage and mentor Technology team leaders, fostering an environment of high standards, best-in-class customer service, collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and accountability.
• Empower team members to proactively problem-solve, encouraging innovation and collaboration across the organization.
• Provide exemplary coaching, development opportunities, and leadership, ensuring strong partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient. Ensure that feedback is focused on improving outcomes and experiences for students.
• Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development.
• Ensure complex technology updates, policy changes, and strategic decisions are communicated clearly and effectively across different levels within KIPP, from school leaders to the executive team, highlighting how each aligns with KIPP's mission of academic and operational excellence.

Organizational Leadership

• Drive the strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational technology platforms with a focus on cultural diversity, equity, inclusion, and instructional effectiveness.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with School Leaders, School-Based Operational Leaders, and Regional Operational Leaders to enhance the use of technology across all school sites.
• Collaborate with the Academics and Business Intelligence teams to maximize student learning and outcomes.
• Develop both short- and long-term plans for the organization’s technology systems, with clear annual goals and objectives.
• Administer and ensure the security of the organization’s technology systems, including preventative measures, disaster recovery, and business resumption planning.
• Provide leadership for maintaining network infrastructure and technology systems, ensuring they meet organizational needs.
• Oversee the implementation, evaluation, and enforcement of KIPP Texas’ data, cybersecurity protection, and technology governance policies.
• Strengthen partnerships across departments—academics, business intelligence, and operations—focusing on process improvements that directly benefit students and educators, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Develop systems for real-time data analytics to optimize resource allocation, tech support, and system performance. Implement consistent feedback loops with school and regional leaders to refine support processes and adapt to evolving needs.

Innovation and Technology Integration:

• Guide the IT team to explore and integrate emerging technologies such as AI, augmented/virtual reality, and personalized learning modules, aligning with KIPP's commitment to innovative schooling.
• Establish initiatives that encourage creative solutions and iterative improvements, with a specific focus on leveraging technology to advance student learning and operational excellence.

Technology Strategy, Infrastructure Management, and Customer Service Support

• Build a robust roadmap for infrastructure expansion and maintenance, ensuring that each school has the technological capacity to meet KIPP's ambitious growth goals. This includes maintaining flexibility in scaling solutions for enrollment growth while meeting high standards of cybersecurity and reliability.
• Oversee the design, configuration, and troubleshooting of network and server infrastructure, including vendor coordination and support contract management.
• Partner with Facilities to ensure that all technology needs are met in new campus builds and existing building renovations.
• Lead the IT support function for Big and Little KIPPsters, ensuring timely, efficient, and customer-focused resolution of technology issues.
• Implement systems and processes that prioritize exceptional service delivery, ensuring that technology support enhances the daily experiences of both Big and Little KIPPsters.
• Champion equitable access to technology, ensuring that solutions are responsive to the diverse needs of KIPP Texas’s students and communities.

Budget and Financial Oversight

• Monitor and oversee the technology budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility.
• Lead and oversee the E-Rate application process to ensure compliance with all related requirements and the effective use of funds.
• Manage technology procurement processes, ensuring alignment with KIPP Texas’ standards and procurement policies.
• Approve the purchase of technology assets including computers, telecommunications, and multimedia equipment, maintaining compliance with organizational standards.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure technology purchases and major projects are executed on schedule and within budget.
• Prioritize vendor partnerships that offer flexible, future-ready solutions while staying within budget. Use quarterly reviews to assess budget alignment with operational efficiency and quality standards to support the multi-year plan’s financial targets.

Skills and Qualifications

• 5-7 years of progressive leadership experience in technology, ideally within a multi-site organization, with experience in school settings preferred.
• Proven record of leading transformative IT projects and a commitment to leveraging technology for equity in education.
• In-depth knowledge of enterprise technology systems, including computer applications, operating systems, hardware, telecommunications, and network systems.
• Proven experience managing large-scale technology projects and initiatives, with a track record of successful project management.
• Ability to lead through change, execute major initiatives, and drive cross-departmental collaboration.
• Skilled in breaking down complex procedures and effectively communicating them to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with E-Rate management preferred.
• Strong commitment to racial and educational equity, and a dedication to fostering an inclusive, high-expectation team culture.
• Excellent written communication skills to articulate complex policies and procedures.

• Willingness to travel across Texas (Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio) to support school sites as needed.

Compensation & Benefits

Join us to be part of a bold vision for the future of education. KIPP Texas offers flexible work policies, professional development, and a supportive team culture focused on student success and employee wellness.

The starting salary for this position is 140k and placement in the salary range is commensurate upon experience and internal equity.

As a full time KIPP Texas employee you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Texas’ benefit plans. KIPP Texas offers a robust variety of benefits choices with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, as well as life insurance and disability plans.

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