Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently serves nearly 2,000 students in grades kindergarten through twelfth.  The mission of KIPP Columbus is to create a system of schools where students develop the intellectual, academic, and social skills needed to understand and take action on issues they encounter in everyday life. 

KIPP Columbus continues to rank as one of the top five schools for the academic growth of any school in Ohio and is a top-performing urban school in the state for academic growth. In Spring 2021, KIPP Columbus graduated its second class of high school seniors. 100% of graduates were accepted to college, with over $20 million in merit scholarships from colleges and universities awarded.

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with more than 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. KIPP is also an Ohio High School Athletic Association member, offering more than ten varsity sports. 

The KIPP Columbus learning campus will continue to advance student learning, expand partnerships, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide, reimagining education through a deeper lens of antiracism and excellence and joy.  

To learn more, visit: https://www.kippcolumbus.org/

The Opportunity

The KIPP Forward team designs and delivers robust support for current students and recent alumni cohorts on their path to achieving their post-secondary aspirations, including college, career, and beyond. 
 
The Director of KIPP Forward partners closely with regional and national KIPP teams to define a vision for a multi-sector approach and support KIPP Columbus students and alumni in living their choice-filled life. They are responsible for building relationships with school leadership teams, the school support team, national organizations, college/universities, local companies, and community partners to support students in having experiences that will propel them towards the college or career of their choice.

The Director of KIPP Forward reports to the Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction and will partner closely with the data and analytics and high school leadership teams.  The Director of KIPP Forward will serve as a regional leader who directly manages the college and career counseling teams at KIPP Columbus.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Develop and Implement a Post-Secondary Pathway Strategy 

• Collaborate with key internal partners to define a KIPP Forward vision, strategy, and plan 
• Provide consistent support for KIPPsters and their families as they navigate post-secondary options in career or schooling
• Advise and coach all KIPP Forward teammates at the KIPP Columbus High School
• Create access to college and career resources and opportunities available to support KIPP Columbus High School students
• Regularly report out application registration processes, FAFSA and verification completion, and the impact on college and career access
• Act as a content lead on all aspects of the post-secondary journey

Serve as a Regional and Team Manager 

• Develop a positive and effective team culture by developing team and individual goals that are ambitious and attainable 
• Create a collaborative team with consistent communication flow to all key stakeholders and teammates
• Engage in communication and meetings on a regular cadence with all KIPP Forward teachers,  School Leaders, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and the Heads of Schools
• Monitor progress for all KIPP Forward post-secondary access goals across the region
• Model KIPP Columbus’ values, holding oneself and others accountable to these values as well

Manage Data for Continuous Improvement

• Maintain constant and consistent communication on the data progress of students with key stakeholders, including the KIPP Foundation, college personnel, college-bound opportunities, school and regional leadership, students, and families
• Monitor and analyze data through management of data systems specific to KIPP Columbus
• Utilize various student management platforms to track, progress monitor, and submit student data
• Provide weekly data reports to stakeholders on the progress of applications and career selection

Provide Project and Program Oversight

• Effectively plan the budget and logistics of all special events, including college visits
• Delegate and multi-task various projects while progress monitoring the progression of strategic projects
• Develop innovative and creative solutions through programming that solve gaps in college and career knowledge and access for students and families
• Create impact-focused and efficient processes that move the KIPP Forward team toward meeting KIPP Forward goals
• Apply for grants and microgrants as warranted with the support of the KIPP Forward team and KIPP Columbus

• 5+ years of management experience in career and college access or admissions advising preferred
• Previous experience in using data to drive decision making required
• Previous experience managing and supervising adults required
• Experience in public education or non-profit
• Possess a sense of optimism, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community
• Willingness, and commitment, to go above and beyond to prove the possible to students
• Ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment while driving toward clarity and solutions
• Extreme flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities
• Model the values of KIPP Columbus (Imagine, Navigate, Seek, Persevere, Integrity, Responsibility, and Empathy)
• Understanding of student and family experiences in the Midwest is preferred

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a comprehensive benefit plan including medical and dental insurance, group term life insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off.   

Statement of Non-Disclosure

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate based on disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.