KIPP Nashville Public Schools is entering it’s 20th school year in 2024-2025 - operating 9 schools in North, East and South Nashville educating over 3,200 students - and will open our 10th school in Summer 2025. We are a results-driven and collaborative team striving for excellence through a deep commitment to our core values of Growth, Shine and Team. Our team of exceptionally talented, racially diverse, and high performing individuals are grounded in a deep commitment to our students.

Our mission is that, together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence they need to pursue the paths they choose - college, career, and beyond - so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. If you share this belief, if you have a proven willingness to do what it takes for students to achieve, if you thrive in an environment that is both collaborative and entrepreneurial, then you are already a KIPPster.

KIPP Nashville seeks a Director of Leadership Development to join the Talent Team. 

At KIPP Nashville, we believe that outstanding schools and school communities are led, empowered and sustained by outstanding leaders. KIPP Nashville Public Schools strives for 75% of our school leadership positions to be filled with diverse, internal candidates who reflect our school communities. As we work towards that vision, we are looking for our next Director of Leadership Development (DLD) - strong leader with multiple experiences leading diverse teams including as a principal, developing leaders to be ready for the next step in their career, and vast experience both learning and leading with a commitment to racial equity.

This role has ownership of two critical workstreams to KIPP Nashville’s health: leadership development and Principal in Residence (PIR) program management*. The DLD will collaborate with school based and organizational leaders to find, retain, and develop exceptional leaders from a variety of backgrounds.  Additionally, this role will work closely with the Chief of Schools and Director of Talent Recruitment to identify and work towards cross-functional talent priorities and initiatives, and maintain strong fidelity to our organization-wide performance management commitments. The DLD will directly provide high-quality formal and informal professional development, invaluable on the job training, meaningful projects, intentional coaching, and cohort based learning experiences for leaders across KIPP Nashville.

The KIPP Nashville Principal in Residence (PIR) program is a two-year, regionally-operated residency to prepare aspiring principals in the adaptive, technical, and managerial skills to lead a KIPP Nashville school.  

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Leadership Development will lead a flagship development program, KIPP Nashville’s Principal in Residence program and work to implement and sustain equitable talent pipeline initiatives.  This role will be focused on day-to-day program management, PIR and school leader development and coaching.  This individual will also design and execute ongoing development opportunities for more experienced school leaders, aspiring leaders, and ensure fidelity to our performance management systems.

The Director of Leadership Development will work closely with members of the Schools Team at KIPP Nashville as well as the Leadership Development Team at the KIPP Foundation.  This exempt role will report to the Chief Talent Officer. The target start date for the role is late June 2024.

Leadership Development

• Work with Talent Team to use data to examine bias in performance management, hiring, and promotion practices and build related org-wide trainings for managers

• Plan, lead, and support with professional development of other cohorts as needed (i.e. regional school support team members, Assistant Principals, Deans, Directors of Operations) as it relates to leadership development and management

• Lead regular principal trainings on effective performance management, leader coaching and development

• Collaborate with Chief Talent Officer, Academic Leaders, and Principals on New to KIPP Trainings and New Leader Trainings during the summer and throughout the school year.

Principal-in-Residence (PIR) Program Lead

• In partnership with the KIPP Foundation, design, execute and lead the PIR cohort including planning year long scope and sequence, staying up to date and informed on instructional content, shifts and initiatives at KIPP Nashville, delivering professional development, designing and providing feedback on PIR projects,  collaborating with principal managers and overseeing the coaching of all cohort members.

• Cultivate PIR prospects and lead PIR selection

• Directly support principals who manage PIRs with leadership development. 

• Provide direct coaching to the PIR including regular check-ins

• Hold the PIR accountable to progression on Development Roadmap of skills aligned to Principal  readiness

• Holds the mentor principals accountable to coaching and assessing PIR progression on Development Roadmap of skills

• Lead the change management effort involved in evolving the program, including: reflection, assessment, and adjustments for improvement.

• Represent KIPP Nashville and its stakeholders at quarterly KIPP Foundation conferences for Directors of Leadership Development around the country (some travel required)

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred

• At least 6 years of experience leading large teams and direct people management ; experience as a principal with strong student achievement results required

• Evidence of significant and consistent personal and professional achievement

• Strong background of managing change throughout a distributed system of entities and teams

• A proven track record of managing multiple stakeholders across lines of difference, making decisions, and driving strong results

• Creating/designing adult learning and teaching of the content and skills associated with people leadership, including operating with an equity lens

• Strong management expertise

• Exceptional leadership skills

Our comprehensive compensation package includes life insurance and long-term disability coverage provided by KIPP Nashville, voluntary medical and dental plans, in addition to retirement benefits and an annual salary increase. To establish equitable salary practices, the compensation package is derived from the regional KIPP Nashville Public Schools pay scale. This position is exempt and will follow a 12-month schedule.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

KIPP Nashville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.