KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 285 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 175,000 students and alumni with more than 15,000 educators. 

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently educates more than 2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth. With a mission to, together with families and the community, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose -- college, career, and beyond --  KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth, and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education.

KIPP Columbus continues to see incredible academic results, including in our early literacy program where more than 80% of kindergarten and first grade students ended last school year reading on grade level. In addition, in our first four graduating classes (in spring 2020 -2023) 100% of students were accepted to college and/or military service and 100% graduated. 

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with nearly 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. 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, excellence, and joy as we expand to educate nearly 4,000 students on our learning campus in the coming years. 

Interested in learning more about our school?  Please check out our website: https://www.kippcolumbus.org/

The Opportunity

At KIPP Columbus, we recognize the critical importance of attracting and hiring the best talent available to ensure our KIPPsters can be their best. The Senior Director of Recruitment has the unique opportunity to lead this work, setting the direction for key recruitment functions that support KIPP Columbus’ continued growth and impact. 

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Sr. Director of Recruitment will directly oversee talent acquisition efforts at KIPP Columbus. This role is critical in ensuring that our values and mission are reflected in every part of this work and that we are cultivating top talent and fostering a best-in-class hiring experience across our teams. A strong orientation to systems and processes that maximize efficiencies as we grow, in combination with a steadfast commitment to our KIPPsters and our mission will be necessary for success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute a recruitment strategy for the region that drives KIPP Columbus’ priorities and goals; advancing a top-talent, high-quality hiring approach across the organization.
• Build close, effective relationships with KIPP Columbus hiring managers to proactively assess talent needs across the region and ensure alignment of talent processes and resources with program needs.
• Establish, oversee, and effectively distribute recruitment data collection, analysis, and action planning for the region that drives proactive, creative recruitment solutions that are timely and mission aligned.
• Sequence priorities over the short and long term, developing an implementation plan for achieving recruitment goals and driving communication of strategy across the organization.
• Develop and lead the execution of innovative strategies for researching and cultivating diverse and high-quality candidates.
• Lead all leadership/executive recruitment and selection for the network, overseeing and managing the execution of all teacher, fellow, and support staff recruitment.
• Ensure compelling marketing and outreach efforts to diverse pipelines of candidates that position KIPP Columbus as an employer of choice for top candidates and effectively conveys our employee value proposition.
• Establish and maintain pipeline programming for key staffing needs across the network.
• Manage and develop the recruitment team to ensure that recruitment, selection, and onboarding processes are reflective of KCO’s vision and values; resulting in top tier talent acquisition and retention.
• Advocate for DE&I best practices within the talent acquisition framework.
• Serve as a full-time and engaged member of KIPP Columbus’ School Support Team, and do whatever it takes for our students and staff to be successful. 

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years experience with recruitment required, including the direct management and leadership of recruitment professionals; experience leading recruitment efforts in an academic setting is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience establishing best-in-class recruiting standards and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, metrics and storytelling with a variety of stakeholders and audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions.
• Genuine belief that outstanding school leaders, staff, and teachers can achieve excellent outcomes for all students.
• Ability to persevere with a sense of optimism, strong problem solving skills, and desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community.
• Willingness, and commitment, to go above and beyond to prove the possible with students.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the flexibility and awareness to communicate across a variety of audiences.
• Strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities.

Compensation and Benefits

At KIPP Columbus we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive with our compensation and benefits offered to our team.  KIPP Columbus offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances as well various voluntary benefits (such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and participation in the Ohio SERS/STRS retirement plan.)  We also offer seasons of life support with 10 weeks paid maternity leave and 4 weeks paid spousal leave/adoption leave.  

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 on the basis of 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.