OverviewAscend is a network of K-12 public charter schools serving 6,000 students in 17 schools across Brooklyn—New York’s most populous borough. Ascend exists to serve every student — to help them embody their inherent excellence by providing rich, joyful learning experiences that unlock a life of boundless choice. Ascend is deeply committed to advancing educational equity for all students.
Ascend schools honor, nurture, and challenge the whole child. Ascend fosters critical thinking skills and a love of learning through an inquiry-based learning approach, Responsive Classroom model, and anti-racist education. Students at Ascend benefit from a rich and rigorous curriculum that nurtures natural curiosity about the world and guides them to think critically and independently. Ascend schools foster a positive school culture where students feel connected, empowered, and safe to take academic risks.
To create this kind of vibrant learning community, Ascend heavily invests in staff by providing ongoing professional training and support and encouraging educators to collaborate closely and push each other to achieve great outcomes. Leading at Ascend means growing deeply in your career, expressing your voice, and playing a defining role in the future of your students, your school, and the Ascend network.
For more information on Ascend Public Charter Schools’ model, approach, and core values, please visit our website.
Opportunity
Ascend seeks a strategic, influential leader to serve as its Chief People Officer (CPO), and develop and oversee the end-to-end talent strategy for its growing team of nearly 1,000 employees.
Reporting to the President, and working closely with the board, executive team, and school leadership, the Chief People Officer will set the vision and direction for attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining Ascend staff, and embedding a talent-focused culture within the organization. This will include the important work of building and implementing the foundational processes and policies to support a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist (DEIA) workforce.
The Chief People Officer will play a key role in making decisions about the strategic direction of the organization and bringing to life Ascend’s commitment to equitable practices that empower staff members to meet their fullest potential.
The CPO will help oversee and establish the appropriate structure of the People Team, including the Talent Recruitment, People Operations, and Human Resources sub-teams. The CPO’s direct reports will include the managing directors (MD of Talent Recruitment, MD of People Operations, and MD of Human Resources) and their teams within Ascend’s broader network team.
This leadership role represents an exciting opportunity for a seasoned talent leader to help a growing, mid-sized, successful, nimble, and truly mission-driven organization establish a best-in-class talent function.
As a change management leader adept at building upon foundational human capital systems, the CPO will play a pivotal role in the next era of Ascend’s organizational development by setting the vision and direction for a strong, inclusive, and people-focused culture. The CPO role will impact every aspect of Ascend’s approach to people's work, and therefore positively impact the growing community of Ascend staff, students, and families.
Ascend’s ideal Chief People Officer is an individual who believes:
- All students are capable, and deserve adults who demonstrate a true belief in their boundless potential.
- The work of the People function is what ignites and enables organizational impact, and that the function is most successful when it shifts from administrative and policing to inspiring, enabling, and service-oriented.
- Change management is a core tenant to the role, and can lead with courage, empathy, and steadfastness.
- Intellectual curiosity and agility are essential to leading people work, learning both from internal stakeholders, as well as students, families, and industry leaders.
- High standards are not in tension with being people-centered, and can drive performance and outcomes with inspiration for their team and the organization.
- Transparent systems and communication give access for individuals to drive their own performance.
ResponsibilitiesThe Chief People Officer oversees the end-to-end people strategy for all Ascend employees, including:
Team Management and Culture Building
- Set the vision, goals, and measures of success for the People Team (including the Talent and Human Resources sub-teams);
- Hire, develop, coach, and retain a high-performing, diverse People Team and manage them towards ambitious goals;
- Oversee the talent development of Ascend’s network team;
- Support and push the executive team in shaping and reinforcing an organizational culture that reflects Ascend’s commitment to DEIA.
Organizational Leadership
- Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, playing an active and influential role in discussions and decisions about Ascend’s strategic priorities and plans;
- Collaborate with the board, CEO, and organizational leaders to support Ascend’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism through aligned policies, practices, and systems;
- Work with the Ascend Learning Board of Directors to develop a performance management and compensation approach for the CEO and executive team;
- Serve as a strategic advisor and functional expert to the CEO and executive team regarding talent management strategies, initiatives, and issues;
- Serve as an ambassador and advocate for the People Team and all people matters;
- Model and facilitate a culture of continuous learning, ensuring that staff has access to continued professional development and opportunities for growth;
- Continually assess overall organizational health and DEIA practices, and work with teams and managers across Ascend to create the conditions that will ultimately lead to attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse team of high performers.
Strategic Talent Leadership
- Create and implement a phased, multi-year people vision, strategy, and plan that supports a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment and aligns with Ascend’s new multi-year strategic plan;
- Design and build cohesive human capital structures and systems, including unifying bifurcated talent recruitment and human resources functions, to create a best-in-class people function;
- Create, modify, and lead the processes and systems to develop, manage, and retain employees, including performance management, talent development, talent assessment, succession planning, total rewards, and workforce policies. Ensure these policies and procedures support employee flexibility with accountability and align with Ascend’s culture, values, and DEIA commitments;
- Develop and implement change management strategies for large-scale organizational talent initiatives;
- Work closely with the CEO, legal counsel, and human resources staff to ensure strong human resource policies, compliance, and other systems that promote a diverse and equitable workplace that is compliant with regulations and best-in-class research in talent management practices;
- Refine and manage the processes to source, attract, and select top talent, including teachers, school staff, leadership, and network staff;
- Define, collect, and analyze the data needed to drive and refine talent strategies;
- Improve systems that support and inform a strong talent program, including aligning applicant tracking and human resources information systems.
In the first year, the Chief People Officer will be expected to:
- Establish credibility and trust with the executive team, People Team, board, school leaders, and other key stakeholders;
- Ensure the People Team is fully staffed with a high-performing, diverse group of people;
- Provide the leadership necessary to coalesce the People Team around a clear vision and supporting strategies that align with the organization’s strategic direction, mission, and values;
- Meet the ongoing near-term talent needs across the organization, including talent recruitment and employee retention;
- Audit employee policies, practices, and systems from a DEIA lens; revamp the organizational performance management process aligned to organizational competencies;
- Continue to advance Ascend’s total rewards policy, including compensation and benefits implementation;
- Develop and lead key management training across schools and the network teams.
In the longer term, the Chief People Officer will be expected to:
- Define a vision and corresponding multi-year strategic plan for People work at Ascend that aligns with the organization’s next multi-year strategic plan;
- Collaboratively develop the rituals and systems to build a high-performing, caring, and inclusive organizational culture that reflects Ascend’s values and commitment to DEIA;
- Drive improvement in overall staff satisfaction, employee engagement, and retention across the organization.
QualificationsThe ideal Chief People Officer candidate will bring the following experiences, skills, and mindset/values:
Experience
- At least ten years of professional experience in talent strategy and people management/development, with HR experience preferred;
- Experience in the education sector is strongly preferred;
- Track record of successfully building, managing, developing, and supporting inclusive, high-performing, diverse teams;
- Successful experience creating, codifying, and improving systems to support change;
- Experience leveraging technology to gain insight and increase efficiency;
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited, four-year university required, advanced degree in a related field highly preferred.
Skills
- Ability to build an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization;
- Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to set detailed vision and direction across large, complex sets of work;
- Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and meet/exceed ambitious goals;
- Exceptional relationship management and influencing skills; a proven servant leader;
- Capacity to develop strong relationships with all staff, based on mutual trust, respect, effective communication, and common goals;
- Highly effective written and verbal communication, with strong active listening skills;
- Demonstrated ability to utilize data insights to drive high-impact action;
- Impeccable judgment and ability to assess and manage/mitigate risk;
- Well-developed emotional intelligence, humility, empathy, and receptiveness to feedback.
Ascend is committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist community through its hiring practices and focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into their approach to educating students. Ascend staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities—opening a window to the entire Ascend community on the richness of humanity. Ascend Public Charter Schools welcomes all applicants who share their mission and vision.
This position offers a competitive salary range of $210,000 to $230,000 and a comprehensive benefits package.
To apply, please apply on the careers page, and email your resume to Naveeta Kondayya, Special Assistant to the President, at naveeta.kondayya@ascendlearning.org with a subject line of “Ascend Public Charter Schools Chief People Officer.” Applications must be received by midnight on October 20, 2024.
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