Director, College Partnerships (West)

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free 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 279 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and nearly 210,000 students and alumni.

About the Role

The KIPP Foundation is investing heavily in resources and strategies to increase the number of KIPP alum who graduate from college. We’re hiring a Director of College Partnerships – West to identify, cultivate, and formalize college/university partnerships that position KIPP alum to enroll and persist in colleges compatible for their aspirations and needs. This role will oversee this work in our Western portfolio, which comprises KIPP regions in California and Colorado plus colleges/universities in those areas and several surrounding states. You’ll serve as the primary point person and expert on college partnerships across the Western terrain.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of university partnerships that increase college enrollment and completion for KIPP students and alumni by fortifying existing partnerships, reactivating dormant ones, and establishing new ones with national universities, regional institutions, HBCUs, and HSIs.
• Develop, negotiate, and finalize MOUs, ensuring clear commitments and measurable, symbiotic goals aligned with our 2030 vision.
• Maintain and revise MOUs as needed to align with evolving contexts, outcomes, and needs.
• Partner with our national College Advancement Team and regional KIPP Forward teams to integrate partnerships into student advising and match strategies.
• Exchange best practices with other Directors of College Partnerships to enhance cohesion and collective performance.
• Strengthen institutional memory of strategies, plans, wins, and challenges with college partners.
• Support the codification of best practices for college partnerships.
• Contribute to the development of our College Partnerships strategy, including criteria for partnerships, baseline MOU structure, goals, benchmarks, and accountability structures.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience building and managing a portfolio of partnerships, preferably with colleges/universities or charter schools across a multi-state territory.
• At least 2 years of experience building and maintaining MOUs or institutional agreements.
• Demonstrated experience using data to identify trends, inform decisions, and drive outcomes.
• Strong record of setting and reaching ambitious goals.
• Experience working cross-functionally with diverse stakeholders to implement initiatives and achieve goals.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience working with and supporting students navigating economic barriers and/or first-generation college students preferred.

Skills

• Core Mindsets:
  • Strong Alignment to our Mission and Student Focus: Demonstrates passion for, and commitment to, KIPP’s mission and core values.
  • Exceptional Self-Awareness: Practices self-awareness at work, using reflection and feedback to grow and persist through challenges.
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning: Engages in ongoing personal development to improve results for students, adults, and the community.
  • Courageous Action: Demonstrates resilience, a solutions-focused mindset, and adaptability while fostering psychological safety and trust.
• Core Skills:
  • Partnership and Alliance Building: Generates enthusiasm and commitments from internal and external stakeholders to advance KIPP’s mission.
  • Stellar, Compelling Written & Oral Communication: Tailors communications for different audiences to drive action and behavior change.
  • Effective Collaboration: Develops successful working relationships with diverse constituents to deliver results.
  • Self-Management to Achieve Ambitious Goals: Sets and achieves ambitious goals while investing in team development and data-driven decision-making.
  • Strong Problem Solving: Addresses root causes of problems, removes obstacles, and anticipates risks with proactive solutions.

Work Conditions

• Extensive travel: ~30-50% (65-110 days per year).
• Occasional evening or weekend work (e.g., events, conferences).
• Full-time, exempt position.
• Remote role, with a preference for candidates located in California or Colorado.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $124,800 - $150,000, based on factors such as external market data, internal equity, and relevant experience.

Benefits

• 25 holidays plus 18 days of flexible PTO (increasing to 23 days in years 3-4 and 28 days in years 5+).
• 100% paid parental leave.
• 100% coverage of employee medical, dental, and vision premiums; 75% coverage for employee + family.
• Wellness benefits, including fitness reimbursements, discounted tickets to attractions, backup care support, and an employee assistance program.
• Financial security benefits, including a 401K retirement plan with a 4% employer match, employer-sponsored legal plans, life/disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.