Chief College Officer
As the Chief College Officer (CCO) at IDEA Public Schools, you will lead the vision and execution of our "College for All" mission while advancing IDEA's long-term 2035 impact statement : We want every student to have a life of meaningful, empowered choice. College remains the most likely path to achieving that goal and therefore will continue to be IDEA's focus strategy. But college is not the ultimate destinationa meaningful life is. In this role, you will oversee the full continuum of college successfrom college match and access to alumni college completionensuring that IDEA students are prepared not only to graduate from college, but also to pursue fulfilling lives of agency, opportunity, and purpose. Reporting directly to the Deputy Superintendent, you will manage strategic initiatives that guarantee 100% of IDEA seniors matriculate to college and that a growing number of alumni persist and graduate, while also strengthening their capacity to navigate multiple pathways toward empowered futures.
Supervisory Responsibilities Includes Vice Presidents and a Chief of Staff overseeing College Counseling, Alumni Affairs, and College Persistence.
Location Requirement This position may work in any of IDEA Public Schools' regions, including Austin, San Antonio, Rio Grande Valley, Houston, Tarrant County, El Paso, or Permian Basin.
Campus, Regional or Network-Wide Role National (Supports multiple regions)
Travel Requirements Up to 40% travel, depending on organizational priorities and seasonal needs.
Essential Duties
- College Matriculation and Match : Ensure 100% of IDEA seniors matriculate each year. Oversee all strategies related to college applications, financial aid, post-graduation follow-up, and matriculation follow-up. Lead a college match strategy that ensures 50%+ of seniors enroll in Tier 1 or Tier 2 colleges.
- College Counseling Excellence : Coach and support college counselors, school leaders, and regional leaders to ensure college counseling excellence. Align college match strategies with the 2035 vision by helping students make choices that expand their long-term life opportunities, not just immediate enrollment.
- Alumni Success and College Completion : Increase alumni college graduation rates annually to 60+% six-year rates. Oversee the alumni coaching program, ensuring outcomes-focused and solutions-driven advising. Lead innovation in IDEA's college persistence model, including virtual and campus-based support systems.
- Higher Education Partnerships : Strengthen partnerships with higher education institutions to support IDEA alumni. Integrate IDEA's 2035 impact lens by supporting alumni to see college as a launching point for empowered and meaningful lives.
- College Counseling Team Leadership : Recruit, develop, and retain top talent for college counseling roles across IDEA's network. Oversee onboarding, training, and leadership development for College Counselors and Directors of College Counseling.
- Team Performance and Culture : Monitor team performance, provide actionable coaching, and invest deeply in staff culture and belonging. Foster a national culture of achievement, joy, and mission alignment among the counseling teamanchored in the belief that every student deserves empowered choice.
- Organizational Leadership : Lead a high-performing HQ team through clear vision-setting, strategic planning and execution, progress monitoring, and leadership development. Build a strong team culture through feedback, recognition, collaboration, and shared accountability with the Executive Team made up of Chiefs, Deputy Superintendent, President, and CEO | Superintendent.
Additional Duties
Strategic Goal Alignment : Ensure goal alignment across all College Success team functions with IDEA's broader 2035 strategy.Cross-Functional Collaboration : Collaborate cross-functionally with Academics, Schools, Talent, and Operations teams to ensure K16 continuity that supports student empowerment.Executive Team Collaboration : Collaborate and communicate across the entire Executive Team made up of Chiefs, Deputy Superintendent, President and CEO | Superintendent.Data-Driven Innovation : Use data and strategic insights to continuously improve college success systems and outcomes across the organization.WHAT YOU Will Bring Competencies
Make Strategic Decisions This team member embodies IDEA's mission and values in decision-making, balancing bold vision with ethical and operational rigor. They establish governance frameworks that ensure consistency and accountability organization-wide, while applying systems thinking to break down silos and drive data-informed continuous improvement.Manage Work and Teams This team member designs scalable systems that anticipate future organizational needs, driving sustainable impact through cross-functional collaboration and strategic problem-solving. They foster a culture of ownership and accountability, lead change with clarity and purpose, and balance hands-on leadership with empowering others to build capacity and achieve long-term success.Grow Self and Others This team member embeds development priorities into strategic planning, ensuring organization-wide systems and resources support continuous learning. They build and empower senior leadership teams to drive performance, innovation, and inclusivity, while executing a comprehensive talent strategy that spans the full employee lifecycle and cultivates a culture of lifelong growth.Build a Culture of Trust This team member exemplifies IDEA's values and ethical standards through integrity, transparency, and responsible stewardship. By openly sharing decision rationale and fostering curiosity and inclusion, they build trust across the organization and create a culture where diverse perspectives are valued.Communicate Deliberately This team member sets and upholds communication standards across the organization, ensuring clarity and trust, especially during times of change or crisis. They lead major initiatives with strategic, context-rich messaging, proactively shaping narratives that address challenges, foster resilience, and align stakeholder perception with organizational impact.Additional Skills
Strategic planning and KPI trackingManaging and coaching large teams toward measurable goalsUsing data to drive decisions and improve systemsInfluencing internal and external stakeholders across complex organizations Public speaking, written communication, and strategic storytellingBuilding national strategies and translating them into region- and campus-level actionSolving complex problems with urgency and insightRequired Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree required10+ years of progressive experience in college access, student success, or education leadershipExperience managing multi-functional teams and large-scale initiatives and systemsDemonstrated success in improving college enrollment and completion outcomes for underrepresented studentsPreferred Education and Experience
Master's degree in Education, Counseling, or related field preferredPhysical Requirements of the Job
Must be able to travel up to 40% of the time to various IDEA regionsMust be able to work in office and campus environmentsMust be able to sit for extended periods during meetings and work sessionsMust be able to use a computer and other office equipment for extended periodsAdditional Context
Salary for this role is commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications, in alignment with internal equity. The role is also eligible for performance pay tied to organizational outcomes.
Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https : / / ideapublicschools.org / careers / benefits / .
Application process : Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Learn more about IDEA At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here : https : / / ideapublicschools.org / our-story / #core-values