Chief Innovation & Technology Officer at Reading Partners

Reading Partners' research-backed literacy programs offer collaborative, community-driven solutions based in the science of reading to ensure students receive the quality education they deserve.

About the Organization

Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. We are a leader in working to solve the literacy crisis in our country by leveraging community volunteers in under-resourced schools. Our diverse and expansive volunteer base provides one-on-one tutoring to students twice weekly, and our program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals they need to unlock their potential as successful, happy, and confident readers in school and in life. Our people are our heartbeat and our greatest resource; we are all passionately rallied around our mission to help children become lifelong learners by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that truly works. Join our stellar, committed team leading the charge to deepen our impact and expand our service.

Reading Partners is a proven, evidence-based national program that helps students who have fallen behind in reading accelerate their literacy skills. A MDRC study found that Reading Partners has a statistically significant impact on reading comprehension, sight-word reading, and fluency—equivalent to 1.5 to 2 months of additional literacy growth in a single year, which helps students who have fallen behind in reading accelerate their literacy skills.

Today, Reading Partners is making bold, transformative bets to dramatically scale our impact—aiming to reach hundreds of thousands of students annually through a combination of direct service, strategic partnerships, and technology-enabled innovation. At the heart of our strategic plan is a deep commitment to reimagining what it takes to close the literacy gap—centering racial equity, advancing scalable solutions, and expanding our reach beyond traditional models.

Our growth is fueled by catalytic investments, including an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and a $20 million unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott. These resources enable Reading Partners to test, refine, and scale innovations designed to reshape the literacy landscape for students across the country.

About the Role

What You'll Do

The Chief Innovation & Technology Officer (CITO) is a critical, future-defining role at Reading Partners. The CITO will lead the charge on our most transformative strategic bets at the intersection of education technology, innovation, and literacy. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CITO will play a pivotal role in shaping the organization's innovation strategy and launching new tech-enabled products into the market that will enhance literacy outcomes for children. The CITO will lead Product Development, IT, and R&D and collaborate closely with the program and regional teams, to oversee the entire app lifecycle from concept to pilot to implementation, and ensure alignment with Reading Partners' mission and long-term goals.

The CITO will pilot and lead the Innovation Lab, a new strategic initiative for Reading Partners, to explore new, community-centered, and revenue-generating delivery models beyond traditional tutoring. The Innovation Lab will serve as a dynamic hub for experimentation, design, and breakthrough thinking, focused on addressing the most pressing challenges in literacy through innovative, scalable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a thought partner to the CEO and work closely with other members of the executive team to craft overall organizational strategy and goals, with specific ownership of innovation and technology.
• Lead, manage, and guide cross-functional collaboration across Product Development, IT, and R&D.
• Create, develop, and manage a multi-year strategic approach to innovation across Reading Partners' technology, systems, and goals.
• Provide strategic and architectural oversight of Reading Partners' core tech platforms, including Reading Partners Connects and any future products or integrations.

Who You'll Work With

You will report to the Chief Executive Officer and supervise the following departments : Information Technology, Data Strategy and Evaluation, and the Innovation Lab.

Required Skills and Experience

Location and Travel

This remote role can be based in one of the Reading Partners markets, with a preference for New York City or the San Francisco Bay Area. This role requires approximately 25% travel.

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $255,000 to $300,000 per year, contingent on geographic location.

Diversity at Reading Partners

Reading Partners is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, or current employment status.

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