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Salary Range:

$210,000.00 - $235,000.00 USD annually

As part of Arizona State University’s charter to provide access and excellence, ASU Preparatory Academy (ASU Prep) shares this commitment by demonstrating all students can achieve at the highest levels, regardless of their background. To scale our current impact, ASU Prep is advancing a major expansion program taking fundamental responsibility for the communities we serve.

The Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), working closely with the Managing Director, The MD serves as the architect of ASU Preparatory Academy's strategy, and the CSO will own the cross functional strategic guidance to ensure the various complexities are managed in implementation. Additionally, the CSO will develop quality rubrics to have ongoing ways to monitor quality of operational and relational and political dynamics. Smart goals will be primarily measured through KPIs of retention of students and partners. The CSO will work closely with the Chief Digital Officer and Chief Partnership Officer on overall growth and impact goals.. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the CSO will advise on the identification, evaluation, and execution of opportunities that expand ASU Prep's impact through new schools, strategic partnerships, innovative educational models, and multi-state growth initiatives. This executive will evaluate and leverage state and national policy as ASU Prep builds and scales new models. The CSO will work collaboratively across the organization to transform strategic opportunities into sustainable programs that align with ASU Prep's mission, financial objectives, and long-term vision.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Education, Strategy, or related field; required.

• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in business development, strategic planning, organizational growth, partnerships, or related fields; required. Experience within K-12 education; highly preferred.

• 10 years of executive leadership experience working closely with senior leaders to develop and execute organizational strategy. 

• Demonstrated success leading organizational growth, expansion initiatives, and strategic partnerships. 

• Experience negotiating and managing complex public, private, and nonprofit partnerships. 

• Experience leading cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept through implementation. 

• Active AZ Department of Public Safety (DPS) IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.

• Any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO/Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team on policy, organizational growth, expansion strategy, and long-term planning.

• Work in close collaboration with CDO and CPO on growth strategy, including identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing opportunities for new schools, innovative learning models, partnerships, and geographic expansion.

• Act as proxy for CEO/MD for ASU executive meetings and advise the CEO/MD on Arizona’s overall strategy for ASU Prep’s partnership model. 

• Lead market assessments, demographic analyses, competitive research, and financial evaluations to inform organizational growth decisions in concert with CDO and marketing firm.

• Co-own with the CDO the  multi-state expansion efforts by evaluating regulatory environments, authorizing pathways, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships that support sustainable growth.

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with school districts, higher education institutions, authorizers, policymakers, philanthropic organizations, government agencies, and industry partners to advance ASU Prep's mission.

• Lead the development of scalable partnership and service models that expand ASU Prep's ability to support schools, districts, and education organizations beyond those it directly operates.

• Collaborate with the Chief Operating Officer and senior leaders to ensure operational infrastructure, compliance, pricing, and organizational capacity support long-term growth objectives.

• Advance innovative K-12 to college pathways by leveraging Arizona State University's academic programs, research, technology, and university resources to create differentiated educational models.

• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives that strengthen ASU Prep's position as a national leader in innovative K-12 education.

• Represent ASU Preparatory Academy with external stakeholders, including education leaders, policymakers, funders, community organizations, and strategic partners.

• Establish metrics and evaluate the effectiveness of growth initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and measurable impact.

• Additional duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Knowledge of strategic planning, business development, organizational growth, and partnership development.

• Knowledge of K-12 education, charter school governance, authorizing, education policy, and regulatory environments.

• Knowledge of market analysis, financial modeling, and organizational strategy.

• Demonstrated ability to identify, evaluate, and execute complex growth opportunities.

• Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution.

• Strong political and organizational acumen with the ability to navigate complex institutional environments.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

• Ability to influence executive leaders and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Demonstrated ability to foster innovation while balancing mission, operational excellence, and financial sustainability.

• Strong organizational skills with a reputation for accountability, execution, and follow-through.

• High emotional intelligence with the ability to build trust, inspire collaboration, and lead through change.

• Ability to serve as an executive leader who models ASU Prep's commitment to educational excellence and access.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear and sometimes walk and sit. The employee must use hands, arms and fingers to input data, handle, feel or reach. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs. such as boxes, supplies, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. 

LOCATION:  

Hybrid

TRAVEL: 

Regular travel will be required for site visits, meetings, trainings and/or conferences. Locations may vary and may require overnight stays.

This job description is subject to change at any time.