Chief Talent Officer

Ingenuity Prep is a supportive school community dedicated to academic rigor and civic leadership, preparing students for the path to colleges and careers of their choosing. Our innovative instructional model promotes small group learning for students, collaborative teaching teams, and robust coaching and professional development opportunities for teachers and staff. We are one of the highest performing schools in Ward 8 and proud recipients of a Bold Performance School award.

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Chief Talent Officer (CTO) to join our executive team. As a C-level leader, the CTO will shape the people strategy for the entire organization, ensuring we are best-in-class at attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse, mission-aligned team. The CTO will develop and execute a comprehensive recruitment strategy that expands our talent reach and implements systematic early hiring processes that position us ahead of traditional hiring cycles.

The CTO will lead a talent team of four, providing strategic guidance and development opportunities for our Director of Talent and HR Manager, serve as both strategic executive and hands-on school leader, and influence school-wide direction through deep engagement in strategic planning and executive decision-making. This leader will bridge day-to-day systems leadership with long-term, equity-centered organizational change while strengthening our already strong organizational culture and team dynamics.

Successful candidates bring a track record of deep talent and recruitment expertise with strategic systems thinking (beyond HR operations), leading through others in educational or charter school environments, driving organizational improvement, and building inclusive, high-performing teams. They thrive on complexity, seamlessly toggle between tactical operations and strategic planning, innovate with purpose, and lead with both conviction and care. The ideal candidate is genuinely excited about being present in a school environment while simultaneously managing complex, multi-year implementation projects and developing talent professionals at all levels.

WHAT WE’RE ABOUT

Mission: We’re closing the opportunity gap. Students and families in Southeast D.C. have too few options for high-quality elementary, middle, and high schools. Ingenuity Prep aspires to right this systemic injustice providing an exemplary educational option for Southeast D.C.’s students and families.

Model: We pair high expectations with high support. Too often, our students are underestimated. At Ingenuity Prep, an innovative teacher development model, paired with best-in-class training from strong instructional leaders, allows us to grow great teachers who, ultimately, lead high-expectation and high-support classrooms.

Results: Our students are defying expectations. Ingenuity Prep’s students outperform their neighborhood peers on rigorous, national, college-track assessments. Already out-performing many of their more privileged peers around the city, in the coming years, Ingenuity Prep’s students will provide an expectation-defying and achievement-gap-closing proof point — showing what our kids are capable of when we provide the right opportunities, expectations, and support.

WHAT YOU’LL DO AS CHIEF TALENT OFFICER:

• Talent Leadership and Innovation (35%): Set the vision for and bring to life a comprehensive talent management strategy to ensure Ingenuity Prep is best-in-class at attracting, selecting, developing, engaging, and retaining diverse and impactful staff members. Expand recruitment reach to build national talent pipelines and implement proactive recruitment strategies that secure top candidates ahead of traditional hiring cycles. Ensure robust systems and experiences to attract, select, onboard, develop, engage, and retain staff. Create a compelling and cohesive adult culture rooted in excellence, equity, and shared ownership. Partner with academic and operations leaders to align staffing with organizational goals. Leverage internal and external data to drive continuous improvement and innovation in people systems. Lead a four-person talent team and directly manage the Director of Talent and Human Resources Manager with strategic coaching and professional development support.
• Human Resources Operations (25%): Stay abreast of HR law/policy trends that could impact Ingenuity Prep’s ability to execute on its mission. Work closely with the CEO, CFOO, and Human Resources Manager to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and reporting requirements. Ensure Ingenuity Prep’s compensation and staffing structures remain aligned and competitive with the broader market and ensure that salary scales are equitable. Serve as a senior resource for high-stakes conflict resolution and HR mediation matters. Partner with the Human Resources Manager to continually optimize HR systems (e.g., HRIS, leave management, learning management, credential tracking).
• School-Wide Leadership (20%): Serve on the Executive Team, shaping the strategic direction of the school. Collaboratively set annual goals and hold the organization accountable to student and staff outcomes. Drive key components of the strategic plan, including metrics tracking and public reporting. Represent Ingenuity Prep with external stakeholders, including board committees, peer organizations, and policy partners. Build trust-based relationships across the school and lead internal communications on talent-related matters. Actively participate in day-to-day school operations while maintaining strategic focus, seamlessly toggling between hands-on school leadership and executive-level planning.
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Leadership (10%): Champion a schoolwide equity strategy that aligns with our values. Design inclusive and equitable recruitment, hiring, and promotion systems that support a diverse team. Redesign and strengthen professional learning on DEI topics for all staff, partnering with external experts while maintaining strategic oversight. Collaborate across teams to create identity-affirming and inclusive work environments.
• Learning and Development (10%): Design and implement Ingenuity Prep’s professional development, pipeline, and retention strategies. Oversee implementation of our multi-year evaluation system overhaul for both instructional and non-instructional staff, coordinating with external partners and internal teams. Cultivate internal leadership pipelines including our Aspiring Leaders program and design career pathways for teachers and staff. Coordinate multiple complex professional development initiatives including our Bridge program for first-year staff experience and DEI training throughout the year.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Ingenuity Prep may be the right fit for you if:

• You hold a passionate belief in Ingenuity Prep’s mission, values, and educational model.
• You relentlessly drive to achieve goals and have a track record of demonstrated success in talent management, human resources and diversity, equity and inclusion leadership.
• You have at least seven years of combined leadership and management experience in recruitment, human resources, evaluation and/or professional development, preferably in a school setting.
• You have a proven ability to create and maintain a strong, positive adult culture achieved through empowering coaching and management practices and a commitment to equity-centered leadership.
• You thrive in a fast-paced environment and have the capacity to remain calm and focused when faced with unexpected challenges.
• You can work collaboratively with all stakeholders to innovate, problem-solve, and/or resolve conflict.
• You have experience coaching and developing junior professionals, particularly in talent and HR functions.
• You demonstrate a strong commitment to growth, professional learning, and leadership.
• You have experience in change management and introducing innovative practices, experience with AI a plus.
• You can join our team between August and October 2025.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

Ingenuity Prep offers among the strongest compensation and benefits packages of any public charter school in Washington, D.C. Our compensation and benefits package includes:

• Highly competitive compensation for instructional and non-instructional positions.
• 100% of medical and dental premiums for employees paid for by Ingenuity Prep, along with 100% of dependent premiums and 50% of spouse’s or domestic partner’s premiums.
• 100% of employee’s short and long-term disability and life insurance plans paid for by Ingenuity Prep.
• A minimum of two weeks maternity/paternity leave, up to 6 weeks, at 100% of pay (60% from IP and remaining pay from DC Paid Family Leave) for all staff — regardless of gender.
• A 100% match -- up to 3% -- on your 401K retirement plan.
• A 100% Ingenuity Prep-paid cell phone plan. You can even bring your current number into our plan.
• MacBook Air computer for professional and personal use.
• Salary Range: $144,200-$180,086 (commensurate with 1-10 years of experience).

Ingenuity Prep does not make hiring decisions based on race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, age, disability, veteran status, religion, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. Covid-19 vaccination is required prior to the first day of employment.