Chief Education Officer

Mission of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund

The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) unlocks educational opportunities for talented Chicago-area students facing financial need. We partner with Scholars, families, schools, alumni, donors, and community leaders through high school and beyond by providing scholarships, academic programs and personal support so that each Scholar can reach their full potential.

Founded by the Murphy brothers in 1989, DMSF now offers around 150 scholarships to 8th graders each year, supporting more than 500 Scholars in high school with a 100% graduation rate. Those Scholars are attending roughly 40 different parochial and independent day schools in the Chicago area, as well as 40 boarding schools from coast to coast. For more information, please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..org

The Chief Education Officer (CEdO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and strategic partner to the CEO  CEdO provides vision, leadership, and oversight for all Scholar-facing programs and educational initiatives, ensuring that every Murphy Scholar receives the academic, personal, and developmental support necessary to thrive through high school, college, and beyond.

The CEdO leads the Education team and is responsible for developing and implementing innovative and evidence-backed strategies that advance Scholar success, strengthen school and community partnerships, improve program quality, and measure organizational impact. This role works collaboratively with the CEO, COO, Board of Directors, and leadership team to ensure DMSF continues to deliver exceptional outcomes while remaining responsive to the evolving needs of Scholars and families.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, mission-driven, relationship-focused leader who combines educational expertise with strong organizational leadership and a deep commitment to equity and student success.

• Lead the strategic vision and long-term direction for all educational programming and Scholar services.
• Ensure educational initiatives align with DMSF's mission, strategic priorities, and organizational values.
• Identify emerging needs of Scholars and develop innovative programming that supports academic achievement, leadership development, college success, and lifelong engagement.
• Foster a culture centered on equity, excellence, service, partnerships, continuous improvement, and Scholar success.

• Provide executive oversight of all Scholar-facing programs from recruitment through college graduation and alumni engagement.
• Ensure programs consistently deliver high-quality, equitable experiences for Scholars and families.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements based on data, participant feedback, and best practices.
• Lead efforts to identify barriers to Scholar success and proactively develop interventions that improve educational outcomes.
• Ensure a seamless Scholar experience across all stages of the DMSF journey.

• Serve as DMSF's primary executive relationship manager with partner schools and educational institutions.
• Strengthen relationships with school leaders, admissions professionals, counselors, colleges, and community partners.
• Identify and cultivate new school partnerships that expand educational opportunities for Scholars.
• Represent DMSF throughout the education community and position the organization as a leader in educational access and Scholar success.

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the Education team of 9 staff, including 7 direct reports.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, professional growth, and continuous learning.
• Establish departmental goals aligned with organizational priorities and monitor progress throughout the year.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, professional development, succession planning, and performance management for Education staff.
• Foster an environment where staff feel supported, empowered, and connected to DMSF's mission.

• Lead the organization's efforts to measure Scholar outcomes and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Develop meaningful performance indicators that measure academic achievement, persistence, college completion, leadership development, and long-term Scholar success.
• Utilize quantitative and qualitative data to guide strategic decisions and continuous program improvement.
• Collaborate with…