SY Chief Academic Officer

12 Sherman Ave, New York, New York, United States

Join Our “Relationships-First” Team:

We invite you to be part of a team whose mission-aligned culture offers sustainable, rewarding career paths in teaching, operations, and leadership, built on collaboration and mutual support. Experience the difference at a workplace that celebrates and cultivates each team member’s passions, skills and multi-disciplinary interests as we build a brighter future together, one student at a time.

• A “Relationships-First” culture where you’re valued, supported, and included
• Collaborative planning time and mutual support
• Opportunities to lead initiatives that strengthen student growth at every stage of their PreK–12 education
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including a strong benefits program, a 401(k) with a 6% organizational match
• A bilingual, community-rooted model serving Washington Heights and Inwood including a pantry partnership, Bachata Nights, multicultural festivals, and a reading initiative.

Our Central Office at School in the Square exists to support and strengthen our schools: our Early Childhood Center, our Elementary School, our Middle School, and our growing High School (9th through 11th for SY 26-27). The Central Office is responsible for delivering high quality academic, operational, talent, human resources, financial, and community engagement services and resources that enable school leaders and teachers to focus on student learning and success.

We are looking for dedicated, mission-aligned Central Office staff who will work closely with school-based staff to provide guidance, resources, and problem solving support that will advance instructional quality, organizational effectiveness, and student outcomes.

School in the Square is seeking a Chief Academic Officer (CAO) to lead the design and implementation of the School in the Square instructional vision and quality across all schools in the organization. This position reports to our Executive Director, and serves as the organization’s senior instructional leader who oversees the Central Office Academics team and school-based instructional leaders. The CAO is responsible for spearheading a vision of and strategy for instruction, curriculum, assessment and school advancement that translates into consistently quality learning experiences for students across all campuses.

The CAO has the primary authority and accountability for evaluating the continuous improvement of both academic performance and the teaching and learning across the network, to ensure our students meet their fullest potential.

The CAO will co-lead the organization’s day-to-day work alongside the Chief Operating Officer, ensuring that our academic priorities and operational systems reinforce one another, and supports school leaders in executing with clarity and consistency. The CAO will directly manage our Principals and partner with them to ensure coherence, rigor, and whole-child development across the organization. As we grow into a Pre‑K‑12 academic home for the Washington Heights and Inwood communities, coherence across instructional design and the student experience will serve as an anchoring principle for the CAO.

Together with the Principals, the CAO will set expectations for high quality teaching and learning, build school-based leader capacity, and drive measurable student outcomes. The CAO will also directly manage the Deputy Chief Academic Officer(s), who leads organization-wide instructional initiatives in close partnership with the academics team and consultants.

• Competencies and Attributes:
  • Strategic thinker with a proven track record of resolving complex problems anchored in a high level of integrity and judgment.
  • Highly organized, conscientious and execution oriented, including exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
  • Comfortable and successful in navigating ambiguity and complexity.
  • Collaborative mindset with strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to partner with peers and stakeholders to align on decisions.
  • Deep alignment with organizational values and…