IDEA Public Schools Careers

Chief of Staff II - Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Chief Operating Officer

Role:

The Chief of Staff II serves as a senior executive partner responsible for advancing organizational priorities, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring effective execution across multiple departments. This role increases the effectiveness and productivity of executive leadership by managing complex priorities, orchestrating cross-functional work, and translating strategy into measurable outcomes.

Acting as a trusted advisor, proxy, and thought partner, the Chief of Staff II operates at the highest levels of the organization - supporting executive decision-making, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring organizational goals are achieved. This role balances long-term strategic planning with the urgency of day-to-day operations and requires exceptional judgment, discretion, and the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.

The Chief of Staff II thrives in complexity, creates structure from ambiguity, and enables leaders to focus on the highest-impact work while ensuring systems, processes, and teams operate efficiently and effectively in alignment with IDEA’s mission and Core Values.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This role typically includes direct management of senior leaders, project managers, and/or functional teams. Scope may include oversight of cross-functional workstreams, leadership development functions, or enterprise initiatives.

Location:

This is a full-time position based in Texas, with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:

Travel may be required up to 25%–50%, depending on organizational needs.

What You’ll Do:

Essential Duties:

·          Acts as a strategic thought partner, confidante, and sounding board to executive leadership

·          Serves as a trusted proxy, representing leadership in high-level meetings, decisions, and communications

·          Leads and executes complex, enterprise-wide strategic initiatives across departments and functions

·          Designs and manages systems that align priorities, track progress, and ensure accountability for results

·          Translates strategic priorities into actionable plans, ensuring measurable outcomes and organizational alignment

·          Manages and develops direct reports, including senior leaders and project managers, to drive execution of key workstreams

·          Coordinates and collaborates with senior leaders, external stakeholders, and cross-functional teams on strategic and operational priorities

·          Facilitates data-driven decision-making by synthesizing complex information into actionable insights, reports, and presentations

·          Establishes and maintains operational rhythms, including meeting structures, planning cycles, and performance management processes

·          Leads or supports annual strategic planning and ensures execution fidelity across departments

·          Anticipates risks, identifies challenges, and proactively develops solutions to complex organizational issues

·          Provides executive-level support in policy development, implementation planning, and organizational decision-making

·          Functions as 'eyes and ears' for leadership by identifying risks, surfacing insights, and navigating organizational dynamics

Additional Duties:

• Performs other duties as assigned in support of executive and organizational priorities

What You Bring

Competencies:

• Make Strategic Decisions: This leader is involved in high-level, strategic decision-making across multiple teams. They analyze complex data sets, predict trends, and make decisions that align with the organization’s strategic goals. They also guide others on their teams to develop strategic thinking and decision-making skills.

• Manage Work and Teams: This leader is responsible for coordination between teams, aligning team objectives with organizational strategy, and ensuring resource allocation is optimized across teams. They also mentor other team leaders to enhance their management skills.

• Grow Self and Others: This leader sets a priority of development for the entire organization. They champion initiatives that promote a lifelong learning culture, ensuring that all staff have access to career development opportunities. They measure the impact of these initiatives on organizational performance and adjust strategies to optimize results.

• Build a Culture of Trust: This leader strategically promotes trust and psychological safety across broader groups, implementing policies and practices that support these values and modeling them in every leadership action.

• Communicate Deliberately: This leader is responsible for communicating complex ideas and strategies across multiple teams or departments. They develop and deliver messages that align with organizational goals, ensuring that their communication strategies enhance team alignment and strategic execution.

Additional Knowledge and Skills:

·          Deep understanding of organizational strategy, business operations, and planning processes

·          Knowledge of human capital practices, including workforce planning, talent development, and organizational design

·          Strong analytical capability, including the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights

·          Advanced project and performance management skills, including managing multiple priorities simultaneously

·          Strong understanding of resource allocation, cross-functional coordination, and operational systems design

·          Exceptional ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership and board-level interactions

·          High level of emotional intelligence, discretion, and sound judgment in handling sensitive and confidential matters

Ability to:

·          Serve as an effective advisor by brainstorming solutions and offering strategic recommendations without creating unnecessary disruption

·          Communicate effectively with executive leadership, board members, and diverse stakeholder groups

·          Navigate ambiguity, competing priorities, and high-pressure situations with composure and clarity

·          Influence outcomes and drive alignment across teams without direct authority

·          Anticipate challenges and proactively develop solutions or recommendations

·          Manage multiple complex priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail

Work Style:

·          Leadership — Willingness to lead, take initiative, and provide direction in complex environments

·          Integrity — Demonstrates honesty, ethics, and professionalism

·          Initiative — Proactively identifies opportunities and takes ownership of outcomes

·          Stress Tolerance — Performs effectively in high-stakes, fast-paced environments

·          Dependability — Consistently delivers high-quality work and follows through on commitments

·          Achievement/Effort — Sets and pursues ambitious goals

·          Independence — Operates with minimal supervision and strong self-direction

·          Self-Control — Maintains composure in challenging or sensitive situations

·          Attention to Detail — Ensures accuracy, quality, and thoroughness

Required Experience:

·          Education: Bachelor’s degree required 

·          Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience supporting senior executives

·          Experience in strategic planning and execution

·          Experience managing complex programs or enterprise initiatives

·          Experience advising and influencing executive leadership

·          Cross-functional leadership with competing priorities

·          Experience developing high-impact written materials

·          High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

·          Proven ability to manage high-profile workstreams

·          Strong written and verbal communication skills

·          Demonstrated emotional intelligence and leadership capability

Preferred Experience:

·          10+ years of relevant experience

·          Master's degree preferred

·          Experience managing senior leaders or multiple functional teams

·          Experience working with executive leadership and/or board-level stakeholders

·          Experience in education systems or similarly complex organizations

Physical Requirements:

·          Ability to travel frequently, including air travel and overnight stays

·          Ability to navigate office and school environments

·          Ability to respond to operational needs across multiple locations

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $119,000 and $142,800, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA

At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values