Chief Administrative Officer

District of Columbia Public Schools; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

District of Columbia Public Schools is seeking a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to join the Chancellor's senior leadership. The CAO provides enterprise leadership for administrative and operational functions across the district to support schools, students, families, and employees.

The role requires strategic vision, strong governance, and proven ability to drive improvements while ensuring compliance and effective resource management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and fifteen years of related work experience.
• Master's degree strongly preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Demonstrated success innovating to improve outcomes and services provided to students.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key advisor to the Chancellor, helping to shape and execute the District's strategic priorities and operational agenda.
• Provide enterprise leadership for the District's administrative and operational functions, ensuring alignment, accountability, and service delivery.
• Lead district-wide strategies, policies, and systems that strengthen performance and support student success.
• Oversee planning and stewardship of financial, human, technological, and physical resources to maximize impact.
• Establish and monitor performance goals, metrics, and risk management to drive continuous improvement across the organization.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Risk management

Policy implementation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

The Office of the Chancellor is responsible for implementing the mission and vision of DC Public Schools and is comprised of eight senior management staff that report directly to the Chancellor.

Our goal is to initiate change and lead DC Public Schools into the highest performing school district in the nation through the Chancellor's draft strategic priorities:

• Promote Equity-- Define, understand, and promote equity to close achievement gaps and interrupt institutional bias.
• Empower Our People-- Recruit, develop, and retain a talented, caring, and diverse team.
• Educate the Whole Child-- Provide rigorous, joyful and inclusive academic and social emotional experiences for all students.
• Ensure Excellent Schools-- Increase the number of high quality schools across the district.
• Engage Families-- Deepen partnerships with families and community.

• Promote Equity-- Define, understand, and promote equity to close achievement gaps and interrupt institutional bias.
• Empower Our People-- Recruit, develop, and retain a talented, caring, and diverse team.
• Educate the Whole Child-- Provide rigorous, joyful and inclusive academic and social emotional experiences for all students.
• Ensure Excellent Schools-- Increase the number of high quality schools across the district.
• Engage Families-- Deepen partnerships with families and community.

Our purpose is to ensure that every DCPS school provides a world-class education that prepares all of our students, regardless of background or circumstances, for success in college, career, and life.

Position Overview

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) serves as a key member of the Chancellor's senior leadership team and provides enterprise leadership for theDistrict'sadministrative and operational functions. The CAOis responsible forensuring the effective stewardship of resources, execution of strategic priorities, organizational performance, and delivery of high-quality services that support schools, students, families, and employees.The CAOis responsible forensuring organizational resilience through effective risk management, internal controls, business continuity planning, and crisis preparedness.Under the direction of the Chancellor, the CAO leads complex, cross-functional initiatives and drives continuous improvement across theDistrict’sbusiness and operational systems. The CAO directly supervisestheleaders responsible for theDistrict’stechnology, operations, and fiscal strategy functions and is accountable for theperformance,coordination, and alignment of these offices. The following offices report totheCAO:

• TheOfficeofDataandTechnologysupportsschoolsandthedistricttousetechnologyanddataeffectivelytoaccelerate student achievement. ODT iscomprisedof Information Technology, Data, and Strategic Initiatives teams.

• TheOffice of Operationsis responsible forguiding the operational functions for all schools within theDistrict. OOO includes the Strategic School Operations and Logistics, Food & Nutrition Services, School Security, andFacilitiesPlanning & Designteam.

• TheOfficeofFiscalStrategy(OFS)consistsoftheagencydivisionsofContracts&Acquisitions,Finance,FiscalOperations Systems and Operational Finance (Core) teams to ensure consistent, efficient, andequitablebudget management and procurement across DCPS offices, divisions and schools and works to streamline operations.

This position has been designated as Protection Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying protection sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Consumer Credit Check; Traffic record check (as applicable).

If you are hired into this position at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, DC government regulations require that you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.

The Chief Administrative Officer will report to the Chancellor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serves as a key advisor to the Chancellor, helping to shape and execute theDistrict'sstrategic priorities, organizational goals, and operational agenda.
• Provides enterprise leadership for theDistrict'sadministrative and operational functions, ensuring alignment, effectiveness, accountability, and high-quality service delivery.
• Leads the development and implementation of districtwide strategies, policies, and systems that strengthen organizational performance and support student success.
• Oversees the planning, allocation, and stewardship of financial, human, technological, and physical resources to maximize impact and advance District priorities.
• Establishes and monitors performance goals, key metrics, and accountability systems; evaluates progress and drives continuous improvement across the organization.
• Leads complex, high-priority initiatives and organizational change efforts, coordinating across departments, government agencies, and other partners to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ensures the effective delivery of business and operational services, including functions such as finance, procurement, technology, data and analytics, facilities, security, and nutrition services.
• Identifiesopportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and customer service through innovation, process improvement, and the adoption of leading practices.
• Ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, Board policies, and internal controls while proactively managing organizational risk.
• Develops andmaintainsenterprise risk management, emergency preparedness, business continuity, and crisis response strategies to ensure continuity of operations and effective service delivery across theDistrict.

Qualifications

• Bachelor'sdegreeandtentofifteenyearsofrelatedworkexperience.
• Master'sdegreestronglypreferred.
• Previousexposuretoorexperienceintheeducationsectoraplus.
• Demonstratedsuccessinnovatingtoimproveoutcomesandservicesprovidedtostudents.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact [e-mail].