Director of Information Technology

Excel Academy Charter Schools; Chelsea (MA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Excel Academy Charter Schools is seeking a Director of Information Technology to provide operational and strategic leadership across our network of schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This hybrid role requires on-site presence at schools or network offices multiple days per week, with travel between campuses reimbursed.

The ideal candidate will define long-term IT strategy, manage the IT budget and vendor relationships, ensure data privacy, and align technology with instructional

Qualifications

• Experience leading IT strategy and operations in education or similar large networks.
• Ability to define long-term technology roadmaps aligned with instructional priorities.
• Strong governance, vendor management, and budgeting skills.
• Experience with student information systems (e.g., PowerSchool) and data privacy.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single accountable owner of technology across the network.
• Translate organizational goals into a multi-year technology roadmap that balances reliability, innovation, and cost.
• Build operating models that clarify ownership between network teams, school teams, vendors, and internal support staff and drive consistent execution across schools.
• Lead change management for major technology initiatives, ensuring staff readiness and adoption.
• Serve as the strategic owner of the student information system ecosystem, including governance, prioritization, configurations, integrations, and long-term design.
• Oversee operational execution tasks related to student information systems, reporting processes, user management, and cyclical systems maintenance.

Job description

Organization Overview

Excel Academy is a network of 5 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities. The majority of our 1,700 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college.

At Excel, we believe that every student-regardless of race, zip code, or economic status - deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education. During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state. This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support. At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path.

About our Team

Everyday, our team members choose to be positive, drive their own growth, uplift one another, and hold the highest possible beliefs for what students can achieve.

About the Role

The Director of Information Technology will provide operational and strategic leadership, direction (defining the path forward), and administration (facilitating execution) of technology services across the network. This role will develop, recommend, and implement technology systems, policies, and long-term strategy to ensure that technology is reliable, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned to instructional and operational priorities.

The Director of IT serves as the single accountable owner of IT across the network, responsible for both day-to-day system performance and long-term design and optimization of the technology ecosystem.

The Director of IT manages the State Reporting & Data Systems Specialist and is responsible for building sustainable systems and workflows that appropriately delegate operational and compliance-related execution work while maintaining clear strategic ownership and accountability.

This is a hybrid role based in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The Director of IT is expected to work on-site at schools or network offices at least 2 days per week.

Travel between Massachusetts and Rhode Island schools is required; all travel is reimbursed.

During peak operational periods (e.g., summer readiness, start of school, major events, testing windows), this role may require up to 5 days per week on-site based on school and network needs.

Starting Salary & Start Date: $100k - -$135k, commensurate with experience. The ideal candidate would start as soon as possible.

Your Impact

Technology Strategy & Organizational Leadership

• Serve as the single accountable owner of technology across the network, setting vision, priorities, and standards aligned to school needs
• Translate organizational goals into a clear, multi-year technology roadmap that balances reliability, innovation, and cost
• Build operating models that clarify ownership between network teams, school teams, vendors, and internal support staff and drive consistent execution across schools.
• Lead change management for major technology initiatives, ensuring strong adoption and staff readiness
• Serve as the strategic owner of the student information system ecosystem, including governance, prioritization, configuration standards, integrations, and long-term system design.
• Delegate and oversee operational execution tasks related to student information systems, reporting processes, user management, and cyclical systems maintenance while ensuring quality control and alignment to organizational standards

Technology Operations, Infrastructure & Service Delivery

• Oversee end-to-end IT operations, ensuring responsive, reliable, and high-quality support to schools and network teams
• Own infrastructure strategy and execution, including devices, networks, and core systems, to ensure consistent and secure performance
• Monitor system performance and user experience, using data to proactively address issues and improve service delivery
• Serve as escalation point for critical incidents and ensure strong readiness for high-stakes moments (e.g., testing)

Vendor Management, Procurement & Financial Stewardship

• Own relationships with technology vendors and managed service providers, setting performance expectations and ensuring accountability
• Lead procurement strategy and RFP processes to secure high-quality, cost-effective solutions
• Manage the technology budget and align investments to long-term organizational priorities and total cost of ownership
• Oversee technology funding sources (e.g., E-Rate), ensuring compliance and strategic use of funds

Systems, Security & Compliance

• Own prioritization and decision-making related to PowerSchool configuration, integrations, workflows, permissions structures, and connected applications
• Ensure all technology systems meet data privacy,