Chief Academic Innovation Officer

Newark Academy•Livingston, NJ

3d•$140,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Newark Academy seeks a Chief Academic Innovation Officer (CAIO) to help shape the future of its academic program. The CAIO will examine longstanding assumptions and fundamental structures of teaching and learning, and lead the development and implementation of approaches that reconsider what students learn, how they learn and demonstrate learning, and how the school prepares students for college and life beyond school. The work is grounded in challenging and joyful learning, intellectual curiosity, student agency, and strong educational relationships. Working collaboratively across divisions and departments, the CAIO will build support for ambitious ideas and ensure that innovation leads to meaningful, sustainable change. The role provides strategic leadership for academic scheduling and considers how time, courses, and resources shape students’ educational experiences. The CAIO is a member of the senior leadership team and partners closely with the Head of School, Assistant Head for Teaching & Learning, division principals, department chairs, and other school leaders. The position may include other duties as assigned by the Head of School.

Requirements

Significant successful experience in teaching and academic leadership.
Demonstrated success in leading meaningful academic or institutional change.
Deep understanding of educational philosophy, curriculum, assessment, and research on teaching and learning.
Strong understanding of artificial intelligence and its implications for teaching, learning, assessment, and the development of independent student thinking.
Familiarity with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the opportunities and challenges of advanced college-preparatory education.
Ability to question conventional practices, think strategically, exercise sound judgment, and translate ambitious ideas into practical, sustainable change.
Collaborative leadership style and a proven ability to earn trust, build consensus, and engage colleagues in institutional improvement.
Exceptional communication, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with academic scheduling, complex program design, or the strategic allocation of academic resources.
Advanced degree in education, educational leadership, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Head of School, Assistant Head for Teaching & Learning, division principals, and academic leaders to develop and advance a long-term vision for Newark Academy’s academic program.
Examine academic structures—including curriculum, departmental organization, course requirements, academic pathways, assessment, and use of time—and identify opportunities for meaningful change.
Develop and lead a multi-year academic innovation plan, establishing priorities and translating the school’s educational vision into concrete initiatives.
Guide the school’s response to artificial intelligence and other developments shaping education, with attention to independent thinking, intellectual development, teaching, learning, and assessment.
Help shape the future of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement opportunities in support of the school’s broader educational vision.
Explore models for experiential learning, research, collaboration, and partnerships connecting academic study with the world beyond the classroom.
Examine the relationship between academic expectations, student well-being, and the overall student experience, seeking ways to strengthen academic excellence and balance.
Study exemplary educational programs and emerging practices at independent schools, colleges, universities, and other organizations, and translate relevant insights into opportunities for Newark Academy.
Build trust and institutional alignment around academic priorities, engaging faculty, students, and administrators in the process of change.
Foster intellectual curiosity, thoughtful experimentation, and continuous improvement, encouraging faculty to question assumptions and explore new approaches to teaching and learning.
Partner with the Assistant Head for Teaching & Learning and division principals to support faculty in developing, piloting, evaluating, and implementing educational approaches.
Establish goals, timelines, and measures of success for major initiatives, and use evidence of student learning and experience to evaluate their impact.
Engage faculty, students, and families in conversations about the future of teaching and learning.
Partner with Admissions, Advancement, and Marketing & Communications to articulate the distinctive strengths and future direction of the academic program.
Help strengthen a school culture in which academic excellence includes what students contribute as well as what they achieve.
Provide strategic leadership for the annual academic scheduling process so that the schedule reflects and advances the school’s educational priorities.
Examine how the school day, academic calendar, course offerings, and faculty responsibilities might evolve to create new teaching and learning opportunities.
Lead exploration and development of scheduling models that support interdisciplinary study, experiential education, academic choice, student well-being, and effective use of faculty expertise.
Collaborate with division principals, department chairs, and academic leaders to balance student interests, program requirements, faculty responsibilities, and institutional resources.