Chief Technology Officer

NYC KIDS RISE•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

NYC Kids RISE is a nonprofit organization collaborating with the City of New York and the NYC Department of Education to manage the Save for College Program. This program provides eligible kindergarten students in NYC public schools with a free NYC Scholarship Account, an initial $100 allocation, and opportunities for additional rewards. Families can connect their own college savings accounts, and communities can contribute to these scholarship accounts, leveraging best practices from asset building, child savings accounts, financial empowerment, and more. After a successful pilot, the program expanded citywide, now serving approximately 380,000 students with NYC Scholarship Accounts for their educational futures. The Save for College Program is supported by a technology and data platform that includes a family-facing portal designed for diverse NYC families and a back-end record-keeping system integrating educational, financial, and programmatic data. The effectiveness of this platform is crucial for day-to-day operations and long-term impact, as NYC Kids RISE is a data-driven organization relying heavily on data processing, manipulation, analysis, tracking, and reporting for performance management. NYC Kids RISE is seeking its first Chief Technology Officer, a creative, entrepreneurial, visionary, and experienced leader and manager. This individual will be responsible for overseeing and setting the long-term vision for the Save for College Program’s data and information systems, including cybersecurity practices. The role also involves hands-on implementation with the team and external vendors. The ideal candidate will be passionate about managing teams that build and maintain sustainable, scalable data, technology, and project management solutions, and designing user-friendly products in partnership with diverse users. The Chief Technology Officer will collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders, including NYC Public Schools, consultants, school staff, community organizations, City and State agencies, financial institutions, and participating families, to ensure state-of-the-art usability, design, functionality, and sustainability of the platform for its current and projected future user base.

Requirements

12+ years of related technology leadership experience, including 8+ years minimum in managing people and teams
At least two years of experience in senior or executive leadership
Demonstrated experience overseeing diverse, relevant technology portfolio areas in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, including technology, product leadership, and cybersecurity
Proven experience developing and scaling online products and managing in-house and contracted resources to meet product development milestones
A clear understanding of user experience and SaaS metrics, with attention to metrics around digital equity
A practical understanding of AI and automation tools; a practical understanding of how these tools can be identified and deployed to improve operational workflows, and a deep understanding of privacy and security considerations when exploring AI functionality
Proven ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple complex, interdisciplinary projects through full project lifecycle
Proven project and people manager, highly organized, strong attention to detail; ability to manage many concurrent projects with a clear sense of priorities and the ability to identify and communicate tradeoffs
Ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds
Adaptable, flexible and effective problem solver in fast-paced settings
Ability to collaborate, build consensus, deliver, and drive technical decisions with various sized stakeholder groups
Superb communication and relationship building skills, ability to translate complex information to diverse audiences
Ability to translate technical concepts and solutions to non-technical and executive audiences
Experience leading product teams and managing external vendors
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills required
Ability to work cooperatively, sensitively, and tactfully
Demonstrated interest in and commitment to increasing economic opportunities and long-term financial security for low-income New York City families and neighborhoods

Nice To Haves

C-level experience strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Product owner for the Outcome Tracker platform (a customized version of a software platform provided by a third-party vendor, which serves as the Program’s main technology system), ensuring both day-to-day functionality and continuous improvement in alignment with a bold programmatic vision
Leader on expanded and integrated product development and vision for the organization, as it relates to Program participant-facing technology and platforms
Oversee projects and initiatives related to the organization’s technology infrastructure and ongoing investments, including software, hardware, and related services. This work includes evaluation, recommendation / selection, and coordination of services related to the launch of new technologies and key updates of existing technology when necessary. This will involve collaborating with a team of external vendors, consultants, software providers, and security advisors. Critical upcoming projects include an organization wide CRM and a student facing web portal
Define project metrics and ROI goals for initiatives, track performance post delivery, and communicate product performance regularly with stakeholders
Recommend, oversee and implement technology solutions and supportive policies that match the bold vision and fulfill the potential of the Save for College Program as a universal community-driven wealth building platform for New York City neighborhoods including the effective and secure uses of Artificial Intelligence across both product development and operational and programmatic functions within NYC Kids RISE
Lead cybersecurity infrastructure, technology, training and key initiatives for the organization in collaboration with an outsourced vCISO firm
Oversee data infrastructure, record-keeping systems and other back-end infrastructure to support data security and privacy, operational efficiency, and programmatic impact
Ensure proactive engagement of appropriate internal and external stakeholders on cybersecurity initiatives and regular routines. This includes the coordination of tabletop exercises, NIST assessments, regular stakeholder meetings with public body and technology partners, as well as regular meetings with vCISO stakeholders to support momentum on active cybersecurity projects
Oversee the evolution of NYC Kids RISE data systems and architecture ensuring it develops to meet the organization’s growing programmatic needs while maintaining the highest levels of cybersecurity
Oversee the data operations and analytics team, and provide strategic direction on all related data operations and analytics projects
Support the integration of Tableau within and across the organization
Lead in the continuous learning, improvement, impact, and knowledge sharing for the entire NYC Kids RISE team
Supervise, coach, and support direct reports to manage day-to-day operations and long-term projects across operational technology, product development, and data / analytics
Drive strategy and manage relationships with the organization’s data technology partners and key stakeholders, including NYC Public Schools and the City of New York
In collaboration with vendors and public partners, both lead and support key processes related to security accreditation and review, ongoing monitoring, data sharing and reconciliation efforts, product support and enhancements, and internal processes related to the underlying technology related to the Save for College Program
Serve as an active member of the Executive Team, providing strategic input, leadership, and hands-on support with cross-functional initiatives as needed
Along with all NYC Kids RISE employees, maintain, and support other staff and volunteers to maintain strict adherence to NYC Kids RISE data security and privacy policies; remaining vigilant on the ways in which NYC Kids RISE can continue to protect confidential information (including Student and Family Data); identify vulnerabilities, and proactively problem solve to improve controls and practices
Along with all NYC Kids RISE employees, participate and share in the organization’s work to advance racial equity and anti-oppression in the organization’s and program’s operations and practices; proactively identify opportunities to advance the development of an anti-racist organization; share and solicit ongoing feedback and conversations to advance this work