Director of Strategy

Position Description

The Director of Strategy is a key member of the Regional Leadership Team and partners closely with the Executive Director to lead several critical work streams that support the success and sustainability of the region’s schools.

While this role is not student-facing, its work directly supports school leaders and regional teams in delivering strong outcomes for students and families. The Director of Strategy leads the coordination and execution of several region-wide priorities, including annual planning, board governance, charter and regulatory compliance, internal communications, and growth initiatives.

This role is well suited for a strategic operator and project leader who can manage complex initiatives, build effective systems, and ensure high-quality execution across multiple priorities in a dynamic school-based environment.

Essential Functions

Regional Strategy & Annual Planning

• Lead the coordination and execution of the annual regional planning process( 3-year strategic plan ) in partnership with the Executive Director and Regional Leadership Team to guide regional sustainability.

• Translate regional priorities into clear plans, timelines, and project structures to support effective implementation across schools and regional teams.

• Track progress against regional goals and initiatives, ensuring alignment across teams and surfacing potential risks or delays.

• Support the Executive Director in preparing materials, updates, and progress reviews related to regional priorities

Attendance & Family Engagement

• Manage attendance strategies to improve student retention and reduce chronic absenteeism.

• Oversee family engagement initiatives, ensuring strong partnerships between schools and families to support student success. Work to ensure that family engagement goals are clear, with structures and clarity for success and a strong plan for execution at all schools

• Serve as the connective leader  and professional development manager for Operations Managers (OMs), ensuring they are effectively developed and supported in meeting enrollment, attendance, and family engagement goals.

Enrollment & Family Recruitment

• Lead the regional strategy and execution to ensure all Rocketship schools in the region reach full enrollment each year.

• Manage the enrollment team and oversee recruitment campaigns, community outreach, and family engagement initiatives that drive enrollment across the region.

• Partner with network Strategy, Data, and Enrollment teams to set enrollment targets and manage performance across the enrollment funnel.

• Monitor weekly enrollment data and adjust strategies to ensure strong performance and rapid improvement where needed.

• Oversee the effective use of systems including HubSpot, SchoolMint, and PowerSchool to manage prospective family engagement and enrollment operations

• Partner closely with school leaders to align enrollment strategies with school priorities and community needs.

Internal Communciations

• Lead regional internal communications to ensure clarity and alignment across schools and regional staff.

• Develop executive communications on behalf of the Executive Director that reinforce regional priorities and highlight school and student successes.

• Ensure timely dissemination of key updates that directly impact school leaders, staff, and operational execution.

• Align regional messaging with network-level communications to maintain consistency and transparency.

Board Governance & Management

• Lead the day-to-day coordination and management of the regional Board of Directors in partnership with the Executive Director.

• Plan and execute board and committee meeting logistics, including scheduling, agenda development, and materials preparation.

• Manage board calendars, documentation, and governance processes to ensure compliance with bylaws and charter requirements.

• Coordinate board member onboarding, trainings, and documentation processes.

• Partner with national teams to maintain strong governance practices and support effective board engagement.

Charter Management & Regulatory Compliance 

• Lead project management of charter applications, renewals, and amendments for schools within the region.

• Oversee ongoing authorizer compliance and reporting requirements, including documentation, deadlines, and coordination with network teams.

• Monitor relevant regulatory requirements and policy updates that affect schools within the region.

• Develop systems and processes to ensure the region remains in compliance with applicable charter, state, and regulatory requirements.

• Partner with regional and national teams to address compliance challenges and maintain strong relationships with authorizers and regulatory bodies.

Regional Growth Strategy

• Manage project planning and execution for regional expansion initiatives, including new school launches, grade-level growth, and the enrollment process.

• Conduct research and coordination related to potential expansion opportunities, including enrollment demand, facilities considerations, and community partnerships.

• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure readiness across facilities, enrollment, staffing, operations, and community engagement.

• Support relationship-building with community leaders, families, and other stakeholders to advance sustainable regional growth.

Crisis Response & Issue Management

• Serve as regional lead for crisis coordination in partnership with Marketing/Communications and Legal teams.

• Develop and maintain crisis response protocols that prioritize student safety, school continuity, and regulatory compliance.

• Ensure rapid and coordinated communication during high-stakes situations affecting schools, staff, or families.

• Support school leaders and regional staff in navigating sensitive or high-risk issues with professionalism and sound judgment.

Required Qualifications

7  years of professional experience in strategy, operations, consulting, public sector leadership, or education management.

Demonstrated success managing complex projects or operational workstreams involving multiple stakeholders.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive and board-facing materials.

Strong organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

High level of discretion and judgment when handling sensitive issues affecting schools and communities.

Deep commitment to educational equity and to advancing outcomes for students served by Rocketship schools.

Bachelor's Degree required.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience working in/with schools. In absence of this, an eagerness to dive right in and spend time in our schools to understand their operations would be critical.

Experience working with boards, governance structures, charter authorizers, or public-sector compliance strongly preferred.

Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both orally and written.

Deep experience using data to drive decision-making.

Relationship-building and influencing skills, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.

Experience in a non-profit and/or start up

Results and quality-focused with an eye for detail

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.