Head of the K-12 Initiative

About Cornell Tech

Cornell Tech is Cornell University’s state-of-the-art campus in New York City that develops leaders and technologies for the AI era through foundational and applied research, graduate education, and new ventures. Located on Roosevelt Island, the growing campus was founded in partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and in close collaboration with the NYC Economic Development Corporation after Cornell won a worldwide competition initiated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration to create an applied sciences campus in New York City. More than 1,000 Cornell students are now educated annually on the campus, including 700 in Cornell Tech programs. Since opening in 2012, nearly 120 new companies have spun out from startup programs at Cornell Tech, and 95 percent of them are based in New York City. Cornell Tech continues to have a transformative economic impact on the region’s tech sector.

About the K-12 Initiative

The Cornell Tech K-12 Initiative meets the University’s commitment to partner with NYC Public Schools to make artificial intelligence and computer science teachable in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.

Position Summary

The Head of the K-12 Initiative at Cornell Tech is responsible for overseeing all K-12 initiatives and for managing the staff that bring them to life. This is a highly visible, public-facing position building Cornell Tech’s role as a convener and innovator in K-12 computing education. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced academic environment, embraces the opportunities that change and innovation can bring, and seeks to build partnerships with colleagues and stakeholders to help prepare students to be responsible, fluent citizens of the digital age.

Successful candidates will need to have and display the following competencies as part of this role:

• Ensures accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Builds networks - Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organizations
• Plans and aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals
• Resourcefulness - Securing and deploying resources (people, funding, material, support) effectively and efficiently to get things done
• Drives results - Has a track record of exceeding goals successfully despite obstacles and setbacks

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Please submit a cover letter with your application.

Visa sponsorship is not available.

Starting salary range: $142,000 to $170,000

Essential Functions Include

Leadership - 45%

• Set and promote the agenda to fulfill Cornell Tech’s commitment to deep collaboration with NYC Public Schools to help advance AI and computer science education through teacher preparation, resource development and dissemination, and school- and districtwide planning and implementation.
• Provide thought leadership within the campus and University and to the NYC AI and computer science education community, including Cornell Tech’s annual To Code + Beyond conference.
• Build and steward deep partnerships with NYC educators, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, and public policymakers.
• Engage with Cornell Tech faculty, staff, and students, including partnership on NSF proposals, lab visits for visiting K-12 students, joint research, and K-12 experiences relative to their research.
• Oversee engagement with NYC Public Schools including districts, schools, students, and families.
• Lead and supervise a small team, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment; conduct performance management, performance dialogues, ongoing coaching and counseling, and growth and professional development opportunities.
• Represent Cornell Tech externally in person at events, speaking engagements, and meetings.
• Develop and manage the K-12 Initiative’s budget.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the initiative’s policies and procedures.
• Develop and oversee the periodic reports and the development of special reports as needed for compliance.
• Resolve highly complex concerns and problems to assure resolution for participants, educators, and stakeholders

Development - 35%

• Maintain and grow Cornell Tech’s existing funder relationships, providing stewardship through frequent updates on impact and lessons learned, invitations to observe programs, and participation in any grantmaker convenings.
• Develop and maintain relationships with potential funders.
• Collaborate with Cornell Tech’s Development team and the Office of Sponsored Projects to write proposals or grants to support strategic K-12 efforts.
• Work with the Office of Sponsored Projects to fulfill all necessary grant reporting requirements.
• Seek opportunities to partner with others for project and resource development.
• Partner with Comms and Marketing to direct the development of initiative publications and other resources to create a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy.

Content Expertise - 15%

• Present Cornell Tech’s K-12 work to a variety of audiences with fluency
• Promote a robust, meaningful computing education for all K-12 students that embraces emerging technologies and research-based approaches.
• Oversee the development and scaling of existing and new professional learning and curriculum related to Cornell Tech’s K-12 initiatives.

Other position-related responsibilities - 5%

• Participate in projects or other duties as assigned with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification.
• Completion of any university required compliance trainings.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in AI/CS education programs, educational research, AI/CS nonprofit leadership, public-sector initiatives, or complex program management.
• Master’s degree in education, public administration, computer science or related field.
• Lively curiosity about, and enthusiasm for, technology and computing education.
• Demonstrated experience managing people and budgets.
• Demonstrated experience managing and scaling multi-stakeholder programs involving educators, donors, nonprofits, philanthropies, and/or public entities.
• Proven ability to raise money through foundation and private philanthropy, and/or government grant writing. Experience effectively and creatively managing financial resources.
• Comfort and credibility engaging with senior stakeholders, including educators, faculty, government officials, funders, and computing researchers.
• Demonstrated ability to embrace and manage change coupled with an appetite for innovation.
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills.
• A proactive, solution-oriented leader who thrives in fast-paced, cross-functional environments.
• Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences.
• Proven experience connecting inclusion, belonging and wellbeing practices to business goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• A strong New York City network of computer science educators and researchers, NYCPS Experience providing stewardship of funders and stakeholders.
• Strong facilitation experience, including leading workshops, training, or convenings with diverse audiences.
• Experience writing or managing curriculum or standards.