Director, Systems and Data Projects

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.

The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.

Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.

Your Impact

The Director leads Achievement First's enterprise-wide business systems modernization initiative, a strategic multi-phase project critical to the organization's next 25 years of growth and operational excellence. This role requires exceptional project management expertise, systems transformation experience, and the ability to orchestrate complex, cross-functional initiatives across our multi-state charter management organization. The Director will manage high-stakes decisions affecting enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and business intelligence systems that serve roughly 40 schools across Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. This position directly impacts Achievement First's ability to scale effectively, improve operational efficiency, and maintain our leadership position in education reform through transformational technology initiatives.

Reporting directly to the Associate Chief of Systems and Data you will be responsible for:

Strategic Project Leadership & Enterprise Transformation

• Lead enterprise-wide business systems transformation initiative
• Partner with consultants to develop and execute multi-year strategic implementation roadmaps across all organizational functions
• Make autonomous decisions on project scope, resource allocation, and timeline adjustments with direct accountability to leadership
• Drive transformational change management across Achievement First
• Establish governance structures and decision-making frameworks for complex, high-stakes technology initiatives

Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management & Leadership

• Facilitate decision-making involving competing priorities and resource constraints
• Manage relationships with external consultants, vendors, and technology partners tied to major organizational investments
• Coordinate activities across multiple states, ensuring compliance with diverse regulatory requirements
• Influence and align stakeholders at all levels without direct authority, demonstrating advanced leadership skills

Systems Integration & Technical Program Management

• Oversee technical architecture decisions for enterprise systems integration (student information systems, finance, HR)
• Lead consultant selection processes for multi-year system platform contracts
• Project manage data migration strategies across legacy and new systems
• Ensure implementations meet security, compliance, and scalability standards across states
• Direct technical teams and consultants on system design, customization, and integration

Resource Optimization

• Optimize allocation of staff, contractors, and vendor resources
• Develop ROI projections and business cases to guide executive decision-making
• Control project expenditures to ensure delivery within approved financial parameters
• Negotiate contracts and service agreements with strategic partners

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree (B.A. or B.S.) required; Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Information Systems, or related field preferred
  
  
• Experience:
• 8–10 years of progressive project management experience, with a proven ability to lead large-scale, multi-year initiatives
• Demonstrated success in managing executive-level stakeholders and cross-functional teams
• Experience working within multi-location or multi-state organizations strongly preferred
• Background in education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations strongly preferred
  
  

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge:
• Advanced understanding of enterprise software implementation methodologies and best practices
• Familiarity with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and business intelligence platforms, including integration requirements across systems
• Strong understanding of data migration strategies, systems integration, and organizational change management principles
• Knowledge of compliance requirements, regulatory frameworks, and operational complexities within the education sector
  
  
• Skills:
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
• Proven capacity to manage multiple priorities, balance competing demands, and deliver results on time and within budget
• High level of adaptability and resilience in leading transformation in dynamic environments

Travel Expectations 

This is a hybrid role. The expectation is that the person in the role would be able to come into the NYC Network Support office at least 1 day a week. There may be additional travel to regions outside of your own on a monthly basis. 

Compensation
Achievement First sets salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on the requisite skills, education, and experience relevant to the role.  The salary for this position is $117,753. In order to uphold our commitment to equity, Achievement First does not negotiate pay.  Additionally, Achievement First offers to all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match, and paid Family Leave.

Achievement First is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. You can learn more about diversity at Achievement First here: http://achievementfirst.org/about-us/diversity/