Vice President of Community Engagement and Recruitment

POSITION: Vice President of Community Engagement and Recruitment
LOCATION: DSST: Home Office located in Denver, CO
SALARY RANGE: $127,500 - $154,000 based on relevant experience of up to 10 years.
STATUS/CLASSIFICATION: Full time, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position (Denver, CO).
START: Immediate
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vice President of Community Engagement and Recruitment is a senior leader responsible for designing and leading DSST's community and family engagement strategy in service of our vision of partnership and strong student recruitment outcomes, community trust, and long-term organizational sustainability. This role builds the systems, partnerships, and leadership capacity that enable DSST schools to connect meaningfully with families and communities and to be viewed as trusted partners across Denver, Aurora, and the broader Colorado education ecosystem.

The Vice President of Community Engagement and Recruitment serves as a strategic partner to school leaders and Home Office teams setting direction, building infrastructure, and activating community relationships that support enrollment, advocacy, and family commitment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Engagement Strategy & Systems (35%)
- Design and lead DSST's network-wide family and community engagement strategy aligned to enrollment, community trust, and family engagement goals.
- Develop scalable systems, tools, and engagement models that support consistent implementation across schools.
- Analyze community feedback, engagement data, and enrollment trends to continuously refine strategy and improve outcomes.
- Serve as the senior strategic lead for family and community engagement on the DSST Senior Leadership Team.
- Support and steward an ecosystem of families, community organizations, civic leaders, and partners that strengthens DSST's visibility, credibility, and impact.

Enrollment Strategy & Community Activation (25%)
- Lead the community-based strategy that supports DSST's enrollment goals across all campuses, in close partnership with Family Engagement Teams and School Directors.
- Design and oversee a comprehensive, community-oriented recruitment and family onboarding approach.
- Develop targeted strategies for hard-to-fill grades and campuses, informed by local context, proven sales tactics and data.
- Build a replicable engagement model to support future school launches and growth initiatives.
- Establish clear metrics and monitoring systems to assess enrollment pipeline health and community activation efforts.

Family & Community Engagement (15%)
- Lead DSST's approach to authentic, trust-based family and community engagement.
- Build sustainable partnerships with parent groups, alumni, and community leaders that deepen year round connection and advocacy.
- Design engagement experiences that turn families and community members into informed champions for DSST.
- Use surveys, feedback loops, and engagement metrics to continuously improve family experience and trust.

Partnerships, Advocacy & External Presence (15%)
- Represent DSST in key community forums, coalitions, and public events.
- Cultivate high-impact partnerships with local and statewide organizations, advocacy groups, and civic entities.
- Support charter and public education advocacy efforts in alignment with DSST's mission and values.
- Serve as a visible ambassador for DSST's equity commitments and strategic priorities across Denver and Aurora.
- Participate on the Crisis Response Team, supporting coordinated communication and engagement during moments of public challenge.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building (10%)
- Directly manage and develop members of the Community and External Engagement team, including Community Engagement Recruitment Managers (CERMs).
- Coach and support school and Home Office leaders to strengthen community engagement practices.
- Establish clear expectations, accountability structures, and professional development pathways for engagement staff.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture aligned with DSST's core values.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in external engagement or community relations, or related fields.
- At least 6 years of proven leadership experience managing high-performing teams and cross-functional initiatives.
- At least 6 years of demonstrated success in building and executing engagement strategies that drive measurable outcomes.
- Strong data literacy and experience using dashboards, analytics tools, or CRM systems to inform strategy and decision-making.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Experience partnering with schools or educational institutions, particularly in urban or underserved communities.
- Ability to travel regularly across DSST campuses and external sites in Colorado.
- Deep commitment to educational equity, DSST's mission, and its Core Values.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree in education leadership, public administration, business, or related field.
- Direct experience working in a charter school network or public school system, with an understanding of school enrollment dynamics and accountability frameworks.
- Strong understanding of the Colorado education landscape, including key communities, advocacy groups, funders, and policy influencers.
- Demonstrated ability to design and lead network-wide systems, including data dashboards and performance management tools.
- Experience in strategic growth planning, including financial modeling, stakeholder alignment, and partnership development.
- Successful track record in collaborating with development/fundraising teams to align external engagement efforts with philanthropic goals.
- Experience working closely with boards of directors, senior executives, and public officials.
- Background in alumni relations, advocacy campaigns, or grassroots organizing is a plus.