JOB TITLE:

Chief Engagement Officer

GRADE LEVEL:

Grade 139

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

260 Days 12-Month Contract

FLSA STATUS:

Exempt

WORK LOCATION:

Central Office

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:

Superintendent

SUMMARY

The Chief Engagement Officer provides executive leadership for Richmond Public Schools' comprehensive engagement strategy, ensuring that students, families, employees, community partners, businesses, government stakeholders, and the broader community are informed, connected, and engaged in advancing student success. The Chief establishes the vision, strategy, systems, and organizational conditions necessary to strengthen attendance, family and community engagement, strategic communications, community partnerships, advocacy, enrollment, and student access across the division.

Working closely with the Superintendent, School Board, Cabinet, school leaders, and external stakeholders, the Chief leads an integrated approach to engagement that strengthens trust, elevates student and family voice, expands access and opportunity, and advances division priorities. The Chief serves as a senior advisor to the Superintendent and leadership team and represents Richmond Public Schools with community, governmental, business, nonprofit, higher education, and advocacy partners to build relationships, align resources, and advance the division's strategic priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establishes and executes a comprehensive division-wide engagement strategy aligned with the RPS strategic plan, Board priorities, Superintendent priorities, and student outcomes.
• Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for student attendance, strategic communications, family and community engagement, community partnerships, enrollment and student access, and advocacy and policy.
• Establishes performance expectations, accountability structures, and measures of success across the Engagement Office and ensures alignment among departments and division priorities.
• Advises the Superintendent, School Board, and Cabinet on communications, stakeholder engagement, community relations, advocacy, enrollment, student access, and emerging issues affecting the division.
• Leads division-wide strategies to improve student attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism through coordinated school, family, and community efforts.
• Oversees division-wide communications, media relations, crisis communications, branding, digital communications, and high-profile events to ensure consistent, timely, and effective communication.
• Leads strategies that strengthen family engagement, elevate student and family voice, and build school capacity to develop meaningful partnerships with families, including parent-led organizations such as PTAs.
• Leads the division's community partnership strategy, cultivating relationships with businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, higher education institutions, advocacy organizations, and other external partners to expand resources and opportunities for students and families.
• Provides executive oversight of enrollment, registration, selective admissions, and student access systems to ensure equitable, efficient, and student-centered access to educational opportunities across PK-12.
• Oversees the division's McKinney-Vento program and systems for identifying, enrolling, and supporting students experiencing homelessness, ensuring equitable access to education, compliance with federal and state requirements, and coordination of appropriate services and supports.
• Oversees advocacy and policy strategy, including legislative monitoring, government relations, policy analysis, and engagement with local and state leaders.
• Develops and monitors systems, processes, and performance measures that strengthen coordination, service delivery, accountability, and continuous improvement across the Engagement Office.
• Develops, manages, and monitors departmental budgets and resources and directs, develops, coaches, and evaluates department leaders and staff to build organizational capacity and ensure effective use of resources.
• Represents the Superintendent and Richmond Public Schools at community, civic, governmental, business, nonprofit, higher education, and other stakeholder events and forums.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of division priorities and student success.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in education, public administration, communications, business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience, including experience leading complex organizational functions, developing strategy, and managing programs, budgets, and teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading organization-wide initiatives involving multiple departments, stakeholder groups, and competing priorities, preferably in a PK-12 school division or other large public-sector organization.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: family and community engagement, strategic communications, public affairs, advocacy, enrollment, student access, community partnerships, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success in building and sustaining relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including families, community organizations, businesses, government agencies, elected officials, and organizational leaders.
• Experience using data, performance measures, and stakeholder feedback to inform strategy, evaluate outcomes, and drive continuous improvement.
• Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience that provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• No licenses or certifications required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Availability to participate in evening and weekend events, community meetings, Board activities, and other division events as needed.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-responsibility environment requiring sound judgment, responsiveness, discretion, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Frequent interaction with senior leadership, School Board members, school leaders, families, employees, community organizations, government agencies, businesses, media, and other external stakeholders.
• Strong executive presence and ability to navigate complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues.
• Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to respond to urgent communications, community concerns, media inquiries, and emerging issues outside of traditional work hours when necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Comprehensive knowledge of PK-12 education systems, strategic communications, family and community engagement, community partnerships, advocacy, enrollment, student access, attendance, and public affairs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute complex, organization-wide strategies and translate priorities into measurable goals, systems, and outcomes.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and navigate complex and sensitive issues.
• Demonstrated ability to advise and influence senior executives, elected officials, school leaders, and diverse community stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of media relations, crisis communications, digital communications, public engagement, and organizational reputation management.
• Strong analytical, financial, and resource management skills, including the ability to use data and performance measures to inform decisions and evaluate outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, build organizational capacity, establish accountability, and foster collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, political acumen, discretion, and sensitivity to the diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds of students, families, employees, and communities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Light Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Work involves frequent sitting and standing, as well as extended periods of time using a computer, camera, or mobile device. The employee frequently communicates with internal and external audiences, requiring strong verbal and auditory abilities. Occasional walking, reaching, bending, or stooping may be required during event setup, photo or video shoots, and community engagements. Visual acuity is required for reviewing digital and print materials, editing multimedia content, and ensuring accuracy in written and visual communications.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting, with regular work at school sites and community venues. The position requires frequent interaction with students, families, staff, media, and community stakeholders, and may involve travel within the division, evening or weekend work, and responding to urgent or emerging issues. The role requires managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and adapting to a fast-paced environment.

HOW TO APPLY: All applicants (including RPS employees) must submit an online application. Please access the website at: www.rvaschools.net
Please upload a current resume with your application. Three reference names and contact information will be required at the time of application submission.