JOB TITLE: Chief of Access, Opportunity, and Equity REPORTS TO: Superintendent of Schools LOCATION: Worcester Public Schools Worcester, Massachusetts POSITION PURPOSE: Under the strategic direction of the Superintendent, this position is responsible for developing and implementing short- and long-range equity goals that support the district's strategic plan, mission, and vision. The Chief of Access, Opportunity, and Equity establishes and monitors institutional policies, practices, and programs that cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging-one that actively respects, values, and responds to the diversity of our students, staff, families, and community. To sustain a district-wide culture of equity, the Chief will lead systemic efforts to narrow opportunity and achievement gaps, eliminate racial disproportionality across student demographics, and direct targeted diversity and outreach initiatives. In addition, this role provides the executive leadership necessary to scale and monitor the district's overarching equity framework, specifically leading the following: - Oversee the Department of Family and Community Engagement, including the strategic development and management of student and family advisory councils. - Oversee the district's Parent Information Center and the district's student enrollment and admission processes and practices. - Lead the district's recruitment initiatives and staff, including the district's Grow Your Own teacher pipeline initiative to cultivate and support diverse local talent for future educator roles. - Provides resources and expertise on access and equity, including knowledge of nondiscrimination laws, regulations, and policies and procedures for effectively responding to bias incidents. - Provides oversight and investigation of all bias-based and Title IX reports - Implements, reviews, and complies with federal and state laws and district policies (oversees the district's Title IX Coordinator). - Foster deep, collaborative relationships with community partners, families, and staff to champion the district's core values. - Develop and implement systems and procedures to address the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students, parents, and families. - Provide cross-departmental oversight to ensure the seamless implementation of culturally responsive practices across all academic areas. - Guide the allocation of district resources through a dedicated equity lens to ensure fair, needs-based distribution. - Support and provide strategic guidance for the district's ongoing school boundary alignment initiative. - Provide coordination, consultation, and assistance to the superintendent and the cabinet on equity and diversity matters related to students, staff, and parents. - Champion the design, scaling, and implementation of district-wide restorative practices to foster a safe, inclusive, and respectful school climate. - Identify barriers to educational opportunity to ensure equitable access to high-quality instruction, programs, services, and resources for every student. - Embed equity into district decision-making, budgeting, strategic planning, and organizational practices to drive a culture of continuous improvement. - Advance equitable outcomes by partnering closely with students, families, educators, community organizations, higher education institutions, and civic leaders. - Expand equitable access to rigorous academic programming, advanced coursework, career pathways, multilingual services, and extracurricular opportunities. - Develop, organize and implement professional development opportunities for district, building, and program staff with an emphasis on equity, inclusion and belonging practices. - Perform additional duties to support the district as assigned by the Superintendent. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - Deep knowledge of current and evolving federal, state, and district requirements related to equity issues. - Proven ability to successfully implement long-term equity practices across all aspects of any organization. - Knowledge of contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion, and multiculturalism concepts and issues, especially in public education - Knowledge of culturally linguistically responsive teaching and education-related practices, social justice, and diversity as fundamental aspects of academic excellence - Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate with students, parents, community representatives, and school personnel from diverse cultures and/or backgrounds. - Demonstrated ability as a professional development trainer, with skills in group facilitation and the ability to deliver culturally and linguistically responsive and related equity training for school-based personnel. - Ability to serve as an internal resource and consultant, working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in a politically sensitive context and complicated by competing perspectives or interests. - Knowledge of and ability to lead people through complex change processes. - Ability to collect, analyze, and use assessment and other school data - Fluent speaker and writer of a second language, Spanish or Portuguese preferred. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: - Master's Degree in education, public administration, or related field. Terminal degree preferred - Licensed or licensable for MA DESE Administrator license - Ten years of increasing responsible experience in a PreK-12 school setting, higher education setting, or executive management in the private sector, - Five or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in educational administration, or an equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. - Deep knowledge and understanding of teaching and learning pedagogy through an equity and inclusion lens or comparable experience in - Proven success working collaboratively in leadership settings - Proven experience in supervising and managing multiple departments and programs - Experience serving in cabinet-level leadership and/or executive leadership with high-impact decision-making opportunities - Experience using equity audits and continuous improvement cycles. - Ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholder groups. This is a full time 52-week position that includes paid sick, PTO, and vacation days, and access to the city's health and dental insurance plans. Salary Commensurate with Administrative Salary Scale: $191,897 - $196,897 per year