POSITION: Vice President of Community Engagement and Recruitment

LOCATION: DSST: Home Office located in Denver, CO

SALARY RANGE: $130,000 - $158,500 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

Applications due by Tuesday September 1, 2026 5:00pm MST.

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, engagement, 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 & External Presence (15%)

• Represent DSST in key community forums, coalitions, and public events.
• Cultivate high-impact partnerships with local and statewide organizations.
• 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 leading the coaching structure for Community Engagement Recruitment Managers (CERMs), who report to school leadership.
• 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.

Initial Priorities (First 12-18 Months)

• Improve enrollment pipeline health through targeted community activation strategies.
• Assess and strengthen existing community and family engagement systems and tools.
• Clarify roles, expectations, and success metrics for CERMs and school-based engagement efforts.
• Build strong relationships with school leaders, families, and key community partners.

Outcomes & Measures of Success

• Strong enrollment pipelines and improved conversion in partnership with schools and operations
• Increased family trust, engagement, and advocacy support
• Sustainable, high-impact community and organizational partnerships
• Clear, scalable engagement systems used consistently across the network
• Effective leadership and development of the external engagement team

Additional Duties (5%)

• Model DSST's Core Values and commitment to equity as a network leader
• Contribute to Home Office culture and cross-functional collaboration
• Engage regularly with school communities to strengthen Home Office-school alignment
• Support Home Office and network-wide events as needed

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.

Please note: The DSST Talent Team replies to every application. If you haven't heard from us by the indicated timeline, please check your spam folder first. If you don't see an email there, reach out to us at . We're committed to providing an exceptional candidate experience.

Application Timeline

This is an evergreen position, meaning DSST Public Schools recruits for this role on an ongoing basis to support current and anticipated hiring needs across our network. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and qualified candidates may be contacted for interviews as opportunities become available.

For positions with a defined hiring timeline, the anticipated application deadline will be listed at the top of the job posting.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing these duties, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear and may spend extended periods standing, walking, bending, or kneeling. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 30 pounds and have sufficient hand and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment.