Director of Information Technology

Job description

Organization Overview

Excel Academy is a network of 5 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities. The majority of our 1,700 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college.

At Excel, we believe that every student—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status - deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education. During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state. This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support. At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path.

About our Team

Everyday, our team members choose to be positive, drive their own growth, uplift one another, and hold the highest possible beliefs for what students can achieve.

About the Role

The Director of Information Technology will provide operational and strategic leadership, direction (defining the path forward), and administration (facilitating execution) of technology services across the network. This role will develop, recommend, and implement technology systems, policies, and long-term strategy to ensure that technology is reliable, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned to instructional and operational priorities.

The Director of IT serves as the single accountable owner of IT across the network, responsible for both day-to-day system performance and long-term design and optimization of the technology ecosystem.

The Director of IT manages the State Reporting & Data Systems Specialist and is responsible for building sustainable systems and workflows that appropriately delegate operational and compliance-related execution work while maintaining clear strategic ownership and accountability.

This is a hybrid role based in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The Director of IT is expected to work on-site at schools or network offices at least 2 days per week

Travel between Massachusetts and Rhode Island schools is required; all travel is reimbursed

During peak operational periods (e.g., summer readiness, start of school, major events, testing windows), this role may require up to 5 days per week on-site based on school and network needs

Starting Salary & Start Date

$100k - -$135k, commensurate with experience. The ideal candidate would start as soon as possible.

Your Impact

Technology Strategy & Organizational Leadership

Serve as the single accountable owner of technology across the network, setting vision, priorities, and standards aligned to school needs

Translate organizational goals into a clear, multi-year technology roadmap that balances reliability, innovation, and cost

Build operating models that clarify ownership between network teams, school teams, vendors, and internal support staff and drive consistent execution across schools.

Lead change management for major technology initiatives, ensuring strong adoption and staff readiness

Serve as the strategic owner of the student information system ecosystem, including governance, prioritization, configuration standards, integrations, and long-term system design.

Delegate and oversee operational execution tasks related to student information systems, reporting processes, user management, and cyclical systems maintenance while ensuring quality control and alignment to organizational standards

Technology Operations, Infrastructure & Service Delivery

Oversee end-to-end IT operations, ensuring responsive, reliable, and high-quality support to schools and network teams

Own infrastructure strategy and execution, including devices, networks, and core systems, to ensure consistent and secure performance

Monitor system performance and user experience, using data to proactively address issues and improve service delivery

Serve as escalation point for critical incidents and ensure strong readiness for high-stakes moments (e.g., testing)

Vendor Management, Procurement & Financial Stewardship

Own relationships with technology vendors and managed service providers, setting performance expectations and ensuring accountability

Lead procurement strategy and RFP processes to secure high-quality, cost-effective solutions

Manage the technology budget and align investments to long-term organizational priorities and total cost of ownership

Oversee technology funding sources (e.g., E-Rate), ensuring compliance and strategic use of funds

Systems, Security & Compliance

Own prioritization and decision-making related to PowerSchool configuration, integrations, workflows, permissions structures, and connected applications

Ensure all technology systems meet data privacy, security, and accessibility requirements (e.g., FERPA, COPPA, Title II)

Build sustainable systems for data governance, risk management, and compliance that reduce manual oversight

Oversee identity, access, and device management to ensure secure and scalable onboarding and offboarding

Ensure strong integration, governance, and performance across core systems, including PowerSchool, Google Workspace, assessment platforms, identity systems, and connected operational applications

Oversee state and federal reporting systems and processes to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely submission of required district data across Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Build sustainable processes for data validation, reporting workflows, and cross-functional coordination that reduce compliance risk and reliance on institutional knowledge

School Technology Enablement (Staff & Student)

Set strategy and systems for staff and student technology, including device lifecycle, inventory, and readiness

Ensure schools are equipped with the tools, resources, and clarity to effectively manage technology at the site level

Partner with school and academic teams to ensure classroom technology supports teaching and learning

Maintain clear documentation and training systems to enable consistent execution across schools

Innovation & Emerging Technology

Evaluate and guide adoption of new technologies, including AI, ensuring alignment to instructional and operational priorities

Balance innovation with practicality, ensuring new tools are scalable, compliant, and value-add

Build internal capacity to responsibly implement and manage emerging technologies across the organization

Qualifications

5-7+ years of experience in technology, operations, or systems leadership, including experience managing complex projects or functions

Experience owning or improving systems that support multiple teams, schools, or sites

Ability to lead vendors or external partners and ensure high-quality service delivery

Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and follow through on key initiatives

Comfort working with technology systems and data, and the ability to learn new tools quickly

Familiarity with data privacy and security best practices in a school or similar environment

Strong communication skills, with the ability to work across technical and non-technical teams

Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders

The ability to focus and thrive in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment;

Mission Alignment

You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;

You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;

You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and

You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.

Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or a language commonly spoken by our students and families at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income.

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Who can apply

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