Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officer

About NYC Kids RISE

NYC Kids RISE is a nonprofit organization working with the City of New York and the NYC Department of Education to manage the Save for College Program (the Program). Through the Program, eligible students enrolled in an NYC public school (including participating charter schools), starting in kindergarten, automatically receive a free NYC Scholarship Account with an initial allocation of $100 by NYC Kids RISE on their behalf, invested in a NY 529 Direct Plan, and opportunities to receive additional rewards over time. Their families can open and connect their own college savings account on their child’s behalf, and communities can contribute to groups of these NYC Scholarship Accounts as both a targeted and universal platform for community-driven asset-building in every neighborhood. This approach draws from a variety of best practices and disciplines across the fields of asset building, child savings accounts, financial empowerment, education, community wealth building, urban poverty, neighborhood effects and social capital research, collective impact, and more. Read more about NYC Kids RISE and the Save for College Program and listen to stories from partners who helped build the platform during its pilot phase from 2017 to 2022. You can also view recent articles in Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and the NYCHA Journal; and read more about NYC Kids RISE theory of change in a recent report by the Urban Institute.

After a successful pilot phase in the communities of School District 30 in Queens, NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program expanded citywide during the 2021-2022 school year. This 2024-2025 school year, more than 280,000 students participating in the Program, across ~1,000 elementary schools, have an NYC Scholarship Account for their educational futures.

Position Summary

As a universal community driven wealth-building platform for New York City neighborhoods, the Save for College Program is underpinned by a technology and data platform that combines:

1. A family-facing portal that must meet the needs of NYC’s diverse families across languages, computer capabilities, familiarity with financial products, traditions, and levels of trust in government and nonprofit institutions; and
2. A back-end record-keeping system that integrates educational, financial, and other programmatic data from across public and private agencies., among others.

The effectiveness of this technology platform as an accessible and user-friendly public-facing resource for, ultimately, every NYC public school family--and as secure and efficient record-keeping and CRM system for NYC Kids RISE and its partners--has played and and will continue to play a critical role in the Save for College Program’s day-to-day operations and long-term impact. As a data-driven organization, NYC Kids RISE’s operation largely depends on the processing, manipulation, analysis and tracking/reporting of programmatic data housed within its technology systems. This data serves also as the foundation for the organization’s performance management and related project management systems.

Chief Technology Officer

NYC Kids RISE seeks a creative, entrepreneurial, visionary, and experienced leader and manager to serve as the organization’s first Chief Technology Officer, reporting to the Executive Director. This person will be charged with overseeing and setting the longer-term vision for the Save for College Programs data, information systems, and performance management infrastructure as well as overseeing cybersecurity practices, while also rolling up their sleeves and playing a hands-on role in implementation with the team and other external vendors. Ideal candidates will have a passion for managing teams that build and maintain sustainable, scalable data, technology and project management solutions and designing excellent, easy-to-use products for and in partnership with diverse users. The Chief will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including NYC Public Schools, consultants, school staff, community organizations, other City and State agencies, financial institutions, and participating families to ensure state-of-the-art usability, design, functionality, and sustainability of the Save for College Program’s platform for both its current user base (280,000+ families) and its projected future user base (~1 million users across every NYC public school).

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Information Technology and Product Leadership

• Product owner for the Outcome Tracker platform (a customized version of a software platform provided by a third-party vendor, which serves as the Program’s main technology system), ensuring both day-to-day functionality and continuous improvement in alignment with a bold programmatic vision;
• Oversee projects and initiatives related to the organization’s technology infrastructure and ongoing investments, including software, hardware, and related services. This work includes evaluation, recommendation / selection, and coordination of services related to the launch of new technologies and key updates of existing technology when necessary. This will involve collaborating with a team of external vendors, consultants, software providers, and security advisors. Critical upcoming projects include an organization wide CRM and a student facing web portal;
• Define project metrics and ROI goals for initiatives, track performance post delivery, and communicate product performance regularly with stakeholders;
• Recommend, oversee and implement technology solutions and supportive policies that match the bold vision and fulfill the potential of the Save for College Program as a universal community-driven wealth building platform for New York City neighborhoods including the effective and secure uses of Artificial Intelligence across both product development and operational and programmatic functions within NYC Kids RISE.

Cybersecurity Leadership

• Lead cybersecurity infrastructure, technology, training and key initiatives for the organization in collaboration with an outsourced vCISO firm.
• Oversee data infrastructure, record-keeping systems and other back-end infrastructure to support data security and privacy, operational efficiency, and programmatic impact;
• Ensure proactive engagement of appropriate internal and external stakeholders on cybersecurity initiatives and regular routines. This includes the coordination of tabletop exercises, NIST assessments, regular stakeholder meetings with public body and technology partners, as well as regular meetings with vCISO stakeholders to support momentum on active cybersecurity projects.

Data Analytics and Performance Management

• Oversee the evolution of NYC Kids RISE data systems and architecture ensuring it develops to meet the organizations growing programmatic needs while maintaining the highest levels of cybersecurity;
• Oversee the organization's programmatic performance management and data tracking systems;
• Oversee the data operations and analytics team, and provide strategic direction on all related data operations and analytics projects;
• Support the integration of Tableau within and across the organization;
• Serve as Executive lead on quarterly metrics and annual reporting responsibilities to partner agencies within the City of New York;
• Lead in the continuous learning, improvement, impact, and knowledge sharing for the entire NYC Kids RISE team;

Team Management & Organizational Development

• Supervise, coach, and support direct reports to manage day-to-day operations and long-term projects across operational technology, product development, and data / analytics.
• Drive strategy and manage relationships with the organization’s data technology partners and key stakeholders, including NYC Public Schools and the City of New York.
• In collaboration with both vendors and public partners, both lead and support key processes related to security accreditation and review, ongoing monitoring, data sharing and reconciliation efforts, product support and enhancements, and internal processes related to the underlying technology related to the Save for College Program.
• Serve as an active member of the Executive Team, providing strategic input, leadership, and hands-on support with cross-functional initiatives as needed.
• Along with all NYC Kids RISE employees, maintain, and support other staff and

volunteers to maintain strict adherence to NYC Kids RISE data security and privacy

policies; remaining vigilant on the ways in which NYC Kids RISE can continue to protect confidential information (including Student and Family Data); identify vulnerabilities, and proactively problem solve to improve controls and practices

• Along with all NYC Kids RISE employees, participate and share in the organization’s work to advance racial equity and anti-oppression in the organization’s and program’s operations and practices; proactively identify opportunities to advance the development of an anti-racist organization; share and solicit ongoing feedback and conversations to advance this work

Qualifications

• 12+ years of related technology leadership experience, including 8+ years minimum in managing people and teams. At least two years of experience in senior or executive leadership, with C-level experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing diverse, relevant technology portfolio areas in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, including technology, product leadership, and cybersecurity.
• Proven experience developing and scaling online products and managing in-house and contracted resources to meet product development milestones
• A clear understanding of user experience and SaaS metrics, with attention to metrics around digital equity
• A practical understanding of AI and automation tools; a practical understanding of how these tools can be identified and deployed to improve operational workflows, and a deep understanding of privacy and security considerations when exploring AI functionality
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple complex, interdisciplinary projects through full project lifecycle;
• Proven project and people manager, highly organized, strong attention to detail; ability to manage many concurrent projects with a clear sense of priorities and the ability to identify and communicate tradeoffs
• Ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds;
• Adaptable, flexible and effective problem solver in fast-paced settings; Ability to collaborate, build consensus, deliver, and drive technical decisions with various sized stakeholder groups;
• Superb communication and relationship building skills, ability to translate complex information to diverse audiences; Ability to translate technical concepts and solutions to non-technical and executive audiences;
• Experience leading product teams and managing external vendors;
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills required. Ability to work cooperatively, sensitively, and tactfully,
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to increasing economic opportunities and long-term financial security for low-income New York City families and neighborhoods;

NYC Kids RISE currently maintains a hybrid work environment where staff work both from home and in the office, as determined by the staff member's preferences as well as the needs of our organization and the specific responsibilities of individual roles and teams. Our offices are based in Long Island City (Queens, NY).

To apply, please apply via the online application link. Questions can be directed to Ashley Bourgeois (abourgeois@nyckidsrise.org). The salary range for this position is $200,000 to $250,000.

NYC Kids Rise is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of basis of gender, religion, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, unemployed status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

New York City Kids RISE seeks to create a work environment where all employees can thrive. To help meet this aim, we provide a robust wellness, paid time off, and retirement benefits package to all eligible employees.

Paid Time Off:

• All full-time NYCKR employees receive the following paid time off:
• Vacation days: Up to 15 vacation days per year based on start date. Increases with tenure
• Personal Days: 5 days per year
• Sick Time: Up to 8 sick days per year based on start date
• Office Closures: 12 Recognized Holidays
• Seasonal breaks / office closure: Winter break: the week between Christmas and New Year; Summer break: The week of July 4th
• Sabbatical Leave: After five (5) years of consecutive employment, regular full-time employees may choose to take a fully paid sabbatical lasting consecutive twelve (12) weeks.

Wellness + Commuter Benefits:

• Medical insurance is made available to all regular full-time NYCKR employees through Oxford Health Insurance. We offer one entirely free plan, for all levels of coverage, and one paid plan.
• Free Dental, Vision, Life, and Long Term & Short Term Disability provided through Principal.
• Voluntary Life Insurance for additional coverage
• Paid parental leave for up to 12 weeks
• Commuter Benefits for transit and/or parking
• Healthcare FSA with $500 employer contribution
• Dependent Care Savings account
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Retirement: NYCKR offers its employees the opportunity to open a 401(k) after one year of

service; NYCKR offers an employer match up to 4%