Chief Talent and Engagement Officer

Chief Talent and Engagement Officer JobID: 15249

• Position Type:

  Administration/ Director

• Date Posted:

  3/9/2026

• Location:

  ELSC

• Date Available:

  July 1, 2026

Chief Talent & Engagement Officer

CLASSIFICATION: Executive Cabinet and Executive Leadership Team Member

REPORTS TO: Superintendent of Schools

SUPERVISES: Human Resources (Director and Manager), Communications Department, and other assigned personnel

Salary: Negotiable

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Provide executive leadership for districtwide internal and external communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with district priorities

• Set strategic direction for messaging, tone, timing, and coherence across all communication platforms

• Guide communications during complex, sensitive, or high-impact situations to maintain trust and public confidence

• Ensure staff receive timely and relevant information and families receive accessible and consistent communication

• Design and oversee comprehensive engagement and feedback systems, including listening sessions and structured feedback loops

• Ensure feedback is analyzed, communicated transparently, and acted upon

• Support meaningful engagement opportunities for the Superintendent and Board of Education

• Provide executive oversight of Human Resources operations

• Supervise and evaluate the HR Manager

• Ensure consistent, fair, ethical, and legally compliant people practices across the district

• Support leaders with staffing transitions, performance management, investigations, and employee relations matters

• Partner with executive leadership to align workforce planning with district priorities and long-term sustainability

• Strengthen recruitment, retention, and workforce stability strategies, particularly in high-need areas

• Provide strategic leadership for Grow Your Own initiatives, including STARS (Students, Teachers, Administration, Retention, and Succession)

• Strengthen internal pipelines for future teachers, administrators, and district leaders

• Align recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and professional development systems to reduce early attrition and build long-term capacity

• Lead districtwide efforts to strengthen organizational culture and climate

• Advance the district's Care, Clarity, and Communication framework through intentional systems and practices

• Promote belonging, professionalism, accountability, and psychological safety

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Superintendent on leadership dynamics, organizational health, and change readiness

• Ensure culture initiatives are integrated into operational and instructional decision-making

• Partner with district leadership to support student enrollment stabilization and growth through trust-building and consistent messaging

• Strengthen public confidence in the district's direction, stability, and values

• Collaborate closely with finance, operations, and instructional leadership teams to ensure alignment between executive decisions, messaging, and staff and community experience

• Serve as a member of the Superintendent's Cabinet

• Support district-level engagement with city leadership, business and industry, higher education, and community institutions

• Provide data analytics and quality measures to support and monitor improvement efforts within areas of responsibility

• Respond in a timely manner to stakeholder concerns, questions, and complaints

• Attend Board meetings and prepare reports upon request

• Assume primary responsibility for evaluating the effectiveness of programs and services within assigned areas

• Prepare and monitor program budgets for areas of responsibility in coordination with the Superintendent

• Supervise the preparation and submission of required federal, state, and district reports related to areas of responsibility

• Maintain effective, cooperative, and professional working relationships with colleagues, superiors, and the Board of Education

• Meet and continue to meet the Leadership Standards as described by the Iowa Department of Education

• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and quality initiatives

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Superintendent

ESSENTIAL SKILLS/APTITUDES

• Proficiency in Google Suite, Internet technology and other software essential for job duties

• Ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships with administrators, staff, students, families, and community members

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including grammar, proofreading, editing, and creating original documents

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment

• Ability to work under pressure with frequent interruptions

• Ability to respond effectively in crisis situations

• Ability to problem solve independently and collaboratively

• Demonstrated commitment to regular and reliable attendance

• Ability to organize, prioritize, and assume responsibility

• Capacity to represent the District professionally, demonstrating confidentiality, collegiality, and integrity

• Aptitude for detail

• Ability to work as an effective member of the executive team

OTHER ESSENTIAL QUALITIES

• Believes that all children can attain high levels of learning

• Takes responsibility for the performance of staff and the overall health of the organization

• Possesses the knowledge and skills to build effective systems that benefit students and staff

• Applies principles of continuous improvement through quality tools and processes

• Functions as an effective member of the administrative team

• Demonstrates resilience in addressing today's educational challenges

• Utilizes strong interpersonal skills

• Has a demonstrated track record of leadership success

• Works with integrity and discretion

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Master's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Communications, Public Administration, Education, or a related field required

Minimum of five years of senior leadership experience in human resources, organizational development, communications, engagement, or related field

Experience in public-sector or K-12 educational environments preferred

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION(S):

Appropriate Iowa administrative licensure preferred or ability to obtain if required

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents, reports, regulations, and policies. Ability to write clear and effective communications to administrators, colleagues, parents, students, staff, and community members. Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from diverse stakeholders.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to perform basic mathematical functions. Ability to interpret and utilize data, spreadsheets, and reporting documents to support strategic decision-making.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve complex organizational problems. Ability to interpret and implement a variety of written and oral instructions. Ability to exercise sound judgment in high-impact or sensitive situations.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, colleagues, staff, students, families, and community members. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written form. Ability to perform duties with awareness of district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle and/or feel objects, tools or controls; and talk and hear. The employee will frequently use hands and fingers to type/word process, file documents, manipulate papers, and use a copying machine. The employee frequently must squat, stoop or kneel, reach above the head and forward 0 -24 inches and on occasion up to 36 inches. The employee continuously uses hand strength to grasp items. The employee will frequently bend or twist at the neck and trunk while performing the duties of this job. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds 0 - 12 feet and occasionally up to 20 feet, such as office materials, desks, chairs, and boxes. The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as tables and carts. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus while working with computers, written materials, reports, assessment data, etc.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is often quiet but may become loud in large group settings. The position requires the commitment of professional working hours that will require the employee arrive and leave as directed and may require the employee to extend beyond a typical 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. workday. The employee will usually work in indoor temperatures but will be required to work occasionally in outdoor environments.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Cedar Rapids Community School district is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.

Federal law obligates an employer to provide reasonable accommodation for the known disabilities of applicants, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship on the employer. If you or someone you know requires accommodation in the hiring process, contact the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io.