Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officer

April 2026

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 across 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. You can also view recent articles in Fast Company, Wall Street Journal, NYCHA Journal, and read more about NYC Kids RISE theory of change in a 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 2025-2026 school year, there are approximately 380,000 students participating in the Program with 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 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 will continue to play a critical role in the 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 also serves 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. This person will oversee and set the longer-term vision for the Save for College Program’s data and information systems as well as overseeing cybersecurity practices. They will also be hands-on in implementation with the team and 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 usability, design, functionality, and sustainability of the Save for College Program’s platform for both its current user base (~380,000 families) and its projected future user base (~1 million participants).

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Technology Product Vision and Leadership

• Product owner for the Outcome Tracker platform (a customized version of a software platform provided by a third-party vendor), ensuring day-to-day functionality and continuous improvement in alignment with a bold programmatic vision;
• Leader on expanded and integrated product development and vision for the organization, related to Program participant-facing technology and platforms.

Information Technology Operations

• Oversee projects and initiatives related to the organization’s technology infrastructure and ongoing investments, including software, hardware, and related services. This includes evaluation, recommendation/selection, and coordination of services related to the launch of new technologies and key updates of existing technology when necessary. This involves collaborating with 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, including the effective and secure uses of AI across product development and operational functions.

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 internal and external stakeholders on cybersecurity initiatives and regular routines, including tabletop exercises, NIST assessments, stakeholder meetings with public bodies and technology partners, and regular meetings with vCISO stakeholders.

Data Operations and Analytics

• Oversee the evolution of NYC Kids RISE data systems and architecture to meet growing programmatic needs while maintaining high cybersecurity;
• Oversee the data operations and analytics team, and provide strategic direction on all related projects;
• Support the integration of Tableau within and across the organization;
• Lead in 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;
• Lead and support security accreditation and review, ongoing monitoring, data sharing and reconciliation efforts, product support and enhancements, and related internal processes; participate in cross-functional initiatives as an active Executive Team member.
• Maintain and support staff and volunteers to adhere to data security and privacy policies; identify vulnerabilities and improve controls.
• Advance racial equity and anti-oppression in operations and practices; solicit ongoing feedback to further this work.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of related technology leadership experience, including 8+ years managing people and teams. At least two years of senior or executive leadership experience, with C-level experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing diverse 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.
• Practical understanding of AI and automation tools and how these can improve operational workflows, with a deep understanding of privacy and security considerations when exploring AI functionality.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple complex projects through full lifecycle; strong project and people management, highly organized with attention to detail.
• Ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds; adaptable, flexible, and effective in fast-paced settings; ability to collaborate, build consensus, and drive technical decisions with various stakeholder groups.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; ability to translate complex information to diverse audiences, including non-technical and executive audiences;
• Experience leading product teams and managing external vendors; excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Demonstrated 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 staff preferences and organizational needs. 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 (View email address on click.appcast.io). 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 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.