Head of Strategic Innov Proj

Head Of Strategic Innovation Projects

The Head of Strategic Innovation Projects serves as a senior internal consultant and design-phase leader responsible for high-priority strategic projects that help pivot the organization away from outdated conventional models and toward the future of education. This role is intentionally structured as a targeted problem-solving and build-phase position rather than a long-term operating role. The Head of Strategic Innovation Projects will identify core issues, design solutions, build new models and processes, and transition implementation and ongoing management to the appropriate operating leaders and teams.

The role will work across RDI, CSUSA, Red Apple Private, Ethos Academy, LaunchEd, and related initiatives as assigned. Projects may include development of new school models, redesign of enrollment and operational processes, intervention in underperforming schools or initiatives, support for strategic innovation efforts, and development of enabling systems such as dynamic AI-driven operating tools. In all cases, the role is expected to operate with speed, judgment, and cross-functional influence, without building or leading a large standing department.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead high-priority special projects that support the organization's transition toward more effective, future-oriented school models and operating approaches.
• Serve as a design-phase owner for targeted projects that require diagnosis, redesign, model-building, or rapid strategic problem-solving.
• Take on projects across business units and affiliates, with responsibility for clarifying the problem, defining the solution, coordinating build-phase work, and preparing the handoff to implementation owners.
• Develop practical recommendations, implementation frameworks, and decision materials that enable operators to carry projects forward successfully.
• Lead the design and development of new school models and related strategic concepts, including Ethos Academy initiatives, Red Apple Private models, and other future-oriented educational offerings.
• Build model concepts that may include program design, schedule design, staffing concepts, work-based learning integration, facility implications, and unit economics.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable model designs that can be piloted, validated, and transferred to operating teams for execution and scale.
• Support the creation of reference models that help define what future-ready schools should look like across different student populations and market opportunities.
• Diagnose high-impact enrollment, retention, registration, matriculation, and school operations challenges, particularly where structural process issues are affecting performance.
• Lead redesign efforts for workflows such as registration, re-enrollment, Day One packet processes, and related family onboarding experiences.
• Use data to identify root causes, test assumptions, and recommend process and system changes that improve outcomes.
• Partner with operators, school leaders, and support teams to ensure solutions are practical, measurable, and ready for operational adoption.
• Support selected strategic initiatives related to LaunchEd, Compass, Ethos Academy, enterprise systems, and other innovation pipeline activities as assigned.
• Contribute to the design of operating concepts, evaluation frameworks, pilot structures, and internal procedures that help move promising ideas into executable initiatives.
• Assist in the development of tools, systems, and strategic infrastructure that support future school models and stronger enterprise decision-making.
• Operate as an in-house consultant and build-phase leader rather than a long-term operator.
• Establish clear handoff points, ownership transitions, and operating recommendations for each project.
• Avoid unnecessary standing team buildout by leveraging existing leaders, consultants, and functional teams whenever possible.
• Support implementation readiness, but transfer ongoing execution and management responsibilities to the appropriate business unit or operator once the design/build or problem-identification/solution phase is complete.

**MAY PERFORM OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED**

Skills And Knowledge

1. Strong strategic, analytical, and operational problem-solving skills.
2. Ability to diagnose complex organizational or school-level issues and develop practical, high-leverage solutions.
3. Ability to lead through influence across functions without relying on large direct-report teams.
4. Knowledge of school model design, school operations, enrollment systems, and organizational redesign.
5. Experience translating strategic priorities into executable models, frameworks, and processes.
6. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
7. Ability to work effectively across academic, operational, and strategic domains.
8. Familiarity with private or charter school models and technology-enabled education environments.
9. Familiarity with AI-enabled systems, dynamic data tools, or education operating infrastructure.
10. Ability to manage ambiguity, move quickly, and exercise sound judgment in underdefined situations.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education Management, etc required; advanced degree (MBA, PhD) preferred.
• 15+ years leadership experience in education, school model design, school network development, strategy, operations, innovation, or new venture creation.
• Demonstrated success designing and building new educational models, programs, or systems.
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex organizational or school-level problems and develop practical, high-leverage solutions.
• 10+ years experience working across academic, operational, and strategic domains.
• 10+ years experience with enrollment systems, school operations, school design, private or charter models, and technology-enabled education environments is strongly preferred.
• 10+ years experience helping build or scale innovative school networks or distinctive educational models preferred.
• 10+ years experience with future-oriented school concepts involving physical space, technology, personalized learning, or nontraditional structures preferred.
• 10+ years experience in both model creation and targeted operational intervention work preferred.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled systems, dynamic data tools, or education operating infrastructure preferred.

Work Environment

While performing the responsibilities of this position, the work environment characteristics listed below are representative of the environment the employee will encounter:

• Usual office working conditions.

Physical Demands

• No physical exertion required.
• Travel within or outside of state.
• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force as frequently as needed to move objects.

Terms of employment

Salary and benefits shall be paid consistent with RDI Education salary and benefit policy. Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be those established by RDI Education.

FLSA overtime category

Job is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Evaluation

Performance will be evaluated in accordance with RDI Education policy.

Declaration

The Human Resources Department retains the sole right and discretion to make changes to this job description. Any employee making changes unauthorized by Human Resources Department will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.