About The Position
The Vice President of Equity and Diversity is one of the most consequential roles at the KIPP Foundation. This person is responsible for ensuring that equity is not just a value we hold — it is a standard we build into how the network runs, how we measure success, and how we respond when students at the margins are not getting what they deserve. The core purpose of this role is clear: to interrupt patterns of inequitable student outcomes across the KIPP network.
This is a system architect and field leader in one. At the network level, the VP of Equity sets the expectations and criteria by which disparities are identified, named, and addressed — embedding equity into our core planning cycles, progress monitoring processes, and action step routines so that disaggregated analysis is not optional but standard. At the regional level, this person goes where the work is hardest. When persistent patterns of inequitable outcomes demand direct engagement, the VP of Equity works alongside Regional Superintendents and regional senior leadership to guide strategy, support key decisions, and assess progress in real time.
The VP of Equity works in close partnership with the Chief Schools Officer, who is the ultimate decision-maker on where direct regional engagement is deployed. The VP brings rigorous analysis and a clear recommendation — informed by data, by input from Regional Superintendents through the RAPID framework, and by a deep understanding of what regions need — and the Chief Schools Officer determines where and how the Foundation's equity resources are directed. This is a high-trust relationship that requires both analytical sharpness and strong alignment with the CSO's vision for what equitable outcomes look like across the network.
This role also drives the cross-functional coordination that equity work requires. Student outcomes do not live in one lane — they are shaped by instructional practice, operational systems, talent decisions, and data infrastructure. The VP of Equity works across Schools, Operations, Data, and other functions to ensure that the network's approach to equity is coherent, coordinated, and impossible to siloing.
The right candidate pairs deep technical expertise in equity with the strategic judgment to navigate complex, politically sensitive situations and the interpersonal credibility to influence senior leaders. They are energized by the chance to shape how a national network runs — and by the responsibility of ensuring that the students most on the margins are never an afterthought.
Responsibilities
Equity in System Design, Implementation, and Accountability
Set network-wide expectations and criteria for how disparities are identified, named, and addressed — establishing a clear, consistent standard that applies across all regions and all functional areas.
Embed equity into core planning cycles, progress monitoring processes, and action step routines — ensuring that disaggregation is not an add-on but a built-in feature of how the network monitors and responds to student outcomes.
Monitor network-wide trends and progress toward equity goals; identify patterns across regions and shape system-level responses, solutions, and learning opportunities.
Evaluate proposed practices for disparate impact before they scale; build the analytical infrastructure and feedback mechanisms that surface equity risks early and consistently.
Identify and scale effective practices across regions, ensuring that what works in one context becomes a learning opportunity for the full network.
Regional Equity Engagement and Intervention
Design and implement a methodology – in partnership with Regional Superintendents and Schools Team Leadership - to determine which regions require deeper, structured support based on the severity and persistence of disparities in anchor metrics.
Bring forward clear recommendations to the Chief Schools Officer on where direct regional engagement is warranted, drawing on data analysis and input from Regional Superintendents through the RAPID framework.
Once deployed, co-lead equity work in highest-need regions alongside Regional Superintendents and regional senior leadership — guiding strategy, supporting key decisions, and assessing progress with the urgency and rigor the situation demands.
Interrogate root causes and recommend a clear, measurable, timebound course of action where we see persistent discrepancies in our outcomes.
Work with Equity Leads to build ongoing regional capacity and ensure that equity work continues with depth and consistency between direct engagements.
Cross-Functional Alignment
Drive cross-functional coordination across Schools, Operations, Data, Talent, and other functions to ensure a coherent, unified approach to equity across the network — preventing equity from being siloed into a single team or lane.
In partnership with the Chief Schools Officer and Chief of Staff, ensure that internal Schools Team systems — including data review processes, regional support allocations, and accommodations decisions — are consistent with the Foundation's commitment to equity.
Collaborate with senior leaders across divisions on strategic planning, executive-level discussions, and network-wide alignment work where equity is a central consideration.
Leadership Development & Field Stewardship
Develop Equity Leads to support ongoing regional equity work — building their capacity to sustain and deepen the work between direct engagements and over time.
Support the development of anti-racist leadership and mindsets across KIPP Foundation teams; design and implement professional development opportunities for program staff with an emphasis on closing disparities and building racial equity awareness.
Model a culture of candor, learning, and accountability on equity within the KIPP Foundation — pairing rigorous analysis with the interpersonal depth that unlocks real change in systems and in people.
Represent KIPP externally on equity — partnering with sector peers, funders, and research organizations to build the knowledge base and advance the field.