Head of the K-12 Initiative, Cornell Tech (NYC)

About Cornell Tech

Cornell Tech is Cornell University’s state-of-the-art campus in New York City that develops leaders and technologies for the AI era through foundational and applied research, graduate education, and new ventures. Located on Roosevelt Island, the growing campus was founded in partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and in close collaboration with the NYC Economic Development Corporation after Cornell won a worldwide competition initiated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration to create an applied sciences campus in New York City. More than 1,000 Cornell students are now educated annually on the campus, including 700 in Cornell Tech programs. Since opening in 2012, nearly 120 new companies have spun out from startup programs at Cornell Tech, and 95 percent of them are based in New York City. Cornell Tech continues to have a transformative economic impact on the region’s tech sector.

About the K-12 Initiative

The Cornell Tech K-12 Initiative meets the University’s commitment to partner with NYC Public Schools to make artificial intelligence and computer science teachable in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.

Position Summary 

The Head of the K-12 Initiative at Cornell Tech is responsible for overseeing all K-12 initiatives and for managing the staff that bring them to life. This is a highly visible, public-facing position building Cornell Tech’s role as a convener and innovator in K-12 computing education. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced academic environment, embraces the opportunities that change and innovation can bring, and seeks to build partnerships with colleagues and stakeholders to help prepare students to be responsible, fluent citizens of the digital age.

Successful candidates will need to have and display the following competencies as part of this role: 

• Ensures accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments

• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

• Builds networks - Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organizations

• Plans and aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals

• Resourcefulness - Securing and deploying resources (people, funding, material, support) effectively and efficiently to get things done

• Drives results - Has a track record of exceeding goals successfully despite obstacles and setbacks

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Visa sponsorship is not available. 

Starting salary range: $142,000 to $170,000

Essential Functions Include

Leadership - 45%

• Set and promote the agenda to fulfill Cornell Tech’s commitment to deep collaboration with NYC Public Schools to help advance AI and computer science education through teacher preparation, resource development and dissemination, and school- and districtwide planning and implementation.

• Provide thought leadership within the campus and University and to the NYC AI and computer science education community, including Cornell Tech’s annual To Code + Beyond conference.

• Build and steward deep partnerships with NYC educators, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, and public policymakers. 

• Engage with Cornell Tech faculty, staff, and students, including partnership on NSF proposals, lab visits for visiting K-12 students, joint research, and K-12 experiences relative to their research.

• Oversee engagement with NYC Public Schools including districts, schools, students, and families.

• Lead and supervise a small team, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment; conduct performance management, performance dialogues, ongoing coaching and counseling, and growth and professional development opportunities.

• Represent Cornell Tech externally in person at event