Company
Collaborative Classroom is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that all students become readers, writers, and thinkers who learn from, care for, and respect one another. Collaborative Classroom’s evidence-based programs help children develop as proficient readers and writers, appreciate the ideas and opinions of others, learn to agree and disagree respectfully, think critically about big ideas, and become responsible citizens of the world.
Since the organization’s founding in 1980, their work has reached more than 8 million students and 328,000 teachers in classrooms across the country, developing fluent readers and skilled writers, supporting instructional equity, transforming discipline practices, and bolstering student and teacher engagement.
Collaborative Classroom has demonstrated success through district partners and independent researchers. Review the research and read case studies.
Opportunity
Reporting directly to the CEO, and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team the Chief Product Officer (CPO) will oversee curriculum development, publishing services, and learning technology. The CPO will be responsible for leading the alignment of program development and learning technology to create a cohesive strategy that evaluates and bridges the gap between print and digital offerings, ensuring optimal content generation and innovation.
Primary responsibilities:
- Drive Digital Transformation: Lead the transition from a print-centric model to a digital-first strategy, leveraging technology to enhance program and product offerings.
- Accelerate Product Development and Market Readiness: Streamline product development timelines to ensure efficient delivery of cutting-edge digital products that meet the needs of educators and students.
- Advance Efficiency and Scalability: Implement processes and systems that improve operational efficiency, align product development with organizational goals, and support scalability for future growth.
- Enhance User Experience and Customer-Centric Innovation: Ensure products are designed to align with educator and student needs, integrating learning technologies with pedagogy to improve usability and outcomes.
- Strategic Leadership: Serve as a strategic partner to the executive team, contributing to the overall direction and decision-making while evaluating opportunities to drive growth and sustainability.
- Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team: Build, manage, and develop a diverse team of professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture and developing competencies that align with the organization’s and department’s projected growth.
- Foster Collaboration and Cross-Departmental Alignment: Cultivate a culture of collaboration and shared vision across curriculum, editorial, technology, sales, and implementation teams to optimize resources, timelines, and market alignment. Each part of our organization, particularly Implementation, leverages technology like AI, video coaching, etc.
Ideal Candidate
You are a collaborative leader with a deep commitment to fostering cross-departmental alignment and inspiring teams to work toward a shared vision. Known for your ability to build strong relationships, you create an environment where diverse teams feel supported, empowered, and connected to the mission. With exceptional communication and problem-solving skills, you navigate complex challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset, driving innovation and ensuring sustainable growth to meet the needs of educators and students.
You should have the following experiences and skill sets:
- Proven ability to align product development and technology teams ensuring cohesive collaboration to integrate digital and print solutions efficiently.
- Demonstrated success in leading the transformation from print to digital, creating scalable and impactful products that meet market demands and educator needs.
- Strategic & analytical problem solver, team motivator, and driver of excellence with the ability to set and execute a long-term vision for product development that balances innovation with practical application, considering the unique requirements of the K-12 market.
- Expertise in streamlining processes, improving speed to market, and managing complex project timelines.
- Exceptional interpersonal and managerial skills to build relationships, lead diverse teams, and foster interconnectivity across departments.
- Strong business acumen, including an understanding of subscription models, single sign-on, managing student data, compatibility with LMSs, generating reports, licensing strategies, and the ability to navigate compliance and accessibility standards (e.g., 508 compliance).
Learn More
The Knowledge Leaders search process is thorough and may include: a written assessment, multiple interviews (recorded and in person), background and social media checks, employment and education verifications, a drug screen, and professional reference checking. After all, our mission is to transform education by recruiting the best world leaders.
Submit your resume to Heather Phillips at Knowledge Leaders.
Knowledge Leaders, LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and candidates for employment. Knowledge Leaders, LLC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
