Recruiter

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 285 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 175,000 students and alumni with more than 15,000 educators. 

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently educates  2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth.  With a mission to, together with families and the community, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose -- college, career, and beyond --  KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth, and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education.

KIPP Columbus continues to rank as one of the top schools for academic growth of any school in the state of Ohio, and is a top performing urban school in the state for academic growth. In our first three graduating classes (in spring 2020, 2021, and 2022) 100% of students were accepted to college and/or military service  with nearly $40 million in merit scholarships from colleges and universities awarded.

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with nearly 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. KIPP is also a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, offering more than 10 varsity sports. 

The KIPP Columbus learning campus will continue to advance student learning, expand partnerships, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide, reimagining education through a deeper lens of antiracism, excellence, and joy as we expand to educate nearly 4,000 students on our learning campus in the coming years. 

The Opportunity 

The Recruiter will serve as a critical member of the Recruitment Team, supporting talent acquisition at KIPP Columbus. The primary responsibility of the Recruiter will be to manage a requisition load of both instructional and non-instructional roles, with an emphasis on candidate outreach and communication and stakeholder relationship management.  This position will support candidate screens and interviews, talent pipeline management, strategic projects, and recruitment events. The Recruiter will report directly to the Recruitment Manager.

Key responsibilities of Recruiter include, but are not limited to, the following:

Recruitment Pipeline Management

• Recruit candidates using a variety of outreach strategies including cold sourcing (ie- LinkedIn)

• Support the KIPP Columbus Referral Program

• Get investment from current staff members to support in recruitment efforts (ie- Recruitment Ambassadors)

• Support the representation of KIPP Columbus at career fairs and other recruitment events and assist in organizing events hosted by KIPP Columbus

• Strengthen partnerships with organizations including: universities and graduate school programs, organizations that are education-focused, and teacher prep programs 

• Develop relationships with prospective candidates to encourage them to apply

Candidate Screening

• Conduct initial resume reviews and phone screens with prospective candidates

• Monitor the progress of prospective candidates through the recruitment process, including timely communications from school leaders and hiring managers

• Maintain and manage detailed records of candidates through Smart Recruiter and various applicant tracking systems

• Create and get investment for competency-based hiring with the Head of Schools and hiring managers

• Create and modify rubrics and interview guides, at the direction of the Director of Recruitment

Candidate Relationship Management

• Create a strategy around candidate experience in the interview process, in alignment with the Senior Director of Recruitment

• Act as a point of contact for candidates throughout their interview process with KIPP Columbus

• Build upon KIPP Columbus’ employer brand to set up new hires for success with a realistic understanding of the day-to-day job responsibilities

• Manage the communication with new hires to ensure matriculation and a smooth on-boarding process

Recruitment Management and Planning

• Strategically plan for the immediate vacancies and projected vacancies

• Work with school leaders and hiring managers in best practices in retaining their staff

• Provide support to KIPP Columbus school leaders and hiring managers during in-person interview days, including managing candidate logistics, sharing interview notes, and performance tasks with hiring managers

• Assess seat/vacancy clarity based on conversations with hiring managers

• Work with hiring managers to get clarity on how new hires are performing to better inform hiring strategy

Other Recruitment Team Responsibilities

• Stay updated on trends in education and recruitment, and bring fresh and innovative ideas to the work

• When possible, seize opportunities to interact directly with students, families, or staff members to build connections at the school level and to contribute to the success of our schools and programs

• Serve as a thought partner for teammates and partners across the organization

• Develop and maintain operational systems to manage complex projects and report progress across to key stakeholders

• Bachelor degree from an accredited four-year college or university

• Minimum of 2 years of successful, full-time, experience in recruitment or hiring 

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in K-12 urban education

• A demonstrable commitment to pursuing equity

• Excellent communication and influencing skills to interact effectively with all levels of the organization and the school network

• Exceptional strategic, analytical, and critical thinking skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (creating spreadsheets, reports, and presentations)

• Belief that outstanding school leaders, staff, and teachers can achieve excellent outcomes for all students

• Ability to persevere with a sense of optimism, strong problem solving skills, and desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community

• Willingness, and commitment, to go above and beyond to prove the possible with students

• Ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Extreme flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities

• Model the values of KIPP Columbus (Imagine, Navigate, Seek, Persevere, Integrity, Responsibility, and Empathy)

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a competitive salary robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances as well various voluntary benefits (such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and participation in the Ohio SERS/STRS retirement plan.)  We also offer seasons of life support with 10 weeks paid maternity leave and 4 weeks paid spousal leave/adoption leave.  

Statement of Non-Discrimination

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.