Chief Executive Officer

ORGANIZATION

Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools

POSITION

Chief Executive Officer

LOCATION

Philadelphia or Harrisburg, PA preferred

REPORTS TO

Board of Directors Background The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (known as "PCPCS" or "the Coalition") represents charter schools throughout the Keystone State. As the state's largest and most active charter organization, PCPCS advocates for both brick-and-mortar and cyber charter schools. PCPCS' vision is to serve as a catalyst for educational excellence through opportunity, innovation, and unity. The Coalition's mission is to be the preferred resource serving the collective interests of all Pennsylvania charter schools by:

• Stewarding the state movement toward its overall growth and quality goals
• Securing the policy wins that charter schools need to expand impact
• Developing capacity and expertise in essential advocacy areas
• Amassing and directing the grassroots strength and collective action
• Providing high-quality, strategically chosen school support
• Managing organizational essentials, including governance, staffing, and financial sustainability There are more than 160 brick-and-mortar charter schools and 14 cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania serving 160,000 students and representing over 9% of all the children in K-12 public schools in the state.

The number of students in charter schools has almost doubled in the past decade, and there are still tens of thousands of children on waiting lists to get into a charter school. The Coalition is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with membership open to public charter schools and public charter school supporters, including families, community leaders, and business leaders. Currently, PCPCS serves over 70 member charter schools and networks across the state, including both cyber and brick-and-mortar schools. The Coalition additionally oversees the Pennsylvania Charter Schools Program (PACSP) Grant. The PACSP Grant provides funding to eligible applicants to open, replicate, and/or expand high-quality charter schools. You can read more about PCPCS here. Opportunity PCPCS seeks a credible, politically savvy charter school advocate to serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO will lead a small team of professionals that can anticipate and respond to the sector's changing needs and build a broad coalition of support for charter schools in the state, and engage with a wide array of stakeholders to advance the priorities of the organization. The Board has identified the following priorities for the incoming

CEO:

• Carry out the mission of PCPCS by aligning key stakeholders around a vision for impact, as called for in the organization's recently approved multi-year strategic plan;
• Build relationships and trust with key stakeholders in the Pennsylvania charter landscape;
• Reframe the narrative around charter schools to dispel myths and misinformation and reemphasize the importance of high-quality charter schools;
• Coalesce a diverse group of charter operators (including both cyber and brick-and-mortar schools) around a shared policy agenda and more deeply engage members in advocacy and policy efforts;
• Advance and safeguard the movement through a strong advocacy agenda that prioritizes funding, facilities access, and authorization, and defend the movement by lobbying against anti-charter bills, specifically those aimed at limiting charter autonomy and adding compliance burdens to school operators;
• Increase the number of dues-paying members of the coalition and explore new funding models/streams in order to secure greater financial sustainability while expanding outreach to new sources of philanthropic support;
• Develop strategies to increase the influence of the charter school sector in the Pennsylvania legislature. Responsibilities Strategic Executive Leadership
• Build upon the organization's recently adopted strategic plan in conjunction with the Board, members, and other key stakeholders in the charter school movement;
• Define the organization's advocacy agenda with significant input from charter school leaders and other stakeholders;
• Pursue strategic legislative and policy changes and protect existing supportive policies that will strengthen charter schools in Pennsylvania;
• Partner with the Board to support the growth and influence of PCPCS. Team Management
• Recruit, build, manage, and develop a small, diverse, high-performing team, including managing lawyers, lobbyists, and other contractors;
• Clarify roles and responsibilities to ensure team efficacy. External Relations
• Develop a unified narrative and vision for the Pennsylvania charter sector and drive coordinated and proactive external communications to positively influence public opinion and improve public perception;
• Deepen relationships and influence with key policymakers and elected officials;
• Develop and expand fundraising efforts by cultivating new and leveraging existing relationships, as well as diversifying the coalition's funding base to ensure financial sustainability;
• Elevate the brand of PCPCS as a reliable, trustworthy source for policy, advocacy, and school services support. Partnership/Coalition Building and Mobilization
• Strengthen trust among charter school leaders, board members, and other stakeholders to improve information sharing and inform priorities;
• Partner with other charter school advocacy organizations on all things related to charter sector priorities;
• Serve as a collaborative peer leader among PA education organizations working to advance improved outcomes for all students;
• Connect and liaise with leaders driving charter sector work in local communities and balance their needs and priorities with those that exist at the state level;
• Organize and mobilize school leaders, staff, parents, board members, and other stakeholders to support pro-charter efforts. Qualifications Mindset/Values
• A passion for educational equity, access, opportunities, and outcomes for families; a champion for charter schools;
• A deep-seated commitment to (and history of) leading with integrity, including building long-term relationships that engender trust;
• The grit necessary to persevere in achieving policy and advocacy change in a challenging, complex political environment;
• A balance of urgency and focus;
• Flexibility to act and lead in an entrepreneurial, roll-up-your-sleeves environment. Skills
• An ability to persuade, gain support, and motivate a diverse group of stakeholders to action by building strong internal and external relationships;
• A clear and effective communication style and an ability to empathize with and understand the perspectives of others;
• Superb listening and oral and written communication skills, including the ability to tailor and convey ideas and positions as a spokesperson for charter schools to a wide range of constituent groups through position papers, press releases, print and electronic media interviews, testimonies, and social media;
• Acumen for building an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization;
• Strong emotional intelligence, the humility to receive and act on feedback, and a track record of continuous improvement;
• Effective organizational skills, time management skills, and the ability to work efficiently, prioritize, and thrive in ambiguity;
• Understanding of education policy and how it informs organizational positions and stances. Experience
• At least ten years of professional experience;
• Experience leading and managing others in an organization focused on education, policy, campaign organizing, and/or advocacy;
• Political savvy, including a demonstrated track record of effectively navigating complex power dynamics and systems;
• Experience operating or at least familiarity with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), candidate PACs, and independent expenditure committees;
• Experience uniting different groups/entities around a common goal and/or message and mobilizing others to take action;
• Knowledge of the charter school landscape/sector and a personal connection to education; local relationships in the Pennsylvania charter sector a plus;
• Experience building, nurturing, and supporting high-performing teams to achieve ambitious outcomes;
• Experience building and stewarding external partnerships and serving as the external face of an organization; fundraising/development experience a plus;
• A track record of successfully overcoming obstacles in challenging environments.

Compensation The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $225,000 annually, commensurate with experience. To Apply If you are interested in this opportunity, please email your resume to employment@pacharters.

org with the subject line:

"

PCPCS CEO.

" Applications must be received by midnight. ET on May 22, 2026. The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a pool of candidates that is diverse in every way.

Pay:

$175,000.00 - $225,000.00 per year

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Glenside, PA 19038