Deputy Director, Data Science 4 Everyone

Deputy Director

Data Science 4 Everyone (DS4E) is a national initiative working to catalyze the adoption of data science and data literacy as a fundamental component of K-12 education. Incubated at the University of Chicago Center for RISC and popularized by the 2019 Freakonomics podcast America's Math Curriculum Doesn't Add Up, DS4E is quickly expanding our dedicated team at the University of Chicago, striving to teach students the basics of modern data across school subjects and grade levels. In just 4 years, DS4E has catalyzed support for data science education in 32 states and counting, hundreds of schools, and with numerous national partners. As a field catalyst, DS4E builds awareness with local, state, and national leaders; centralizes and disseminates resources; hosts convenings and communities of practice; creates unique partnerships to support educators across the country; and helps schools and districts design new K-12 programs for all students.

DS4E is seeking a Deputy Director to guide the organization through its next chapter of growth and impact. We're looking for a leader who is passionate about bridging the country's digital divide, cares deeply about the structures and practices that make a nonprofit thrive, and brings a systems lens to building internal strength while advancing an ambitious external agenda. This individual will draw upon a diverse set of experiences in the education sector to identify new focus areas or refine existing ones, continuously shape DS4E's role in a dynamic and fast-evolving field, and rigorously evaluate what is working and what is not. As the team enters an important new phase of growth and formalization, the Deputy Director will play a key role in ensuring coherence across strategy, structure, and execution, including with new organizational structures. A thought partner and operational leader, this person will regularly collaborate with DS4E's Executive Director, funders, and team to co-develop strategy and then translate it into focused plans, clear priorities, and systems that support strong delivery. They will foster internal cohesion, manage cross-team execution, and help build a sustainable foundation for DS4E's continued influence in education, policy, and innovation. The Deputy Director will report directly to the Executive Director of DS4E. The following team members will report to the Deputy Director : the Instructional Director, Policy Director, and Partnerships Manager. Additionally, the Strategic Initiatives Manager may also report to the Deputy Director. This structure is designed to support coherent leadership across DS4E's key functional areas while enabling the Executive Director to focus on external relations, fundraising, and high-level strategy.

Responsibilities include :

• Serving as the internal anchor for a fast-growing, distributed team, connecting workstreams and reducing fragmentation.
• Managing and mentoring team leads, supporting them to grow as people managers and confident decision-makers.
• Fostering a collaborative, inclusive culture that balances autonomy with shared accountability.
• Partnering with the Executive Director to translate vision into clear organizational priorities and multi-year strategies.
• Leading annual and quarterly planning processes, ensuring staff are aligned on goals and how they'll get there.
• Evaluating new opportunities against mission, capacity, and timing, making tough calls when needed.
• Ensuring timely, transparent communication across teams and leadership, avoiding silos and confusion.
• Stepping in to make high-leverage decisions when needed, especially in moments of ambiguity or urgency.
• Helping the team balance responsiveness with focus, knowing when to move quickly and when to hold the line.
• Building and maintaining lightweight, effective systems to track timelines, budgets, deliverables, and capacity.
• Overseeing the execution of major cross-functional efforts, such as assessment roadmap, development of an independent organizational entity, ensuring scalable systems and infrastructure are in place to support long-term growth.
• Leading cross-functional coordination by partnering with the Operations Manager to ensure finance and grant processes facilitate execution. Providing oversight of floating grant accounts, stewards the evolution toward a hybrid operating structure, and builds systems to monitor financial data, project timelines, and initiative progress, supporting teams to stay focused, aligned, and well-resourced.
• Developing and administering program budgets and recommending or making budgetary recommendations.
• Serving as a key resource for program information. Resolving problems or questions referred by program staff, University administrators, or other contingencies.
• Performing other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in a related field and knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred competencies include familiarity with the K12 education landscape, experience working within or alongside schools, districts, or state agencies, proven track record leading teams or departments in mission-driven settings, leading and developing individuals at all levels, demonstrated success designing and implementing systems for project planning, team coordination, budgeting, and grant management, skilled communicator with a track record of translating strategy and priorities across internal teams and external stakeholders, evidence of sound judgment and strategic prioritization, comfortable operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, recognized for a leadership style rooted in humility, clarity, and trust, with a service-oriented approach to collaboration.

Working conditions include 100% remote work and occasional travel, including nights and weekends. The University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job.

Application documents required include a resume / CV and a cover letter. The documents must be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.