About Zero Dropouts (ZD)

Zero Dropouts (ZD) was founded in 2011 to be an innovator in the educational services space, reimagining how schools, communities, and organizations support learners. Rooted in the ZD Way, we believe mysteries are opportunities, that strengths must be celebrated over deficits, and that learning happens in relationship. We are informed by living systems and how they live in the world, recognizing that organizations thrive when they adapt, respond, and grow in dynamic interaction with their environments. With a team of 40+ dedicated professionals, ZD partners with schools, districts, and communities to reduce dropout rates, foster equity, and create conditions where all members of the learning ecosystem can flourish.

ZD strives to be a thriving organization, which includes the health and well-being of our people, along with profitability and a culture of innovation. Our two current highest priorities are Profitability and Innovation. We believe that financial sustainability fuels our mission, and innovation ensures we remain at the forefront of educational transformation. Responsiveness to emerging opportunities and challenges defines our approach to doing business, ensuring agility, resilience, and adaptability in a dynamic environment.

ZD Programs

ZD currently provides services to nine school districts and one charter school across the Front Range of Colorado. Its flagship program, Next, offers students an alternative pathway to complete high school by preparing them to pass the GED test. Next empowers students to take the next step toward their future—whether that means pursuing higher education, entering the workforce, or engaging in other opportunities that align with their goals.

Through Next and other programs, ZD demonstrates its commitment to designing with, not for learners—meeting students where they are and creating tailored solutions that honor their strengths and potential.

Position Summary

The Interim Chief Executive Officer  will serve as the visionary leader and steward of organizational coherence at Zero Dropout., ensuring the organization continues to pioneer innovative approaches in education while maintaining strong financial performance. Reporting directly to the Owner of Zero Dropouts, the Interim CEO provides strategic leadership across the organization, with direct oversight of two Managing Directors: The Managing Director of Programs and the Managing Director of Learning & Innovation.

Together, this leadership team is responsible for advancing ZD’s dual priorities of profitability and innovation, while maintaining excellence in current services and cultivating future growth. The Interim CEO champions innovation, drives financial sustainability, cultivates partnerships, and ensures that ZD’s systems, structures, and culture remain aligned with its mission and values. The Interim CEO also brings interest, expertise, and experience in operations management, ensuring that organizational processes and resources are well-designed to support both stability and evolution.

Zero Dropouts distinguishes between its core revenue-generating programs and the intentional creation of new business models and revenue streams, recognizing that these areas are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing. The Interim CEO provides overall stewardship and integration across both domains, ensuring clarity of roles, alignment of strategy, and effective decision-making. The Interim CEO ensures the Leadership Team has the clarity, autonomy, resources, and support needed to succeed, while maintaining shared accountability for organizational outcomes. Leadership functions as a living system, balancing coherence with adaptability and honoring both structure and emergence.

The Interim CEO is the primary champion of innovation for Zero Dropouts, ensuring that innovation is not siloed but woven throughout the organization. In partnership with the Managing Director of Learning & Innovation, the Interim CEO safeguards the space, resourcing, and strategic attention required to explore new possibilities, test new models, and develop additional revenue streams that strengthen ZD’s long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Innovative Leadership

• Champion innovation as a core identity of ZD, continually seeking new approaches to reduce dropout rates and expand student success.

• Lead in ways informed by living systems, cultivating adaptability, interdependence, and responsiveness across the organization.

• Embed the ZD Way into organizational vision and strategy, ensuring beliefs and principles guide all initiatives.

• Lead with inquiry before action, grounding decisions in curiosity, research, and alignment with purpose.

• Challenge systems and practices that perpetuate inequity or inefficiency.

• Hold the hope for students, staff, and partners, nurturing belief in what is possible.

Profitability & Financial Stewardship

• Drive profitability as a central organizational priority, ensuring financial sustainability and growth.

• Oversee financial health with transparency and accountability.

• Secure diverse funding streams, including contracts, grants through nonprofit partners, and philanthropic partnerships.

• Report regularly to the Owner, ensuring shared responsibility for organizational success.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee and strengthen the operational backbone of the organization, ensuring excellence in delivery of current services.

• Manage organizational systems as living systems, fostering resilience and interdependence.

• Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and ethical standards while maintaining a culture of innovation.

• Balance visionary leadership with strong execution.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Design with, not for: engage students, families, educators, and communities as co-creators.

• Cultivate partnerships grounded in mutual respect and shared responsibility.

• Represent ZD in public forums with empathy, collaboration, and innovation.

Culture & Talent Development

• Lead with empathy, not judgment, creating a psychologically safe and empowering environment.

• Promote continuous learning, iteration, and growth.

• Encourage agency and independence among staff.

• Ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are lived practices across the organization.

Qualifications Required

·        Proven executive leadership experience in education, nonprofit, social enterprise, or mission-driven organizations.

·        Demonstrated ability to champion innovation while ensuring profitability and operational excellence.

·        Strong track record in driving strategic intentions, organizational growth, and financial management.

·        Commitment to anti-deficit ideology and equity-centered leadership.

·        Interest, expertise, and experience in operations management, including systems, processes, and compliance.

·        Ability to lead with responsiveness to emerging opportunities and challenges as an approach to doing business.

Preferred

·        Experience working with school districts, educational service providers, or community-based organizations.

·        Familiarity with Colorado’s educational landscape and sociocultural models of learning.

·        Advanced degree in education, public administration, business, or related field.

Compensation & Benefits

·        Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

·        Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, retirement contributions, and paid time off.

·        Professional development opportunities and a supportive, mission-driven work environment.

Location: This position is based in Denver, Colorado, with opportunities for hybrid work as appropriate.

Salary is $150,000/year.