BrainPOP
Chief of Staff
BrainPOP, New York, NY
For over two decades, BrainPOP has been trusted by educators and parents worldwide as a source of engaging and impactful learning experiences for all kids. With a presence in over two-thirds of U.S. districts through school and district subscriptions and an estimated annual reach of 25 million students, BrainPOP is empowering kids to take agency over their learning and excel in and out of the classroom.
The company was acquired in 2022 by KIRKBI, the family-owned holding and investment company of the LEGO brand, marking a significant milestone as their first acquisition in the digital learning realm. We are thrilled to continue making learning fun and accessible with the strategic guidance and support of KIRKBI.
About the Role
As a Chief of Staff, you'll help supercharge our well-known education company's strategy and execution. In this leadership role, you will help define top-level business priorities and drive operational planning, including the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) process, and quarterly business reviews. You will partner with the CEO, CFO, and Chief People Officer to support strategic communications and presentations to the company and board. You will also own and drive executive team operational and program work and strategic initiatives program work. An ideal candidate will be defined by their track record to lead major planning initiatives, drive execution, and establish credibility with C-level stakeholders.
One of our core values is a growth mindset, and this role provides an opportunity to work closely with the CEO and learn from a world-class board. If this role excites you, please do apply, as we value applicants for the skills they bring beyond a job description.
This is a hybrid role, and the Chief of Staff must be able to work from our NYC office several days per week. Some domestic/international travel will be required.
In This Role You Will
Strategy Development with the Executive Team
Operational Execution across the Executive Team
Company Operating Plan Process and Execution
The BrainPOP team operates in a hybrid work environment: Each role has remote flexibility and an in-person component at our New York headquarters or other meeting locations. Based on the requirements of a specific role, we may prioritize hiring within a commutable distance of our New York headquarters or in another region relevant to that role.
We can employ individuals residing in the following approved hiring states:
We believe that a diverse organization is a more effective organization. BrainPOP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
We take a geo-neutral approach to compensation within the US, meaning that we pay based on job function and level, not location. We have competitive pay bands for all other countries based on market standards. Individual compensation decisions are based on a number of factors, including experience level, skill set, and balancing internal equity relative to peers at the company. Based on these factors, we expect most of the candidates offered roles at our company to fall healthily throughout the range. We recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description, as posted. If so, the updated salary range will be communicated to you as a candidate.
USA Pay Scale
$170,000-$200,000 USD
Life at BrainPOP
At BrainPOP, our work directly impacts how teachers teach and students learn. They inspire us to build solutions that facilitate joy and meaningful learning outcomes. Our commitment to educators and kids is reflected in our dedication to the BrainPOP team: ensuring their experience is empowering, creative, collaborative, playful, and anchored in learning and growth.
Our team is made up of educators, data scientists, published authors, engineers, artists, bakers, film buffs, cyclists, dual citizens, and so much more. We value diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and learning from multiple perspectives.
We believe that a diverse organization is a more effective organization. BrainPOP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
The company was acquired in 2022 by KIRKBI, the family-owned holding and investment company of the LEGO brand, marking a significant milestone as their first acquisition in the digital learning realm. We are thrilled to continue making learning fun and accessible with the strategic guidance and support of KIRKBI.
About the Role
As a Chief of Staff, you'll help supercharge our well-known education company's strategy and execution. In this leadership role, you will help define top-level business priorities and drive operational planning, including the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) process, and quarterly business reviews. You will partner with the CEO, CFO, and Chief People Officer to support strategic communications and presentations to the company and board. You will also own and drive executive team operational and program work and strategic initiatives program work. An ideal candidate will be defined by their track record to lead major planning initiatives, drive execution, and establish credibility with C-level stakeholders.
One of our core values is a growth mindset, and this role provides an opportunity to work closely with the CEO and learn from a world-class board. If this role excites you, please do apply, as we value applicants for the skills they bring beyond a job description.
This is a hybrid role, and the Chief of Staff must be able to work from our NYC office several days per week. Some domestic/international travel will be required.
In This Role You Will
Strategy Development with the Executive Team
- Work with the CEO and other senior leaders on strategy, operations, culture, and their intersection
- Partner with the Executive Team to drive operational plan development, tracking, effectiveness, and accountability
- Own key operational rhythms/processes (operational planning meetings, town halls, QBRs, team offsites, OKR reporting), including preparing the agenda, facilitating the discussions, documenting notes/action items, and closing out follow-ups
- Lead Board and Company meetings preparation and documents in partnership with key executives
- Provide sharp and expansive thinking skills to brainstorm multiple approaches and solutions to complex initiatives
- Assist in navigating trade-offs, develop change management plans to drive outcomes, and promote aligned decisions
Operational Execution across the Executive Team
- Plan and direct all operational activities for the Executive Team, including managing executive meeting agendas, offsites, and programs
- Manage the Office of the CEO, including support staff
- Organize and prioritize critical issues and required information for the executives to facilitate efficient decision-making
- Partner with CHRO and VP Communications on company-wide communications plans and external partnerships
- Support the Executive team in developing and strengthening key customer relationships and strategic partner relationships
- Improve current processes and coordinate organizational procedures for optimized efficiency and productivity
Company Operating Plan Process and Execution
- Lead the annual operational planning effort, monthly OKR tracking and reporting, and Quarterly Business Reviews
- Develop OKR engagement, accountability, and alignment across all teams and drive OKR adoption through change management
- Build deep trust & relationships across the org, acting as a trusted advisor and ensuring transparency around the strategic OKR goals
- Ensure OKR quality control with clear objectives and measurable, well-defined key results
- Highlight OKR's at risk and make recommendations to bring underperforming OKR's back on track
- Thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment under tight timelines and resources
- Possess strong executive communication skills - able to synthesize complex details into accessible and precise insights.
- Comfortable with ambiguity; demonstrates a distinct passion for finding efficiencies and fixing them
- A concise, persuasive, and authentic communicator both verbally and in written communication
- Superb judgment and integrity, unparalleled confidentiality, and sophistication in all aspects of work
- 5+ years of management consulting or similar field experience
- 2+ years of people management experience
- Management consulting experience at a high-growth company with a focus on operational excellence and execution
- Experience evaluating operational gaps/ weaknesses, scaling and optimizing Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) adoption and outcomes enterprise-wide
- Experience using data to analyze performance and drive strategic decision-making
- Presentation, meeting planning, and communication experience across various audiences (in-team, cross-team, executive, board, etc.)
- MBA preferred. Bachelor's degree in business, finance, strategy, PMO, or a similarly rigorous major considered.
- Edtech Experience is a plus, if you have not worked in the industry you are passionate about education
- Experience planning and leading strategic initiatives for companies with 300+ employees
- Must be able to work from the NYC office several days/week. Some domestic/international travel will be required.
The BrainPOP team operates in a hybrid work environment: Each role has remote flexibility and an in-person component at our New York headquarters or other meeting locations. Based on the requirements of a specific role, we may prioritize hiring within a commutable distance of our New York headquarters or in another region relevant to that role.
We can employ individuals residing in the following approved hiring states:
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
We believe that a diverse organization is a more effective organization. BrainPOP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
We take a geo-neutral approach to compensation within the US, meaning that we pay based on job function and level, not location. We have competitive pay bands for all other countries based on market standards. Individual compensation decisions are based on a number of factors, including experience level, skill set, and balancing internal equity relative to peers at the company. Based on these factors, we expect most of the candidates offered roles at our company to fall healthily throughout the range. We recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description, as posted. If so, the updated salary range will be communicated to you as a candidate.
USA Pay Scale
$170,000-$200,000 USD
Life at BrainPOP
At BrainPOP, our work directly impacts how teachers teach and students learn. They inspire us to build solutions that facilitate joy and meaningful learning outcomes. Our commitment to educators and kids is reflected in our dedication to the BrainPOP team: ensuring their experience is empowering, creative, collaborative, playful, and anchored in learning and growth.
Our team is made up of educators, data scientists, published authors, engineers, artists, bakers, film buffs, cyclists, dual citizens, and so much more. We value diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and learning from multiple perspectives.
We believe that a diverse organization is a more effective organization. BrainPOP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.