Director

We’re a nationally recognized nonprofit that partners with 8,000 schools across the country to shift to a more equitable, student-centered approach, closing the opportunity gap so that ALL students are prepared for college, career, and life. And the results? Well, they speak for themselves.

AVID provides 2.5 million students annually with the tools they need to think critically, collaborate, and set high expectations to confidently conquer the challenges that await them. We accomplish this work by training over 85,000 educators every year through in-person and virtual professional learning opportunities.

WHAT IS THE JOB?

The National Director, Elementary develops and implements a national strategy for AVID Elementary Programs, aligning with AVID‘s overall mission and goals. This role will oversee the expansion of AVID programs to new schools and districts, ensuring successful implementation and integration.

WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS ROLE?

• Design and refine AVID Elementary curriculum and resources in collaboration with internal partners to meet the needs of younger students.
• Monitors the deployment of and gathers data around the quality implementation actions aligned with Elementary across teams.
• Ensure that AVID programs are delivered with high fidelity, incorporating best practices and innovative approaches.
• Provides remote and in-person professional learning for internal implementation specialists and partners as supplemental support for quality implementation actions in Elementary.
• Collaborates with fellow National Directors to ensure coherence and aligned support for internal and external partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Travel required (estimated at 50% or more).

WHO ARE YOU?

The National Director, Elementary must provide evidence of or demonstrate the following skills and attributes:

• Ability to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction (both internal and external) through attention to responsive, high-quality service.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable and to demonstrate creative problem-solving when faced with complex challenges.
• Ability to build strong relationships with various types of people and to motivate superiors, peers, and direct reports to meet ambitious goals.
• Ability to communicate and speak effectively when interacting with others or presenting information.
• Ability to identify problems and facilitate collaborative team conversations about possible solutions to problems involving quality of implementation and evaluation of AVID program work.
• Ability to engage in crucial transparent conversations with subordinates regarding their performance, development, and progressive discipline when appropriate.
• Ability to provide critical analysis, using sound judgment with realistic expectations for clients.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, policies and procedures, and data.
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse, complex system and in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to demonstrate and promote a growth mindset when working with others.
• Ability to demonstrate analytical skills that allow for interpretation of budgetary, financial, and related management information.
• Effective use of technology tools for communications, planning, management, and presentations.
• Interpersonal and team-building skills to establish and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and district/school staff, with an emphasis on tact, diplomacy, flexibility, collaboration, professionalism, and discretion.
• Ability to operate with purpose, urgency, and accuracy in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong character traits expected of a leader that include, but are not limited to, respectful treatment of colleagues and others, integrity, honesty, and a positive work ethic.
• Strong organizational skills in managing significant numbers of staff members, complex programs, and reports and in prioritizing work to obtain positive results.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to compose correspondence and reports.
• Success in developing and supervising programs and curriculum.
• Success in the delivery and planning of professional learning for adult learners.
• Success in overseeing and completing multiple tasks in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner.
• Understanding of the complexity of school systems and the ability to relate to a wide variety of personnel, including administrators, superintendents, teachers, boards of education, state-level personnel, university staff, and business and community members.
• Training and experience in adult learning strategies.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS*

• Master’s degree in education or related field.
• Experience working with diverse student community populations.
• Administrative or management experience in an education setting (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 5 years as a principal, in a central office role, or other comparable system-level leadership position.

PREFERRED

• Experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or other comparable system level leadership.
• Experience in serving nonprofit organizations or educational institutions that prepare students for success in high school, college, and a career, especially students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
• Experience leading large teams or organizations within the education industry.
• Experience with ELL/ESL and/or multicultural learning environments.
• Subject-matter expertise in areas such as special education, STEM, social and emotional learning, career and technical education, or digital teaching and learning.
• Doctoral degree in school administration, education, or related field.
• Professional AVID experience (AVID Elective teacher, site coordinator, District Director, staff developer, etc.).
• National Board Certification.

*Allowable Substitutions: Any combination of experience, training, or credential certification endorsement that provides the incumbent/applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work, as determined by AVID Center. Qualifying work experience, as identified by the VP, People Operations, may substitute for the education requirement.

AVID Center is committed to complying with federal, state, and local laws on employee vaccinations, and candidates and employees should be aware that the full vaccination against COVID-19 may be required in the future. Due to some district requirements, AVID Center may not assign employees to an in-person event in schools or districts unless they are fully up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations. AVID Center is an equal opportunity employer and will provide reasonable accommodation to those unable to be vaccinated where it is not an undue hardship to the company to do so as provided under federal, state, and local law.

AVID Center prides itself on the diversity of our workplace and continuously seeks to recruit individuals who will enhance this diversity and, ultimately, the effectiveness of our organization. To demonstrate this commitment, we encourage all who are truly excited about this role to apply, even if they don’t meet every requirement. We believe that people who are passionate about what they do can succeed in this role or in other roles within our organization.