Director Of Educator Talent

About READY

READY (Rochester Education and Development for Youth) is a nonprofit organization working to ensure every Rochester family has access to a high-quality public school. We believe expanding access to excellent schools requires strong educators, effective partnerships, and the systems that help schools thrive. Our vision is simple: A Rochester where every family can access a school that prepares every child for lifelong success.

Through strategic investments in school quality, talent development, parent engagement, and supportive policy, READY works alongside schools, higher education institutions, community organizations, and philanthropic partners to strengthen Rochester's education ecosystem. Together with the Rochester community, we're working toward an ambitious goal: expanding access to high-quality schools for 10,000 students by 2034. We lead with joy, act with urgency, and believe lasting change happens through collaboration.Learn more at https://ready4schools.org/

The Opportunity

READY is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and entrepreneurial Director of Educator Talent to lead the organization's citywide educator and leadership talent strategy. This position does not oversee human resources or internal staffing for READY. Instead, the Director of Educator Talent serves as READY's leader for educator workforce development, bringing together school districts, charter schools, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to strengthen Rochester's educator pipeline.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of Rochester's educator workforce by convening leaders, strengthening talent pipelines, and helping build long-term solutions to educator shortages.

• The Director of Educator Talent will oversee efforts to recruit, prepare, develop, and retain excellent teachers and school leaders across Rochester.
• The successful candidate understands that educator shortages cannot be solved by any one organization alone. They excel at building partnerships, aligning stakeholders around shared goals, translating ideas into action, and managing initiatives that strengthen the education workforce over the long term.
• This individual reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serves as a key member of READY's leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

• Citywide Talent Strategy
  • Lead READY's educator talent development strategy through initiatives that recruit, develop, and retain high-quality educators and school leaders, while expanding equitable pathways into the profession.
  • Identify workforce challenges, develop strategic solutions, and use data to drive continuous improvement.
  • Monitor local, state, and national trends to inform talent initiatives.
• Partnership Development
  • Build and sustain strategic partnerships with school systems, charter schools, higher education institutions, community organizations, state agencies, and philanthropic partners.
  • Serve as READY's primary convener on educator workforce development.
• Talent Development & Coaching
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to school and system leaders by helping diagnose educator and leadership talent challenges and identifying opportunities for growth.
  • Design and recommend customized professional learning, coaching, and talent development strategies that address the unique needs of individual schools, districts, and partner organizations.
  • Develop sector-wide learning opportunities that strengthen educator effectiveness, leadership capacity, and workforce sustainability while recognizing that solutions should be tailored—not one-size-fits-all.
  • Connect schools and partners with relevant resources, expertise, and best practices that support continuous improvement in educator recruitment, development, and retention.
• Strategic Initiatives
  • Design and manage cross-sector initiatives that strengthen educator talent, including recruitment campaigns, leadership development, professional learning, workforce planning, and grant-funded projects.
• Project Management & Evaluation
  • Manage multiple projects, budgets, and stakeholder relationships while tracking progress, evaluating outcomes, and communicating results to leadership and partners.
• External Leadership
  • Represent READY in community, school, higher education, and statewide partnerships, serving as a trusted ambassador for the organization's mission and educator talent strategy.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Nonprofit Management, Human Resources, Public Policy, or a related field
• Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, workforce development, nonprofit leadership, or a related field
• Experience managing complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated success building partnerships across organizations
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience analyzing data to inform decision-making
• Ability to manage competing priorities
• Commitment to educational excellence and equity

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Experience working with school districts, charter schools, or higher education institutions
• Experience in educator preparation, teacher development, or school leadership development
• Grant management experience
• Experience facilitating groups and leading cross-sector collaborations
• Familiarity with Rochester's education landscape

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

• Strategic thinking, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Relationship building, coalition leadership, and strong facilitation skills
• Systems thinking
• Political awareness
• Excellent judgment, initiative, and self-direction
• Ability to influence without direct authority
• Commitment to continuous improvement

What Success Looks Like

The successful Director of Educator Talent will:

• Build trusted relationships with Rochester education stakeholders.
• Strengthen partnerships with local colleges and universities.
• Successfully lead READY's Teaching Academy.
• Develop and begin implementing a comprehensive citywide educator talent strategy.
• Launch or expand initiatives that strengthen educator and leadership pipelines.
• Establish meaningful performance metrics and reporting systems.
• Position READY as Rochester's leading convener around educator workforce development.

Work Environment

This position is based in Rochester, New York, and requires regular in-person collaboration with READY staff and community partners. The Director of Talent regularly works in office, school, higher education, and community settings. Frequent local travel throughout the Rochester area to partner meetings, events, and convenings is expected, with occasional statewide or national travel. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to support community engagement, meetings, and special events.

This position requires the ability to:

• Remain stationary for extended periods while working at a computer or attending meetings.
• Frequently operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
• Communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
• Occasionally move throughout office, school, and community settings to attend meetings and events.
• Travel within the Rochester area to meet with partners, schools, colleges and universities, and community organizations.
• Occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds, such as materials or supplies.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Hiring Timeline

• July 13 – July 31: Applications open
• Early August: Round 1 Interviews (45 minutes)
• Mid August: Notify finalists and distribute the hiring exercise
• Late August: Round 2 Interviews (60–90 minutes)
• Late August / Early September: Reference checks and final selection
• Early September: Extend offer
• Late September: Start Date

Compensation

• Salary: $145,000 to $160,000
• Benefits: READY is committed to supporting the health, well-being, and professional success of its employees. We offer a competitive benefits package designed to help our team thrive both personally and professionally, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 100% employer match on employee contributions up to 5% of salary
  • Employer-paid life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
  • Generous paid time off and an expanded paid holiday schedule
  • Annual wellness reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options
  • Monthly cell phone and home internet reimbursement
  • Employer-provided technology and equipment
  • A complete summary of benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

To Apply: Application: Director of Educator Talent

Equal Employment Opportunity

READY is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. READY recruits, hires, develops, and promotes employees based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

• READY is committed to supporting the health, well-being, and professional success of its employees. We offer a competitive benefits package designed to help our team thrive both personally and professionally, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 100% employer match on employee contributions up to 5% of salary
  • Employer-paid life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
  • Generous paid time off and an expanded paid holiday schedule
  • Annual wellness reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options
  • Monthly cell phone and home internet reimbursement
  • Employer-provided technology and equipment
  • A complete summary of benefits will be provided during the hiring process.