Director of School Leader Development

Supervised by: Managing Director of Program Strategy

Status: Exempt, Salaried, Full-time

Posting date: May 2024

ORGANIZATION 

VOCEL is a non-profit early childhood education organization that equips and supports parents, teachers, and school leaders to strengthen early learning in their homes and schools. With a core focus on brain-building playful learning, VOCEL designs and implements group learning programs across Chicago, prioritizing under-resourced neighborhoods that have experienced decades of disinvestment. On a mission to help ensure every child has the foundation to learn, grow, and lead, VOCEL is committed to raising the bar for early childhood excellence in Chicago and propelling children citywide to social, emotional, language, and academic success.

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

VOCEL is seeking a Director of School Leader Development to support growth and execution of VOCEL’s programming for school leaders, including the Building Early Learning Leaders (BELL) fellowship, school leader workshops, and other future offerings, all focused on early childhood excellence and rigorous playful learning.

At the core of this role, the Director of School Leader Development will facilitate group learning, provide individualized coaching and support, develop new initiatives to best meet school leaders’ needs, cultivate partnerships with school leaders, and manage relevant program administration. This role will report to the Managing Director of Program Strategy and require ample collaboration with the Director of Partnerships, Director of Teacher Development, and Manager of Member Experience & Events. 

Specific responsibilities will include:

1.Serve as the lead facilitator and coach for Building Early Learning Leaders, VOCEL’s two-year school leader fellowship (45% of position)

• Adapt curriculum and session content (objectives, goals and corresponding materials) to center developmentally-appropriate, exemplary early learning practices and tailor to cohort learning goals
• Facilitate quarterly group workshops (in-person and virtual)
• Provide 1-on-1 coaching and support every 4-8 weeks (in-person or virtual) for approximately 25 school administrators
• With support from the Manager of Member Experience & Events, coordinate logistical set-up for fellowship meetings, including but not limited to: preparing meeting spaces and printed materials, preparing virtual meeting details and communicating with members, ordering food and beverages, and cleaning up meeting spaces when in-person 
• Oversee and foster communication and collaboration among fellows 
• In partnership with the Managing Director of Program Strategy, manage administrative aspects of BELL including, but not limited to: 
• Application review and enrollment processing
• Program planning, operations, and logistics 
• Outcome data collection and analysis
• Data entry in Salesforce including attendance and communication
• Member communication 
• Reporting for funders and other stakeholders
• ISBE Approved Professional Development provider certification

2.Design and facilitate additional professional learning opportunities for school leaders (30% of position)

• Gather input from school leaders to inform new types of professional learning 
• Research and develop professional development offerings in conjunction with Chicago Public Schools, universities, and other school and/or district partners
• Create scope and sequence of professional development offerings
• Lead- and/or co-facilitate professional learning sessions and other offerings 
• Update and tailor professional learning experiences for school leaders, informed by participant feedback and data  
• Collaborate with Director of Teacher Development on joint programming for school leaders and educators

3.Build relationships with school leaders, individual schools, and relevant district leaders to promote engagement in VOCEL’s programming and expanded reach (10% of position)

• Identify and cultivate prospective partner pipeline in collaboration with Director of Partnerships and Managing Director of Program Strategy 
• Collaborate with Director of Partnerships and Managing Director of Program Strategy to recruit prospective members, including:
• Communicate VOCEL’s vision, pedagogy, school leader development model, and professional learning offerings via clear and compelling group presentations and 1-on-1 introductory conversations
• Provide feedback on print and digital messaging
• Co-host informational sessions
• Brainstorm pipeline cultivation activities 
• Serve on Common Program Application team led by Chicago Public Schools Department of Principal Quality 
• Collaborate with fellow Directors for cross-functional programming and recruitment (leader-to-leader and leader-to-teacher referrals)

4.Envision and implement alumni experience for Building Early Learning Leaders alumni members (5% of position)

• Develop vision for school leader alumni experience including, but not limited to: gather input from BELL alumni to inform goals (i.e. sustain program impact, seek referrals to grow program reach); connect with VOCEL staff and contractors to learn about past alumni support, leader requests, and feedback
• Provide opportunities for alumni engagement and continuing support, including office hours, events, webinars, newsletters, etc
• Maintain updated alumni contact information in salesforce

5.Team Collaboration & Miscellaneous Responsibilities (10% of position)

• Provide updates on program progress and outcomes for fellow VOCEL staff, board of directors, funders, and others
• Attend all-team meetings, annual team retreat sessions, and other required VOCEL activities or events (in person and virtual)
• Serve on a VOCEL team culture committee (FY24 committees include birthdays, work anniversaries, other celebrations, and team gatherings)
• Other responsibilities as assigned

WHAT YOU BRING  

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic, relational individual who wants to be part of an entrepreneurial, collaborative, mission-driven, and people-first organization.

Background and experience we’d like to see:  

• 3+ years of experience facilitating group learning or other professional development
• 3+ years of experience in coaching, mentoring, or other individualized support 
• 3+ years of experience working in education, education administration, or nonprofit leadership 
• Degree in early childhood education, education leadership or related area of study; or equivalent training, knowledge development, or certification
• Experience designing and building workshops and professional development
• Ability to travel locally to schools, district offices, community events, etc.; personal vehicle & clean driving record required 
• Proficiency in Google Workspace applications (including Docs, Gmail, Sheets, Slides), Zoom, and Slack, and willingness to learn to use new apps or platforms as needed
• Experience using Salesforce for data entry and reporting 

The ideal candidate demonstrates: 

• Expert facilitation skills in the context of group learning
• Experience in school administration and/or teacher leadership in elementary schools in Chicago Public Schools or Chicagoland area
• Experience leading adult learning focused on early childhood development
• Belief in VOCEL’s core values (https://www.vocel.org/core-values) 
• Entrepreneurial spirit 
• Strong organization and time management
• Exemplary verbal communication skills 
• Joyful and dynamic presence that exudes enthusiasm and confidence
• Warmth and positivity when interacting with educators, school leaders, partners, fellow team members, and external stakeholders

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

• The daily schedule is flexible and will be set in conjunction with the Managing Director of Program Strategy to accommodate internal and external meetings and events. Some evening and weekend hours will be required. Local travel to program, school, and community sites in the Chicagoland area is required; some overnight travel outside of Chicago may be required. Some of those sites may not be ADA-accessible. 
• This position is hybrid. Some time will be spent working from an office environment with wireless internet and limited space; other time may be remote, on a mutually agreed upon schedule.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers (laptops), photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets, and common office supplies.
• This position requires a reliable cell phone with the capability to add apps for communication with VOCEL members and staff, i.e., Slack, BambooHR, etc. A monthly technology stipend is provided to all employees. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and see. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to operate office equipment. This position may require long periods of sitting. 
• The employee may occasionally lift objects up to 50 pounds, with assistance if needed. 
• VOCEL offers a smoke- and drug-free environment. 
• Employee will be required to provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

All decisions and criteria governing the employment relationship with all employees are made in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, military service, order of protection status, physical, mental, or neuro disability, or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state, or local statutes.  

WHAT WE OFFER 

• VOCEL offers a competitive compensation package including:  
• Annual salary of $75,000 - $85,000; commensurate with experience 
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (50-60% covered by VOCEL) 
• IRA with employer matching 
• Generous monthly technology reimbursement  
• Mileage reimbursement  
• Generous paid time off including: 
• Paid holidays with opportunity to swap holidays for personal/religious observance 
• 20 days of elective paid time off per year 
• Up to 5 paid sick days 
• Up to 5 paid self, family, and community care days
• “VOCEL Fridays” (staff work an abbreviated workday ending at 1 pm)

Deadline to apply is June 17. Position start is in early- to mid-August.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (50-60% covered by VOCEL) 
• IRA with employer matching 
• Generous monthly technology reimbursement  
• Mileage reimbursement  
• Generous paid time off including: 
• Paid holidays with opportunity to swap holidays for personal/religious observance 
• 20 days of elective paid time off per year 
• Up to 5 paid sick days 
• Up to 5 paid self, family, and community care days
• “VOCEL Fridays” (staff work an abbreviated workday ending at 1 pm)