Professional Careers with CTD

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Associate Director

Job ID 48370

Job Summary:

The Associate Director, CTD works closely with the Center for Talent Development director in a leadership role, providing senior level management to the Center, its programs, and staff. Oversees design and implementation of new programs; manages, evaluates, and continually improves existing programs; supervises staff at multiple levels. Assures programs meet enrollment, service, and other goals. Designs curriculum and teacher development initiatives that are innovative and progressive. Contributes to the field.

The Center for Talent Development serves 5000 students annually through its PreK through grade 12 in-person and online educational programs. CTD also provides outreach to schools, engages in professional learning for educators, conducts research, and provides services to families. CTD currently employs approximately 28 permanent staff members and hundreds of temporary staff. CTD budget in FY23 was approximately 6 million. Reporting to the Director, the Associate Director is one of three staff at this level with senior-level responsibility for oversight of CTD programs.

The Associate Director in this position will have primary responsibility for leading curriculum design and development activities within and beyond CTD, including the development of CTD course pathways. The Associate Director will initiate and coordinate new talent development-based curriculum development projects in line with CTD’s strategic growth plan, oversee the production of curriculum-related materials, and ensure alignment of curriculum products with state and national standards and standards for gifted programming. The Associate Director’s additional responsibilities include CTD’s admissions and pathways advising and school and family services, which include school partnerships and professional learning.

Please note: Position generally involves a M-F business day schedule, but also involves periodic travel and attendance at off hours meetings, conferences, and events (evenings/weekends). During weekend and summer programs, the position may require 24/7 on-call availability for support to program staff. The residential summer programs are held on Northwestern University campus.  Commuter programs are held at locations throughout the Chicago and Evanston area. The position requires the ability to travel to multiple local sites.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Program Management: Provides leadership for educational programs in CTD and other special programs as needed developed to assure programs run smoothly and are successful. Directly supervises program coordinators, providing direction to support coordinators' supervision of their staff teams. Demonstrates good leadership; directs and supports staff in individual and team efforts, promoting a healthy and positive work environment. Leads by example.
• New Program Innovation: Contributes substantially to the development of new programs and projects, leading staff and project teams to design innovative new programs and services that further the mission of the Center. Responsible for developing plans for programs that are consistent with the mission and brand of the Center. Designs program pilots and leads long term implementations, including associated budget, staffing, and marketing plans, curriculum, training plans, evaluation, etc. Oversees implementation.
• Ongoing Program Enhancement: Engages in and requires all subordinate staff to engage in the continual review, improvement, and advancement of existing programs and projects. Brings new ideas and innovations to existing programs and projects as well as new opportunities (including grants), assuring CTD maintains a leadership position in programming and services for talent development and gifted education.
• Strategic Planning: Participates in the development of strategic plans for the Center and its programs. Responsible for proposing short- and long-term plans and program goals.
• Professional Learning: Designs and directly participates in the delivery and evaluation of professional learning programs for educators. Examples of these activities include orientation and training programs for CTD educators, online and face-to-face courses for educators on curriculum, instruction, and designing services for talent development, with a focus on advanced learners.
• Technology Integration: Works to identify technological solutions and to integrate advances in technology with CTD program design. Contributes to planning efforts to improve CTD systems.
• Professional Conduct: Contributes to the fields of talent development and gifted education by engaging in scholarly activities; participating in research, teaching, writing and presenting papers, etc. Represents CTD, its goals and activities to external groups.
• Budget / Finance: Works with the director, financial specialist, and with program staff to formulate and oversee department budgets. Assures coordinators’ compliance with budget performance goals. Can relate enrollment, purchased services, and other program data to budget financial information. Supports the director in initiatives such as market competitive pricing analyses, costing out new initiatives, fundraising and grants, etc.
• Other: Directs special projects and performs other related duties as needed, at the discretion of the director.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree in education or related field, including for example curriculum and instruction, educational administration, or gifted education.
• 7-10 years of administrative experience in a talent development program, at a university college center, school or school district, or another related program.
• Experience designing new programs and program evaluation.
• Experience in curriculum design and development.
• Experience designing and facilitating professional learning. 

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Success leading staff at multiple levels, from professional to clerical, as well as teachers, teaching assistants, and student counselors.
• Demonstrated customer service skills and excellent organizational, writing, and data analysis skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D./Ed.D. an education field, including, for example, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, child and adolescent development, or gifted education.
• Experience integrating technology into program design.
• Qualifications/experience to provide professional development to teachers including courses in Differentiating Instruction for Advanced Learners, Curriculum and Instruction for Advanced Learners through SESP MSED program.
• Previous experience with grant writing and administration.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Human Resources: AskHR@northwestern.edu