Director, Building Capacity for Innovation

Job Posting Title:

Director, Building Capacity for Innovation

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Hiring Department:

Charles A Dana Center

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

• Remote work possible

• Travel will be required

Purpose

This position will serve as the primary lead for the Building Capacity for Innovation Team, which partners directly with education systems to drive systemic change from within. The director will oversee programs in PK-12 mathematics, science, and literacy as well as mathematics initiatives in higher education, including initiatives to align education and workforce.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the vision and strategy for the Building Capacity for Innovation Team, ensuring alignment with the Dana Center’s mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to systemic change. Oversee the team’s efforts to enhance mathematics and science instruction in PK-12 and mathematics in higher education through the design and delivery of professional learning for educators and leaders, with a focus on sustainable systems change. Provide strategic oversight and support for the Literacy First program, a high-impact tutoring initiative in early literacy, ensuring its alignment with the team’s goals for building capacity and improving PK–3 literacy outcomes. Provide leadership for the design and implementation of innovative curriculum initiatives ensuring alignment with evidence-based practices, including:

  • PK–3 literacy and numeracy programs
  • Standards aligned math programs for grades 4-12
  • Innovative instructional resources for PK-12 math and science, including 3rd and 4th year math course programs
  • Gateway postsecondary math course programs

• Drive the responsible integration of technology, including AI, into leadership, teaching and learning practices, ensuring these tools are effectively utilized to enhance outcomes and support innovative instructional approaches.

• Supervise managers and staff, providing mentorship and support to foster professional growth and leadership capacity. Support establishment and refinement in team structures and processes to foster collaboration, streamline workflows, and ensure the timely delivery of high-quality, impactful outcomes across teams, roles, and projects. Ensure all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with the highest standards of quality. Maintain a clear understanding of staff workloads and capacity, ensuring that priorities, timelines, and resource allocations are realistic, sustainable, and aligned with organizational priorities. Work closely with the communications and evaluation teams to enhance the Center's evidence of progress and impact and dissemination strategies. Cultivate a positive organizational and team culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and shared accountability.

• Build and sustain strong relationships with education system leaders, funders, clients, and collaborators to support systemic change efforts. Represent the Dana Center in high-level discussions with state and national education leaders to advance the Center’s work and vision. Collaborate with other directors to identify new opportunities for partnerships and field engagement.

• Contribute to the Dana Center’s leadership in the field by developing influential content, participating in publications, and representing the Center at conferences and forums. Shape the Center’s leadership in early childhood education by advancing innovative approaches to PK–3 literacy and numeracy instruction.

• Collaborate with the Dana Center leadership team to identify funding priorities and develop evidence-based scopes of work and aligned budgets for proposals. Cultivate relationships with funders and stakeholders to maintain and grow the Center’s funding portfolio. Ensure funding proposals are aligned with the team’s strategic priorities and grounded in evidence of impact.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in Education, STEM, or a related field.

• 10-15 years of experience in education, with demonstrated expertise in curriculum development, professional learning, and/or educational technology.

• Service in leadership positions at district/institution, state, and/or national level.

• Demonstrated expertise in curriculum development and professional learning, with a focus in mathematics.

• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and lead systemic change efforts in education.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively, balance multiple priorities, work collaboratively across teams, and work well under pressure.

• Experience supervising staff and managing complex projects.

• Strong organizational and communication skills, written and verbal.

(Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating technology and AI into teaching and learning.

• Experience in early childhood education, literacy and/or numeracy.

• Experience working with PK–12 and postsecondary education systems.

• Proven success in securing funding and managing relationships with funders.

Salary Range

• $115,000 - $130,000

Working Conditions

• Traveling

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity

Required Materials

Please mark "yes" on the application for required materials. Failure to attach all additional materials listed may affect candidates being considered for the position.

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.