National Director of Education
Official Job Description

Organization Background

The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. NFTE teaches entrepreneurship education programs to young people from low-income communities.

NFTE’s strategy for achieving this mission is to form partnerships with schools, universities and community-based organizations, create innovative experiential curricula, train and support teachers and youth workers, and provide supportive alumni services. Since its founding in 1987, NFTE has reached over 186,000 students. NFTE has active programs in 21 states and 14 countries.

Position

NFTE's National Director of Education is responsible for upholding and instituting the organization’s mission and must strive to help build NFTE into a leading youth entrepreneurship education organization. The Director of Education works for the headquarters office and is responsible for the quality of educational programming at NFTE. The Director serves the program implementation and quality assurance functions and manages the curriculum and instruction managers, the evaluation and assessment department, and the national member and alumni manager.

Programs are coordinated centrally and implemented regionally. The position combines a need for knowledge of teaching and curriculum, experience with program implementation at a multi-site national organization, attention to detail and superior interpersonal skills. This position supports the needs of geographic program staff as well as leads and guides them in building quality teaching and programming and program delivery practices.

Driving continuous improvement of existing NFTE programs by developing strategic partnerships, identifying and promoting and best practices in the field, synthesizing research and using program evaluative data to form program and organizational recommendations for improvement; overseeing development of new NFTE programs (e.g., member and alumni programs) to balance NFTE’s educational consistency with our mission; and working to ensure that all on-mission students receive access to high quality programs... all are integral to this position.

The organization is fast growing and highly entrepreneurial. The organization seeks an individual with the ability to be flexible and who is eager to work in a dynamic environment where ideas for improvement are sought, ambiguity understood and change is embraced.

Responsibilities

Ensure consistently high quality program implementation across NFTE sites nationally.

• Work closely with program managers within the program offices to ensure program elements are designed to support scale.
• Work closely to coordinate program managers’ efforts with that of the NFTE U (NFTE’s teacher training and professional development efforts) so that teachers, NFTE program managers, and other program-related staff have the skills and resources to consistently implement the program.
• Oversee and participate in quality assurance efforts, including conducting site visits and providing feedback to NFTE managers, for continuously improving service delivery.
• Capture and disseminate program-related best practices from the field.
• Support program replication at new and existing program sites. Provide technical assistance to new and existing sites as needed.

Provide leadership and strategic direction for the program division.

Lead the national education team including the following managers and their direct reports: director of curriculum, director of NFTE U, manager of assessment and evaluation, and the member and alumni service manager.

Develop and implement plans and strategies to support the organization’s annual objectives.

Drive resolution of program-related issues in the field.

Monitor performance data and provide intervention, where appropriate.

Identify key initiatives for the national education department to support the needs of the field.

Inform program and organizational objectives and measurement, working closely with the operating committee to report metrics.

Support development and expansion opportunities as needed.

Work with relevant directors to package the program for sales, marketing, and new business development purposes.

Qualifications
• Demonstrated commitment to improving urban schools and driving education reform.
• Masters degree or PhD in education, education research or related fields.
• Minimum twelve years experience. Program and/or evaluative management experience at a national organization preferred. Experience as a teacher or youth worker preferred.
• Strategic thinker with proven ability to execute effectively against strategy; ability to produce results.
• Considerable skill in directing the work of others and resolving complex problems.
• Significant experience in educational program design, development and/or implementation in diverse communities.
• Experience supporting programming in a multi-site context (preferably multi-region context).
• Comfortable with fast growth, flexible roles, and building for scale.
• Success as a team player and collaborator.
• Experience with planning curriculum development.
• Significant experience with developing and/or implementing assessment systems including benchmark assessments.
• Participate in necessary fundraising activities in order to secure annual financial support from foundations, corporations, governments and individuals. Fundraising includes research, cultivation and follow-up of funding prospects; participation in proposal writing; and documenting results for reporting to funders.
• Must possess leadership and management qualities and have strong interpersonal/communication skills, writing skills, organizational skills, and be able to manage to completion multiple projects.
• Capacity to deal with ambiguity.

Position reports to the NFTE President with significant contact with the Founder and CEO. Position is a member of NFTE's Executive Committee.

Salary: Competitive, plus a potential for an annual performance bonus. Comprehensive benefits. No relocation expenses will be provided.

Please send cover letter and resume to mm@machlowitz.com.

NFTE is an equal opportunity employer, and encourages women and underrepresented minorities to apply.