Director - Professional Learning (National School Network)

As the Director of Professional Learning for the National School Network (NSN) at Bezos Academy, you will provide crucial expertise and hands-on leadership as we grow our multi-state network of Montessori-inspired preschools. You will develop and implement the vision and strategy for our schools’ ongoing professional development for a diverse array school staff and district leadership roles. This critical work will be aligned to our instructional priorities, role-specific performance criteria, our approach to DEI, leadership development, teacher development, talent management, and family and community engagement approach. Crucially, you will analyze and prioritize the learning needs of school and district-level staff, both leading a team and directly executing the design and development of aligned learning experiences that optimize for child outcomes and other impact indicators.

You will own the details and deliverables of your team’s programs, ensuring the success of ongoing learning and development for school leaders and staff across the country, anchored by our mission and leadership principles. Using your knowledge of adult learning principles and best practices, you will ensure that these professional development programs are enticing, engaging, effective, and responsive regardless of delivery method—whether synchronous versus asynchronous, in-person versus online. Lastly, you will contribute to wider learning and development goals and the ongoing assessment of your programs so that we can continuously improve while attracting and retaining top school talent.

As a seasoned people and programs leader, you will draw on a history of creativity, innovation, a passion for equity, and a foundation in adult learning to develop systems and strategies. You bring a broad spectrum of experience to this position, including expertise in early learning best practices and direct experience as an educator or leader in an under-resourced community.  Above all, you share our ambition and enthusiasm for expanding access to high quality, Montessori-inspired preschools to children in under-resourced communities, creating ripples of impact for generations to come.

LOCATION

• Flexible in the United States; Seattle, WA or other locations near Bezos Academy schools preferred. refer to the “schools” tab on our Bezos Academy website for school locations.

• Relocation is available for those willing to relocate to Seattle, WA.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, exempt (salaried) position.

• The full salary range for this position, across all United States geographies, is $129,000 - $267,000 per year. The upper portion of the salary range is typically reserved for employees who have been in the role for multiple years and have demonstrated strong performance over time. Starting salary will vary by location, qualifications, and prior experience; during the interview process, candidates will learn the starting salary range applicable for their location.

• This role includes 15 paid days of vacation, 4 days of paid personal time off, 7 paid days of sick (care) time, 9 paid holidays, 5 paid days off for an organization-wide winter break, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more. Please see here for details.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ten or more years of relevant experience, including five or more years of managing teams

  • Five or more years of experience leading professional learning for school leaders and teachers within a complex educational organization, school network, and/or start-up organization

  • Personal experience teaching, leading, and developing children and adults toward transformational outcomes in low-income communities.

  • Experience effectively building relationships across lines of difference and using an equity lens when designing and facilitating adult learning

  • Expertise in adult learning theory including an understanding of adult curriculum development, content design, methods of facilitation/delivery, and adult learning assessment design/analysis

  • Direct experience designing and facilitating both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (on-demand) courses across various mediums and platforms for a distributed audience

  • Track record of using data to diagnose and prioritize the development needs for adult learners, execute aligned professional learning experiences, and measure the efficacy of those experiences

  • Ability to travel up to 20% of the time (less travel is expected if located near a cluster of Bezos Academy preschools; see our website for school locations)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Advanced degree in early childhood education, educational leadership, or another relevant field

• Strong understanding of Montessori education principles and practices

• Familiarity with other early childhood pedagogical methodologies (e.g., Waldorf, Reggio, etc.)

• Prior experience an early-stage (start-up) organization or one undergoing significant growth

• Ability to synthesize and prioritize the needs of leaders and teaching staff at the network, regional, and school level

• Systems level leadership experience in a large school district or school network

• Comfort and confidence using course design tools/software (e.g., Articulate, Canva, etc.) and managing learner progression via a learning management system (LMS)

• Impeccable communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience presenting to and influencing diverse audiences and stakeholders at all levels

• Exceptional written communication and experience creating materials which require data, precision, and readability

Please click here for a full job description. 

Bezos Academy values the potential benefits of generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI) when used appropriately. Nonetheless, for this particular role, except for any accommodations authorized by Bezos Academy, the use of Generative AI tools to craft any part of the application materials, including but not limited to resumes, cover letters, responses to application inquiries, and writing samples, is strictly prohibited. Any application materials found to have been developed with the assistance of Generative AI are subject to application rejection or potential termination of employment if discovered post-hire.

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