OVERVIEW:

The Academic Director will report directly to the Site Director, serving as a local leader in implementing the national and site’s academic vision, and managing the instructional staff. This person will oversee curriculum development, ensuring students’ academic success, and alignment with our corporate and college partners. Working closely with the local program and leadership teams, the Academic Director will also lead efforts to collect data to ensure that our site is constantly improving.

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring strong management experience, preferably in an educational setting. You should be someone who is eager to stay on the cutting edge of new educational technologies and teaching methods from a process over tool perspective. You’re someone who enjoys fostering professional development and team collaboration, and loves using data to make strategic decisions.

In keeping with Year Up values, the Academic Director will also interact with students as a mentor, group facilitator, and advocate, participating in building a positive educational environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership

• Provide vision and leadership for the Academic team, making sure the department is aligned with Year Up's site-wide and National goals
• Work closely to ensure quality staffing, curriculum, professional development and student assessment data
• Collaborate with higher education providers and help establish Year Up as a dynamic educational partner
• Lead effort to collect, analyze and use student data to strengthen the site’s academic program
• Work closely with National and local Program and Academic staff, participating in shaping and implementing national academic program goals
• Other duties as assigned

Academic Team Management

• Oversee supervision and evaluation of site instructional staff
• Develop strategy for recruiting, training, and retaining high-quality instructors
• Design and lead ongoing professional development programs for instructional staff
• Lead, support, and evaluate local instructional initiatives
• Oversee routine administrative duties related to academics, such as maintenance of textbooks, inventory and requisitioning educational materials
• Oversee scheduling and programming of classes
• Curriculum Development; maintain, develop and supervise Year Up's curriculum so that it aligns with college level requirements and provides students with a rigorous and relevant market-driven academic experience
• Ensure that curricula align with site's corporate and college partners, incorporating high-level critical thinking skills that enable students to anticipate work and college needs
• Define and maintain standards for ongoing assessment of student achievement, including internships readiness

Site Team/Learning Community Member

• Serve as a coach/mentor for a small number of current students
• Join and sometimes facilitate weekly group sessions with students
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's Degree or Doctorate in a related field strongly preferred
• Experience in the workplace teaching/training and management experience leading an instructional team is strongly preferred
• Experience with curriculum, syllabus development and lesson planning
• Experience with student assessment
• An engaging and collaborative leadership style with mature interpersonal skills
• The ability to juggle and manage multiple, competing priorities and deadlines. A talent to continuously evaluate curriculum, identifying what is working and what improvements can be made
• Comfort with change in a fast moving environment
• Proficiency with various Learning Management Systems (i.e. Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai), and virtual and online video tools for teaching and learning (i.e. Second Life, Adobe Connect) preferred
• Experience with eLearning, computer-enhanced teaching, and blended learning approaches preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• A passion for working with young adults, an unshakable belief in their potential and a strong commitment to the mission of Year Up
• Understanding of the Opportunity Divide and its drivers
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Salary Range- $68,800 - $75,000

#LI-Hybrid

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Year Up has established salary ranges for each of our sites, which allows us to pay employees competitively, equitably and consistently in different geographic markets. For roles in which the location is listed as flexible, the range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Salary offers take into account a candidate’s skills, experience, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

• Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage; 401(k) match for eligible participants.

• Vacation: Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year.

• Professional Development: Funds available to support staff in achieving career objectives ($2,500 per year)

** This is an exempt role (paid on a salaried basis). **

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Year Up is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code. Employers face a growing need for talent while millions of talented young adults lack access to meaningful careers. These inequities only further perpetuate the opportunity gap that exists in our country—a gap that Year Up is determined and positioned to close through three interconnected strategies: providing targeted skills training and connections to livable-wage employment for students and alumni; empowering others to serve and support young adults, and changing systems that perpetuate the opportunity gap. Year Up’s intensive training program utilizes a high expectations, high support model where students learn in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a corporate internship. Year Up has directly served more than 40,000 young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up's nationwide presence includes Arizona, Austin, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City/Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington.

Voted one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The NonProfit Times, Year Up is a rewarding and impactful place to work. Our staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both ourselves and our students and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and potential of our young people. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

Year Up embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discharge, or discipline, are based on meritocracy. We do not permit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. Learn more about our commitment to diversity: http://www.yearup.org/about-us/careers/commitment-to-diversity/

Year Up is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Your recruiter can provide details regarding the expected work environment and any physical requirements. Please let our hiring team know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume through our website.

Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. We respectfully request no phone calls.