Director of Education
Salary: $75,000.00 to $80,000.00
Type of Position:
Application Post Date:
Application Deadline: May 31, 2022
About Our Organization
Tech Kids Unlimited (TKU) is on a mission to empower neurodiverse students’ lives by teaching computer science & technology skills; we harness their passion & expose them to careers in the field. Based in NYC, with a growing national online presence, TKU inspires neurodiverse students to create & share the tools of technology in a supportive community. By addressing gaps in access to tech, TKU strives to change the paradigm for education & employment for neurodiverse students ages 7-21. Tech Kids Unlimited values are grounded in the following beliefs: everyone is deserving of an equal opportunity to succeed; everyone has potential despite their challenges.
Job Position Summary
TKU is hiring a full-time Director of Education to lead TKU’s expanding and innovative educational offerings and all in-person programming. The Director of Education willl manage an online learning program coordinator, a work-based learning coordinator and share a program associate with the ED. This person must be based in NYC, have extensive experience teaching computer science principles and digital media skills, and have experience working with youth and teens.
As a result of COVID-19, TKU pivoted to offer all of its programming online. The silver lining of this period has been the extended reach and impact of TKU’s programs on national and international students. Moving forward, TKU’s programs will be a hybrid of on-line and in-person offerings and the Director of Education will be responsible for a full portfolio of programming, and duties that include oversight of all teaching, learning and youth/teen activities, curriculum development and review, hiring and onboarding teaching staff, and more. TKU’s current programs include: multiple daily, after school and Sunday student workshops, career development programs for teens and young adults, special events and initiatives, parent workshops and educational partnerships. The Director of Education will work closely with leadership and external partners to expand the TKU learning community to ensure that programs represent best practices in education for neurodiverse students (students with autism, ad(h)d, learning and emotional challenges). The ideal candidate will be a highly organized educator, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and be passionate about pedagogy, digital literacy, and technology education, with a willingness to learn from and be inspired by TKU’s students and community.
Roles & Responsibilities
Responsibilities and Duties
- Oversee all teaching and learning activities, including in-person and virtual workshops, career-readiness programs, and providing support and guidance on registration and program applications;
- Oversee curriculum development for all workshops; develop curriculum for special events and programs; collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop curricula for special initiatives;
- Develop program schedules and descriptions;
- Guide the registration process, ensuring that individual students are matched to the appropriate program;
- Manage within their department along with a roster of part-time tech teaching artists, assistant teachers, counselors to ensure timely curriculum and workshop preparation and best practices for classroom management; provide feedback and support to classroom staff and respond to performance issues:
- Provide onboarding training and professional development for teaching staff;
- Represent TKU at conferences and other community events; lead professional development sessions for external partners; write articles for online publications;
- Help to advance the curriculum of a National Science Foundation grant along with college partners;
- Assist the Executive Director with short narratives for grant applications and reporting related to programming;
- Work with external evaluator to collect and review student and parent feedback;
- Attend parent, student Neurodiversity Advisory Council, and alumni staff advisory committee meetings to ask questions and receive feedback; responsively iterate program practices and teaching methods to improve student outcomes; and
- Develop and foster relationships with external partners to expand TKU’s learning community to a broader audience within NYC and nationally.
Qualifications and Skills
- Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Education, Youth Development, STEM, Social Work required.
- 5+ years experience working in STEAM education settings such as in K12 classrooms, after school programs, cultural institutions, or non-profit organizations required
- Experience working with neurodiverse students and/or historically marginalized or under-resourced communities
- Excellent writing and analytical skills
- Excellent communication skills; experience with public speaking a plus.
- Collaborative team attitude and ability to work on a small fast-paced team experiencing rapid growth
- Familiarity with tools like Asana, Airtable, Slack, Google Suite and Zoom
- Technology and digital media production experience, i.e. coding, video, gaming, sound, website, graphic design, UX, etc.
- Willingness to travel to various conferences/events across NYC and outside NYC
- Willingness to work on select weekends and evening hours when we have programs (schedule flexible and adjusted accordingly)
- Willingness to work in a hybrid model (remote roughly 3-4 days a week in the Sept-May, in-person 5 days a week from June-August)
Compensation & Benefits
- The position is full-time with the salary range at $75k-$80k commensurate with experience.
- 100% health coverage is paid by the organization (dental & vision not included)
- Unrestricted sick and mental health days
- Full-time employees receive 12 days of vacation during their first year of service, plus 6 federal holidays. In addition, TKU is closed between December 24 to January 2, and all full-time employees are paid in full for this time
- Organizational laptop–MAC (to be returned at the end of tenure) provided along with Apple earbuds.
- Payment for internet for remote work provided along with needed computer accessories (keyboard, chair, desk, etc.)
- Time and funds are available for professional development opportunities along with attendance at national educational conferences
Covid-19 Vaccination Policy
As per the requirements listed by NYU where TKU programs are held, all TKU employees are required to be fully vaccinated (including booster vaccination) against COVID-19, to upload proof of their vaccination to NYU’s portal, and to have that vaccination documentation accepted by NYU.
How to Apply
Send resume and cover letter to hiring@techkidsunlimited.org with Director of Education in the subject of the email. No phone calls.
TKU believes in the inherent value of diversity and equal opportunity, recognizing that a truly diverse workforce will bring a wider array of perspectives, as well as more innovative and effective solutions, to our programs and organization. TKU is an equal employment opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status or status as a Vietnam-Era or special disabled Veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. TKU will provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified individuals with a disability consistent with the law. What constitutes a reasonable accommodation depends on the circumstances and thus will be addressed by TKU on a case-by-case basis.