Director, Teacher Institute

Are you a dynamic and engaging leader who wants to apply your deep knowledge of educator professional learning to the Exploratorium’s nationally recognized teacher professional learning programs? Are you a strong strategic thinker who can support, organize, and motivate a highly experienced, knowledgeable, and creative team? Are you passionate about enacting equitable and anti-racist science education? Do you have a deep well of empathy for teachers and actively seek opportunities to further your own learning?

The Exploratorium Teacher Institute (TI) is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader who is passionate about the answers to the questions above and is excited to work in our informal education setting. We are specifically seeking someone with significant educator professional learning experience, has a background in secondary science education, is committed to educational equity and anti-racism, and has strong strategic and managerial skills. The Director of TI will manage a team of PhD scientists and veteran classroom teachers in developing and implementing programs for secondary science teachers and leaders

The Exploratorium Teacher Institute’s mission is to create and support a collaborative community of teachers, at all levels of their careers, through professional learning that joyfully emphasizes the teaching and learning of science as a process for understanding the natural and designed world. TI’s body of work includes career-long professional learning opportunities for novice and veteran classroom teachers and science leaders, alumni networks of support, high-quality resources, and research on teacher learning and science leadership. This work is developed locally at the Exploratorium and implemented broadly through regional, national, and international partnerships. Learn more about our work at http://www.exploratorium.edu/ti.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Articulate and implement the overall vision and strategy for the Exploratorium’s work in secondary science education
• Oversee, implement, and support all programs, projects, and initiatives within the Teacher Institute
• Provide direction, oversight, and supervision to TI personnel, including teachers, scientists, and administrative staff
• Oversee and manage the department’s $2M+ annual budget, funded by a diverse portfolio of private foundations, contracts, and government grants
• Lead proposal development and fundraising efforts for TI projects and programs
• Work with Exploratorium leaders to support and implement K-12 initiatives, including a statewide project designed to implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) across California
• Provide TI and the Exploratorium with guidance on educational equity, anti-racist science education, and science content and pedagogy
• Represent the work of TI and the Exploratorium at the local, regional, and national levels, e.g. with funders, Board members, the larger science community, etc., and maintain relationships with external evaluators and partners

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 5 years experience in a position of leadership and/or supervision with demonstrated success in managing staff and providing them with vision and guidance
• Degree in science, science education, or teacher education, PhD preferred
• Knowledgeable about current trends in secondary science education, including educational equity and anti-racism, Next Generation Science Standards, professional learning design, teacher induction, and teacher leadership
• Successful track record in fundraising, including developing, securing, and administering project awards and grants, preferably with budgets over $1M per year
• Exceptional experience in the design and implementation of science teacher professional learning highly preferred
• Demonstrated experience working with staff at all levels in a complex, collaborative environment; ability to promote and sustain positive workplace values, relationships and communication
• Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written
• Excellent public speaking skills
• Demonstrated teamwork and problem solving skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to travel nationally and internationally to attend meetings, run workshops, and present at conferences; ability to participate in Exploratorium programs and events that may occur outside of normal working hours

APPLICATION DEADLINE

APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: August 22, 2021

Review date: October 11, 2021
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: November 12, 2021
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.