Teacher Support Redesign Project Manager Job Description
About OpenSciEd
OpenSciEd is a project under the National Center for Civic Innovation that brings together multiple partners, including science leadership from ten states, world class curriculum developers, philanthropic organizations, and national science education leaders and experts, to create a complete set of robust, research-based, open-source K-12 science instructional materials and professional learning Launched by the Carnegie Corporation of New York with additional support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
About the Teacher Support Redesign Project
Providing all science teachers the support they deserve is a challenge not yet overcome in today’s schools. Though not a new challenge, it has been made more apparent in the implementation of Framework-based standards The research behind these standards made it clear a paradigm shift in instruction is required to ensure all students, especially those that have been marginalized, have the opportunity to embrace the beauty and wonder of the world while learning what is needed to prepare them for their lives beyond 12th grade Making this change requires quality materials AND professional learning
This project intends to make significant progress in solving this issue. OpenSciEd has developed, released, and delivered a suite of best in class curriculum based professional learning (PL) materials Hundreds of facilitators have employed them to support thousands of teachers across the country. Yet, we know thousands of teachers are using OpenSciEd classroom materials without the support they deserve.
This project will reach out to teachers to learn about the barriers they face in accessing PL and then redesign how our PL materials are delivered and structured to better meet the needs of teachers in all types of schools and communities. OpenSciEd curriculum development is generously supported by philanthropic organizations.
September 2023
Position Summary
The Teacher Support Redesign Project Manager will report to the Senior Director of Strategy and Growth and coordinate the project team's work. Though the team is yet to be assembled, it will likely include professional learning designers, educational researchers, technology organizations, and other stakeholders. This team's primary focus will be redesigning OpenSciEd’s professional learning materials to create products and/or services that better meet the needs of teachers and districts and increase participation in PL. The Project Manager will work hand-in-hand with the Senior Director in all aspects of the project, including communication with the funder, building product awareness, fostering partnerships with the science education community, as well as supporting budget, reporting, and contract obligations. The Project Manager will be an external face of the project, representing the work in the science and broader education communities Additionally, they will be a collaborative member of the OpenSciEd team, helping the organization in its broader work supporting science education.
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
● Manage the interactions between the project partners including (but not limited to) teachers, schools, districts, developers, an advisory board, and the funder
● Ensure meaningful data is collected from teachers and schools to inform the redesign
● Participate in decision-making about content and structure for the teacher materials with a particular focus on designing for a diverse audience
● Helping facilitate an Advisory Board and/or Design Group that will be providing guidance to the project
● Participate in design and decision-making about teacher professional learning
● Manage the project contracts and budget
● Oversee the product launch and communication about the new materials
● Contribute to the OpenSciEd.org website
Management and Administration
● Participate in the management of budgets and contracts with all partners
● Implement management systems to ensure that the project, and all its partners, are progressing on schedule and on budget.
Candidate Requirements
The ideal candidate will have:
September 2023
● 5+ years of professional experience, which includes a track record of success in state or district educational leadership, and/or K-12 curriculum development
● Strong project management experience, including successfully leading multi-partner initiatives
● Robust experience designing and delivering teacher professional learning in science
● Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including communicating complex information with clarity to diverse audiences, facilitating dialogue, and building consensus
● Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
● Aptitude for interpersonal rapport building and working collaboratively with others, including ability to collaborate in a positive, constructive, and succinct manner.
● Comfort in working remotely with colleagues and partners in multiple time zones.
● Strong knowledge of the Next Generation Science Standards
● Strong knowledge of the best practice and research in teacher professional learning
● Familiarity with OpenSciEd Professional Learning Principles
● Strategic vision related to the important role of curriculum reform and widespread implementation of high quality instructional materials as a strategy to advance learning
● Strong knowledge of the state of education reform and savviness about the political realities of various improvement strategies
● Experience working with state education agencies and/or school districts
● Evidence of an entrepreneurial mindset
● Experience with fiscal management, budgeting, and contract development and oversight
● Ability to thrive in a collaborative and diverse environment
● Advanced degree, preferred
● Familiarity with science education history, research, entities, and players in K-12 education reform efforts, preferred
● Classroom teaching experience, preferred
Compensation is in the range of $120,000-$125,000, with competitive benefits and generous paid time off and paid holidays. OpenSciEd is a virtual organization and this position can be based anywhere. Work is conducted in your home office or an offsite location
OpenSciEd celebrates, supports, and thrives on difference and diversity for the benefit of our team members, our partnerships, and our community. We are an equal opportunity employer and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.
Interested candidates should submit an application using our website www.openscied.org/careers