Assistant Director of K-12 Initiatives Programs

Virginia Tech • Alexandria, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of K-12 Initiatives Programs provides strategic leadership for educational access initiatives, STEM programming, and community engagement across preK-16+ populations. This role combines college access coordination, youth and family engagement, and applied educational research, primarily serving all students with an emphasis on first generation students higher education and K-12 school systems. This position is responsible for planning and implementing high-impact college preparation programs, leading cross-sector partnerships, and developing collaborative outreach across university, school, and community stakeholders. The Assistant Director works with internal and external partners to build sustainable programming and infrastructure aimed at academic achievement, educational equity, and workforce readiness. The role requires a creative, empathetic, and data-informed professional who can manage multiple educational initiatives simultaneously and engage diverse groups including youth, families, educators, and community leaders.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a related field (STEM, Education, Public Policy, Youth Development, or similar).
• Will accept Bachelor’s degree with significant professional experience.
• Experience working with first generation and/or low-income student populations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple programs and projects.
• Demonstrated communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Experience with collaborative teamwork and leadership.
• Knowledge of STEM education, K-12 and higher education systems and student development theory.
• Familiarity with college access, academic success initiatives, and youth development programming.
• Experience with curriculum planning, facilitating student workshops, and advising.
• Willingness to travel regionally, including evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

• Grant writing and program evaluation experience.
• Applied research experience in educational settings.
• Knowledge of STEM education, community relations and marketing practices.
• Experience leading professional development or public-facing presentations.
• Understanding of educational ecosystem, first generation, low-income learners.
• Experience working with families and providing college advising services.
• Ability to use data for program improvement and storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership for educational access initiatives, STEM programming, and community engagement across preK-16+ populations.
• Combines college access coordination, youth and family engagement, and applied educational research.
• Plans and implements high-impact college preparation programs.
• Leads cross-sector partnerships.
• Develops collaborative outreach across university, school, and community stakeholders.
• Works with internal and external partners to build sustainable programming and infrastructure aimed at academic achievement, educational equity, and workforce readiness.
• Manages multiple educational initiatives simultaneously.
• Engages diverse groups including youth, families, educators, and community leaders.

Benefits

• Commensurate with experience, starting at $70,000
• Endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level