Assistant Director of Literacy

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning seeks an Assistant Director of Literacy to support the Center’s mission of improving teaching, learning, and childcare through equitable educational innovations. The Center works across research, practice, and policy to develop sustainable systems, leverage educational technologies, and improve research-based practices, with a focus on key educational milestones including kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency, and algebra proficiency. The Assistant Director supervises Literacy Team Managers and coordinates literacy initiatives, team processes, and collaboration with the Director of Early Childhood and Literacy and other Center teams. The role oversees high-quality professional development and research-based literacy products, provides literacy content expertise and review, and supports state-approved endorsement, certification, and micro-credential programs. Professional learning is delivered primarily online and through virtual sessions, with occasional in-person facilitation as project needs require. The position also monitors project outcomes and partner progress, supports research dissemination, product use, partnerships, fundraising, and federal grant proposals, and contributes to ongoing improvement of the Center’s literacy products and services. The position is time limited and soft funded.

Requirements

Master’s degree in an appropriate area and two years of appropriate experience, or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and four years of relevant experience.
Valid state of Florida driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in literacy/reading, special education, educational leadership, or a related field.
Strong organizational skills.
Experience in educational administration and/or working with school districts.
Expertise in literacy coaching.
Experience conducting literacy professional development.
Expertise in statewide professional learning systems.
Experience designing state-approved endorsement, certification, or micro-credential programs.
Expertise in asynchronous and synchronous online course design for adult learners.
Grounding in adult learning theory and its application to professional learning design.
Strong research and writing skills.
Expertise in literacy instruction across PreK–Grade 12.
Experience as a leader, coach, mentor, or facilitator.
Experience with and belief in the value of professional collaboration.
Evidence of ability and willingness to work collaboratively and with a commitment to collegiality.
Demonstrates dispositions valued by the Lastinger Center: committed, collaborative, culturally attuned, conscious of practice, curious, and a change agent.

Responsibilities

Supervise Literacy Team Managers to ensure high-quality service to stakeholders and lead the integration of literacy initiatives.
Schedule and facilitate recurring team meetings and support ongoing projects.
Work with the Director of Early Childhood and Literacy to develop onboarding plans for new employees and implement the Literacy Team’s vision and the Center’s mission.
Collaborate with Organizational Excellence and Products teams to ensure research-based products support adult learning principles.
Oversee high-quality professional development, primarily online and virtual, with occasional in-person facilitation as needed.
Guide the creation of research-based early learning and literacy content and identify development opportunities.
Facilitate strategic conversations with current partners and contribute intelligence and input to proposals with a one- to five-year horizon.
Support evidence-based professional learning experiences, including online instruction, coaching, literacy matrix, literacy micro-credential, science of reading, and small-group learning.
Guide the design and maintenance of state-approved endorsement, certification, and micro-credential programs, including competency alignment, assessment design, and facilitator preparation.
Provide literacy content expertise and consultation for the Center’s online learning platform and other literacy products.
Review literacy professional learning and technical assistance materials for accuracy, alignment with the science of reading, and consistency with current state standards.
Review and approve literacy content produced by team members and external partners before release to districts and schools.
Resolve content questions escalated by Literacy Team Managers and serve as liaison between the Literacy Team and executive leadership.
Attend and contribute to meetings, retreats, and focus groups, virtually or in person as needed.
Partner with teams across the Center to establish and maintain processes and systems.
Work with the Director of Early Childhood and Literacy and Research and Evaluation to track quarterly Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), including gathering relevant metrics.
Monitor developments in the field and share information to guide refinement of products and services.
Work with the Partnership Manager to communicate partner progress to the Director of Early Childhood and Literacy.
Support use of Lastinger products, including marketing consultation, and schedule deliverables such as dates, people, materials, and other supports.
Disseminate research findings on literacy products.
Assist the Director of Early Childhood and Literacy with external partnerships, fundraising, and federal grant proposals.
Perform other duties as assigned.