Assistant Director

State of Indiana•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

The Assistant Director for Technical Assistance in Special Education provides leadership, guidance, and targeted technical assistance to local education agencies (LEAs) to support compliance with federal and state special education laws and improve outcomes for students with disabilities. The role supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of policies, procedures, and practices related to IDEA and state regulations, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to promote continuous improvement. It oversees professional development requested by the field and works with dispute resolution, data, and monitoring teams to ensure consistent messaging and coordinated support. The position assists the Director with agency and program plans, policies, resources, goals, vision, and expectations. It supervises staff and supports organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, budget monitoring, public communications, and coordination with government officials. Other duties may be assigned. This position is exempt from overtime compensation; employees may be required to work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation.

Requirements

Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational programs and business practices.
Extensive knowledge of State programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with public and private government and business leaders.
Ability to identify problems, assess the accuracy and relevance of information, use sound judgment, evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations.
Ability to work with internal and external customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.
Ability to make logical, well-informed, and objective decisions and perceive their impact and implications.
Ability to assign work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
Ability to provide effective feedback, guidance, or corrective action to coach and develop employees.
Ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, and make recommendations for improvement.
Assist the Director with developing and coordinating plans, policies, resources, mission, goals, vision, and expectations of the agency or program.
Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
Supervise subordinate personnel, including hiring, assigning workload, authorizing assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.
Assist with monitoring the agency or program budget, including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections.
Communicate with news and other media and respond to media questions or requests appropriately.
Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues.
Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees, ensuring responsibilities and expectations are understood and providing professional development opportunities.
Set expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate employee performance.
Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.
Provide leadership, guidance, and targeted technical assistance to local education agencies on special education laws and practices.
Support development, implementation, and monitoring of policies, procedures, and practices related to IDEA and state regulations.
Oversee delivery of professional development requested by the field.
Collaborate with dispute resolution, data, and monitoring teams to coordinate support and ensure consistent messaging.

Benefits

Three medical plan options, including prescription drug coverage, as well as vision and dental plans.
Wellness Rewards Program with gift card rewards for completing wellness activities.
Health savings account with bi-weekly state contributions.
Deferred compensation 457(b) account with employer match.
Two fully funded pension plan options.
Leave policies including paid New Parent Leave, paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers, community service leave, vacation, personal and sick leave.
12 paid holidays, or 14 in election years.
Education Reimbursement Program.
Group life insurance.
Referral Bonus program.
Employee assistance program with covered behavioral health visits.
Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Free parking for most positions.
Free LinkedIn Learning access.