Department Lead - Engineering & Technology Education

Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200•Oak Park, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department Lead supports the Division Head in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of the Career and Technical Education Division by providing instructional, programmatic, and operational leadership within an assigned department. This position serves as the primary leadership liaison between the Division Head and department faculty, fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and the successful implementation of Division goals. The role involves overseeing the maintenance, lifecycle replacement, calibration, and safety protocols for specialized tools, lab environments, and manufacturing centers, liaising with Facilities, IT services, and outside partners for equipment upkeep and facility enhancements, and managing the execution of laboratory safety standards. It also includes providing strategic guidance on capital expenditures, facility upgrades, and long-term planning for engineering and manufacturing pathways.

Requirements

High expectations for all students.
Value student voice in education.
Focus on closing opportunity gaps for students of color and other under-represented groups.
Professionalism, trust, shared ownership, and continuous improvement.
Visible support for Division priorities and strategic initiatives.
Ability to establish, implement, and monitor annual department and Division goals, and established standard operating procedures.
Ability to make student-centric recommendations grounded in data, professional expertise, and Division priorities.
Professionalism and integrity in representing the Career and Technical Education Division.
Ownership of assigned responsibilities and ability to follow projects through to completion.
Initiative, organization, and effective project management skills.
Ability to anticipate challenges and proactively develop solutions.
Knowledge of maintenance, lifecycle replacement, calibration, and safety protocols for specialized tools, lab environments, and manufacturing centers.
Ability to liaise with Facilities, IT services, and outside partners.
Knowledge of laboratory safety standards and relevant industry safety benchmarks.
Strategic guidance capabilities for capital expenditures, facility upgrades, and long-term planning for engineering and manufacturing pathways.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Engineering & Technology Education.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary leadership liaison between the Division Head and faculty within the assigned department.
Facilitate communication among department members and elevate concerns, opportunities, and recommendations to the Division Head.
Support implementation of Division standard operating procedures and contribute to their ongoing development and refinement.
Participate in regular CTE Leadership Team meetings and individual department leadership meetings with the Division Head.
Facilitate and document department meetings.
Support the TCT/PLC leader in the facilitation of TCT/PLC work.
Collaborate with other CTE Department Leads to promote consistency, coordination, and alignment.
Mentor and support new teachers through onboarding, guidance, and ongoing professional support.
Serve on hiring committees and assist with teacher recruitment as requested.
Lead curriculum evaluation and development in accordance with District curriculum processes and Division priorities.
Facilitate collaboration around curriculum, instructional resources, common assessments, and course sequencing.
Support implementation of district curriculum frameworks, instructional best practices, and assessment alignment.
Coordinate curriculum review cycles, course revisions, and instructional improvement initiatives.
Recommend curriculum revisions, instructional materials, textbooks, equipment, and other instructional resources.
Encourage and promote high-quality professional learning opportunities for department faculty.
Serve as an instructional resource for department faculty as appropriate.
Assist the Division Head in leading the continuous development and implementation of pathways, including dual credit opportunities, industry credentials, work-based learning experiences, and community partnerships.
Coordinate department participation in recruitment events, showcases, advisory meetings, competitions, and community outreach activities.
Monitor and communicate department progress toward Division goals, strategic priorities, and pathway success metrics.
Assist the Division Head in establishing and facilitating Workforce Advisory Groups.
Monitor department budgets and provide staff with preliminary authorization to request routine expenditures in accordance with Division purchasing procedures.
Support communication with students, families, industry partners, and community stakeholders regarding department programs and opportunities.
Coordinate maintenance, replacement, inventory, and organization of specialized instructional equipment and facilities.
Assist with development of promotional materials, departmental communications, and pathway recruitment resources.
Recommend budget priorities, capital improvements, instructional resources, and equipment purchases to the Division Head.
Coordinate implementation of department projects and initiatives.
Perform other appropriate duties as assigned by the Division Head.
Foster a collaborative, solution-oriented department culture characterized by professionalism, trust, shared ownership, and continuous improvement.
Demonstrate visible support for Division priorities, strategic initiatives.
Support the Division Head in establishing, implementing, and monitoring annual department and Division goals, and established standard operating procedures.
Make student-centric recommendations grounded in data, professional expertise, and Division priorities.
Represent the Career and Technical Education Division with professionalism and integrity.
Take ownership of assigned responsibilities and follow projects through to completion.
Demonstrate initiative, organization, and effective project management.
Anticipate challenges and proactively develop solutions.
Oversee the maintenance, lifecycle replacement, calibration, and safety protocols for specialized tools, lab environments, and manufacturing centers.
Liaise with Facilities, IT services, and outside partners to manage equipment upkeep, new installations, and physical plant enhancements.
Manage the execution of laboratory safety standards and ensure adherence to relevant industry safety benchmarks.
Provide strategic guidance on significant capital expenditures, facility upgrades, and long-term planning for the engineering and manufacturing pathways.