Director of Innovation

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School•Milwaukee, WI

11h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Innovation is a full-time, 12-month leadership position responsible for advancing Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee's mission through the Ignatian Innovation Framework. This role integrates the school's three core mission strands: college-preparatory academics, the Corporate Work Study Program, and faith formation to cultivate innovative, reflective, and service-oriented leaders. Reporting to the Principal, the Director of Innovation oversees the Innovation Lab Specialist and collaborates closely with the Academic Leadership Team, Corporate Work Study Program, and Campus Ministry to ensure that innovation efforts remain mission-aligned and centered on student formation as men and women for and with others. Through strategic collaboration, reflective practice, and coaching, this position fosters meaningful and sustainable innovation that prepares students to lead lives of purpose, service, and impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
Minimum of three (3) years of experience in education, instructional coaching, program design, or innovation leadership
Demonstrated experience integrating curriculum, pedagogy, or design frameworks across departments and content areas
Strong instructional coaching skills, with the ability to support adult learners in implementing new practices
Experience designing and facilitating professional learning for faculty, staff, and external partners
Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives across cross-functional teams
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling resources for diverse audiences
Comfort with design thinking, data analysis, and the thoughtful use of emerging technologies in the service of teaching and learning
Evidence of ability to further the school's unique Jesuit mission and serve students and families from under-resourced communities

Nice To Haves

advanced degree in education, instructional leadership, design, or a related field preferred

Responsibilities

Develop the Ignatian Innovation Program's annual plan, set goals, and measure progress throughout the year.
Regularly reflect on the structure and function of the program to refine the allocation of resources and bandwidth to best support the mission and the organization.
Serve as a collaborative connector between academics, CWSP, and campus ministry to support the integration of those three strands of CRJ's mission.
Design or partner to offer a variety of accessible and experiential workshops that help students feel inspired by and welcome in the Innovation Labs
Build partnerships to offer extra-curricular opportunities for students to explore passions in STEAM, social justice, and leadership development
Offer robust opportunities for students to make things and express themselves in the innovation labs
Organize field trips to support access to engineering, innovation, creation, and leadership development opportunities
Provide instructional and curricular coaching to teachers to integrate the IIF and experiential learning more broadly into their curriculum
Develop and facilitate access to Ignatian Innovation Framework (IIF) curricular resources that teachers can incorporate into their courses
Prepare and present training sessions to staff and faculty about the Ignatian Innovation Framework and its application at CRJ to enhance our mission effectiveness
Support CWSP staff in materials and session development to enhance supervisors' ability to provide meaningful tasks and opportunities to student workers
Facilitate opportunity-identifying and collaboration meetings between academics, the Corporate Work Study Program, and Campus Ministry
Serve as a thought partner to internal stakeholders - teachers, staff, students, and parents - advising on tools and approaches to solve problems and innovate in service of the mission
Teach staff how to use the school's creative tools and software to solve their problems or bring their vision to life.
Stay connected to a variety of stakeholders at CRJ - students, parents, alumni, teachers, CWSP staff, support staff, CWSP supervisors, and board members
Deepen your own understanding of Ignatian and innovation concepts and best practices, and share learnings with relevant audiences through written and visual media
Share stories of success, opportunities for involvement, and information that support Ignatian Innovation at CRJ
Meet regularly with the Innovation Lab Specialist to ensure that they are fulfilled in their work, successfully carrying out their responsibilities, meeting the school's needs, and investing in the school's capacity to achieve its strategic plan and goals
Meet with the Principal for updates, development, and direction
Meet with the Academic Leadership Team, CWSP team, and Campus Ministry team regularly to stay connected and coordinate priorities
Oversee the budget, purchasing process, and lab operations to ensure responsible and functional departmental and programmatic operations.
Other duties as assigned by the Principal
Model CRJ's core Ignatian values: treating all stakeholders with empathy and care; following through with commitments; communicating with integrity; expressing gratitude; and spreading optimism and joy
Approach your personal and professional growth through a developmental lens; enthusiastically participate in professional development and formation; maintain confidentiality when warranted; seek and apply feedback from leadership and colleagues
Contribute fully, intentionally, and constructively to the broader school team - collaborating with integrity, humility, and joy to ensure the foundation of trust that will enable the community to accomplish its ambitious goals
Embrace the school's goals and results as the collective responsibility of the entire Cristo Rey community; seek opportunities to celebrate the school's accomplishments and recognize the contributions of colleagues