Learning Director - DC Metro

HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM INC • Washington, DC

10d • $65,000 - $65,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Higher Achievement is seeking a Learning Director for its DC Metro Affiliate. This role is crucial in ensuring that scholars achieve academic and social-emotional learning (SEL) goals, ultimately preparing them for college preparatory programs. The Learning Director will oversee program components, staff, and volunteers to drive academic gains, social and emotional development, and high school readiness. The position is based in the DC Metro area and involves working in an upbeat after-school environment, collaborating with various stakeholders, and building reliable structures for scholars.

Requirements

• Commitment to the mission and work of Higher Achievement.
• Bachelor’s degree or post-secondary certification (related field) required.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working directly with middle school youth in an educational setting required.
• Experience directly managing staff and/or volunteers required.
• Ability to travel in between main office and Achievement Center(s) on a daily basis via reliable transportation.
• Ability to attend events in the location area on a regular basis.
• Criminal background check prior to hire to include state/local municipalities, school district clearances and grant required checks.

Nice To Haves

• Teaching experience a plus.
• Experience in community building, mentoring and youth development strongly preferred.
• Strong skills in planning, organizing, attention to detail, written and oral communication strongly preferred.
• Experience building relationships and/or working with diverse community stakeholders, including families, schools/community partners, and corporate partners, including making public presentations and organizing community outreach efforts preferred.
• Strong skills in technology such as Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce and data analysis preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred; candidates are fluent in English and strongly prefer applicants able to have conversations with families in Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Ensure scholars are meeting academic and social and emotional learning (SEL) targets that prepare them for college-preparatory high school programs, including maintaining A/B grades, improving core course grades, maintaining or improving SEL indicators, and successfully applying to college preparatory programs in their eighth-grade year.
• Use data to provide ongoing assessment of scholars’ performance, including in-depth academic evaluations and evaluations of scholar attendance, participation, and social development; make recommendations for programmatic changes based on data when appropriate.
• Support scholar recruitment efforts led by the DPO and retain a pre-determined scholar roster.
• Maintain consistent communication on scholars’ academic and SEL progress, and attendance with parents, host school staff and volunteers.
• Facilitate orientations for scholars and parents.
• Ensure scholar information such as attendance, grades, behavior, parent communication and contact information is stored accurately on Salesforce.
• Effectively manage the team of staff and volunteers that together meet the academic and SEL needs of all scholars.
• Ensure programming is of high quality by providing instructional and SEL coaching to staff and volunteers, including conducting regular observations and sharing constructive feedback.
• Develop a strong understanding of the district clearance process and support staff and volunteers as they complete the necessary requirements.
• Directly manage between one and two full-time employees' year-round, the Learning Coordinator(s) and an AmeriCorps Achievement Fellow (depending on the location), and implement Higher Achievement management practices.
• Based on scholar rosters, manage part-time staff and volunteers, where applicable, including recruitment, hiring, training, coaching, performance management, and compliance.
• Ensure the center operates safely, smoothly, and follows Higher Achievement’s program model, creating a center culture that develops a love of learning, builds on Higher Achievement’s social justice pillars, and is youth-focused.
• Provide director oversight and responsibility of four core components of programming: Learning Blocks, Community Meeting, Electives and Field Trips.
• Ensure program quality regarding Learning Blocks, Community Meeting, Electives and Field Trips.
• Plan, lead and facilitate Community Meetings, with Learning Coordinators available to co-lead and assume responsibilities.
• Ensure center staff is following scholar safety risk management procedures, including behavior management, scholar transitions, arrival and dismissal.
• Coordinate schedules and logistics between Higher Achievement, host school, and outside partners.
• Maintain oversight of the achievement center’s supplemental budget as it relates to daily expenses and supplies.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: 90% employer-paid medical, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage; 50% employer-paid dependent medical and dental coverage. Eligible upon hire.
• Additional Insurance: Employee-paid vision, critical illness, and accident coverage. Eligible upon hire.
• Paid Holidays: Approximately 12 holidays annually, plus one week off in winter and one week off in summer (subject to annual organizational calendar).
• Paid Time Off: 240 hours (6 weeks) annually for vacation, sick, or personal leave; accrues at 9.23 hours per biweekly pay period.
• Five-Year Recess: One month (160 hours) of paid leave after five consecutive years of full-time service.
• Parental Leave: 80 hours (2 work weeks) for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan: Eligible upon hire. Higher Achievement matches 100% of employee contributions up to 5% of salary deferral. Participation is voluntary.

What This Job Offers

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