Program Director

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

23d•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Director provides strategic leadership for the growth, sustainability, and external partnership development of the Fellowship Using the Science of Engagement (FUSE) at the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. This role leads school and partner recruitment and retention strategy, develops and manages high-level district partnerships, advises on program direction and program offerings based on market and partner needs, leads the development of novel offerings, and supervises staff responsible for fellowship implementation and participant support. This position is currently funded for one year from start date.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration, public policy, communications, business, social sciences, or related fields.
Significant progressively responsible experience in program leadership, partnership development, business development, educational initiatives, or related work.
Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with substantial independent judgment.
Experience building and maintaining external partnerships, preferably with K–12 school districts or education-focused organizations, with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances in school-related environments
Experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional work.
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Demonstrated ability to translate stakeholder needs and market information into strategic recommendations and action plans.
Awareness and experience in working with grant-funded research proposals at the school and district level with awareness of the university, school, and other educational institutional practices and policies regarding student confidentiality (FERPA compliance) and research ethics.
Expertise in leading, creating, and training educator professional development programs and materials.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field.
Experience working with school districts, state agencies, or large-scale educational partnerships.
Experience with strategic planning, recruitment, partnership growth, or revenue-generating program development.
Experience developing proposals, partnership agreements, and external-facing strategy materials.
Experience leading grant-funded, research-based, or university-based education initiatives.
Experience supervising staff in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Familiarity with professional learning programs, educator fellowships, or district-facing implementation models.
Documented experience in working with postsecondary institutions and faculty researchers on creating and implementing research interventions at the student and educator levels,
Awareness of Texas state education policies and procedures and related experience in working with local and state government.

Responsibilities

Lead recruitment and retention strategy for district partners, including outreach planning aligned to institute goals and market opportunities.
Build and maintain high-level relationships with district leaders and external stakeholders while developing tailored proposals and partner-facing materials.
Identify growth, expansion, and sustainability opportunities, advising leadership on market conditions and district demand.
Drive revenue generation through partner recruitment, renewals, and development of sustainable partnership models and structures.
Monitor recruitment and renewal pipelines, providing strategic updates and supporting agreement development with internal and university partners.
Oversee program strategy and implementation to ensure alignment with goals, partner expectations, and continuous improvement informed by feedback.
Lead and supervise staff by clarifying roles, coaching performance, and ensuring effective execution across program functions.
Represent the institute externally and collaborate cross-functionally to support strategic communications, planning, and organizational growth.