Senior Director, High School Aviation Initiative

About the position

The Senior Director, High School Aviation Initiative is responsible for providing programmatic, management, and fiscal oversight of AOPA's high school aviation initiative. Senior Director is responsible for supervising program staff, leading long-range vision, and planning in accordance with the mission and strategic plans, project management, and coordinating resources and assistance through volunteer committees. This includes managing curriculum development and delivery through an LMS, executing the annual aviation STEM symposium, creating teacher professional development events, leading federal grant acquisition and fulfillment, working and communicating with teachers, recruiting new high school programs, retaining and re-enrolling existing high school programs, aligning curriculum to state CTE programs of study, collecting and reporting program impact data, building and maintaining enterprise data systems, and representing The AOPA Foundation, Inc. and AOPA at events, workshops, and industry meetings. The AOPA Foundation, Inc.'s High School Aviation Initiative consists of aviation pathways for grades 9-12 with fully developed year-long courses (similar to a Career and Technology Education pathway) and provides associated teaching materials delivered though an online/digital platform to classroom teachers in AOPA's high school network. Reports to the Vice President, You Can Fly and supervises the initiative's Director, Senior Managers, Managers, Specialists, and Coordinators.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, strategic direction, and support for AOPA's High School Initiative.
• Lead effective execution of initiative's daily operations, projects, and programs.
• Develop and maintain process management systems, procedures, checklists, and project timelines that result in effectively meeting deadlines and communicating with stakeholders.
• Travel as necessary to attend meetings/seminars/workshops, host events, make presentations, and represent AOPA's You Can Fly High School Aviation Initiative.
• Plan and execute the annual Aviation STEM Symposium. Develop agenda, secure speakers, manage registration, and grow attendance.
• Manage in-person and online teacher professional development programs and events to ensure participating teachers continue to meet the program's participation requirements.
• Develop and grow relationships with teachers and other stakeholders. Recruit new teachers and high school programs to participate in the program.
• Work closely with Senior Managers, Curriculum Development to ensure the program's curriculum meets teacher and student needs.
• Develop, implement, oversee, and maintain all federal grants practices and fulfillment ensuring compliance with grant requirements, collaborating with internal stakeholders, tracking proper collection of data, and assessing the grant deliverables progress.
• Provide and coordinate all AOPA internal relationships necessary to support the program, including but not limited to internal production request coordination (to include program marketing and promotion), event planning, online content management, and managing/tracking the budget.
• Lead the talent and performance management processes that measure and evaluate progress and performance against organizational goals.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in education with seven+ years of experience in education or youth program management.
• Experience with STEM related educational and programming practices. Experience with aviation STEM programs highly desired.
• Prior success in developing successful relationships with state boards of education, schools boards and/or school administrations.
• Solid leadership and management experience and track record in motivating and building strong teams comprised of competent and highly capable individuals.
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with diverse stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, staff members, community partners, and donors.
• Proven track record of executing creative approaches and innovative strategies to promote ideas and advance programs/concepts.
• Pilot Certificate and current FAA flight medical highly desirable.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and projects in a fast paced and dynamic working environment.
• Strong project and time management skills, PMP Certification highly desirable.
• Public speaking experience required along with excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Availability for significant travel required (approximately 45-55 days per year; includes weekends).

Benefits

• Flight Training (learn to fly for free) & Flight Proficiency Program
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance is available for employees and their dependents the 1st of the month following their start date
• Health Savings Plan with employer contribution (only if choosing the HDHP medical plan)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a company match, and annual discretionary supplemental employer contribution
• Company paid Short and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Company paid Life Insurance and AD&D insurance with the option to buy up
• Paid Time Off (PTO): 17 days accrued during first year (accruals increase based on tenure)
• Paid Holidays: 12 holidays
• Personal days: 3 (prorated based on hire date)
• Volunteer day: 1 (prorated based on hire date)
• Paid Parental Leave
• AOPA Membership
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program (earn medical insurance premium discounts)
• Gym Reimbursement Program
• Flexible Spending Plans
• Supplemental insurance options (critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Business casual dress code
• Free coffee, tea, hot cocoa