Senior Director

Arizona State University•Phoenix, AZ

17d•$100,000 - $128,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Arizona PBS, a service of Arizona State University, seeks an experienced and visionary Senior Director of Education to lead our comprehensive education initiatives. This leadership role oversees grant management, educational programming, community partnerships, and a dynamic team delivering PBS educational content and resources across Arizona and tribal communities. The position reports to the general manager of Arizona PBS, is a vital part of the executive management team for the organization and is responsible for the station’s primary mission outside of broadcasting.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including five (5) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in education, public administration, communications, or related field
Minimum 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in educational programming, nonprofit management, or public media
Proven track record in grant writing, management, and principal investigator responsibilities
Demonstrated success in team leadership and staff development
Strong fiscal management skills including budget development and oversight
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience managing complex, multi-partner projects and initiatives
Commitment to serving diverse communities including tribal nations
Knowledge of PBS educational standards and public media content
Experience working within higher education or university settings
Familiarity with ASU systems including RAS/ORSPA processes
Background in early childhood education and K-12 educational programming
Established relationships with Arizona educational and community organizations
Experience with educational assessment and program evaluation
Strategic thinking and visionary leadership
Grant development and fundraising expertise
Cross-cultural competency and partnership building
Project management and organizational skills
Data-driven decision making
Public speaking and presentation abilities
Collaborative and inclusive leadership style
Adaptability and creative problem-solving

Responsibilities

Strategic Vision & Organizational Leadership Develop and articulate a comprehensive strategic vision for Arizona PBS education initiatives that addresses the diverse needs of children, families, and educators across Arizona
Assess educational challenges and opportunities in Arizona, particularly in underserved communities, rural areas, and tribal nations
Navigate and adapt to a rapidly changing funding landscape, identifying sustainable models for long-term program growth and impact
Align education department priorities with Arizona PBS's mission, ASU's strategic goals, and PBS national education standards
Create innovative approaches to leverage technology, partnerships, and resources to maximize reach and effectiveness in a state with significant educational needs
Lead the department in responding to emerging educational trends, policy changes, and community priorities
Foster a culture of innovation, equity, and excellence within the education team
Establish measurable goals and outcomes that demonstrate Arizona PBS's impact on educational equity and achievement across the state
Lead and mentor the education leadership team, including three Assistant Directors with distinct grant and station responsibilities
Conduct weekly education leadership team meetings and individual one-on-one check-ins with leadership team members
Provide strategic direction for 12 or more education staff members including Program Managers, Program Coordinator Seniors, and PRN educators/ambassadors
Oversee community programs including camps, professional development workshops, and special events
Create budgets and allocate resources effectively across programs and personnel
Provide strategic oversight for PBS LearningMedia content promotion and ingestion with internal and external partners
Monitor content ingestion following PBS national editorial standards and processes
Oversee content development for multiple programs including Trail Mix'd, What Happened in AZ, Switch On, Resolve to Solve, Wild Arizona, and Arizona Game & Fish productions
Collaborate with engineering team on PBS LearningMedia promotions, QR code integration, and Spanish/ASL Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) for PBS KIDS properties
Manage Healthy Smile Learning initiative including content creation, professional development, and analytics
Oversee Lantern (formerly Bright By Text) local messaging platform with zip code and age-specific content
Mentor staff and interns on content development and recruit subject matter educators for curriculum content
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, collaborating with internal and external partners to develop competitive grant applications
Serve as Principal Investigator for awarded grants, working with ASU's Research Administration Services (RAS) and Office of Research & Sponsored Projects Administration (ORSPA)
Develop grant budgets, secure necessary approvals including Tribal Affairs coordination, and manage all fiscal aspects of education grants
Write and submit compelling grant proposals and renewals, incorporating input from stakeholders across the station
Present to potential funders independently and in partnership with the development team
Provide fiscal oversight including monthly budget reconciliation, expense approvals, and alignment with deliverable schedules
Prepare and submit quarterly and monthly narrative reports, collecting and analyzing data from staff and community stakeholders
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse partners including Navajo Nation Department of Education, Navajo Nation Public Libraries, First Things First, Phoenix Public Libraries, PBS SoCal, and numerous educational and cultural institutions
Coordinate trans-creation projects, workshop delivery, and train-the-trainer initiatives with tribal and community partners
Design and implement special events in partnership with organizations such as Fred Rogers Productions, WETA, GBH, Heard Museum, and regional PBS stations
Manage event logistics including budgets, materials, mascot coordination, volunteer staffing, and post-event evaluation
Oversee Super Why and STEM camp delivery including site recruitment, training, and community celebrations
Promote Little Free STEM Library partnerships and coordinate book delivery to community locations
Collect and report community outreach data for grant funders and station reporting
Serve as the primary spokesperson for Arizona PBS education initiatives to media, policymakers, funders, and the public
Articulate a compelling vision for Arizona PBS's role in improving education outcomes across the state, including early childhood development, K-12 achievement, and lifelong learning
Advocate for education funding before state and national governmental agencies, legislative bodies, and policy leaders
Present Arizona PBS's education impact and needs to foundation leaders, corporate partners, and philanthropic organizations
Build relationships with key stakeholders including state education officials, tribal leadership, legislative representatives, and community advocates
Communicate education program successes, data, and outcomes through presentations, media interviews, and public forums
Position Arizona PBS as a thought leader in educational equity, access, and innovation within Arizona and nationally
Represent the organization's education mission and values in alignment with ASU and PBS national standards
Serve on PBS KIDS and PBS Education national leadership councils and attend monthly community of practice meetings
Participate in the State Pyramid Leadership Team with representatives from Arizona Department of Education, DHS, DES, and Head Start
Conduct station tours for families, educators, and community partners
Support donor events, screenings, and station promotional activities
Take an active role as member of the executive leadership team and contribute to station strategic decisions
Collaborate bi-weekly with Senior Director of Content and Production on PBS LearningMedia projects and promotional activities
Partner regularly with Executive Director of Development on grant deliverables and funding opportunities
Coordinate with sales, traffic, operations, programming, and web teams on educational initiatives