Job description
Director, Achievement Academy of Durham
The Achievement Academy of Durham is seeking an experienced educational professional to lead the organization through an important transition point in its eleven-year history of service to young adults in Durham. The Director will maintain AAD’s legacy by supervising the daily operation of AAD’s internal education and support programs while steering the organization’s evolution as a key partner in Durham’s emerging collective-impact youth initiatives. The Director will be instrumental in guiding the board through strategic decisions that will define the organization’s optimal role in the community’s collaborative efforts to have all of its youth engaged in living wage employment by age 25. Specific job responsibilities may change as this work proceeds, so the position demands a diverse leadership skill set and considerable flexibility. The Director answers directly to the Achievement Academy’s Board of Directors.
Achievement Academy of Durham teaches and supports young adults who have dropped out of school in order to reconnect them to the opportunities an education provides. AAD students gain critical reading skills, earn their NC Equivalency Diploma and complete college preparatory training so they can succeed in a post-secondary program and attain sustainable employment. The Achievement Academy is funded through government contracts, foundations, and private donors.
Primary responsibilities:
Leadership:
Leads the board and staff in setting strategic direction for the organization
Hires, coaches, supervises, and retains a talented and energetic staff and volunteer corps
Develops, maintains, and supports a strong board of directors; serves as ex-officio member of committees
Program Development and Community Collaboration
Develops and maintains strategic partnerships to better serve AAD students and the broader Durham community
Implements strategic plans and new program initiatives including recommending timelines and identifying resources needed to achieve goals
Ensures effective systems to track progress, and regularly evaluate program components so as to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other constituents
Fiscal Resources
Has overall responsibility for developing and maintaining the fiscal health of the organization
Works with Board of Directors to prepare annual operating budget
Program
Provides consultative support to teaching and support services staff
Leads the instructional staff in continually refining AAD’s instructional program to best meet the needs of current students and the community
Is responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, and highly supportive learning environment at all times. Sets clear safety and behavioral standards and expectations for staff, volunteers, and students; investigates, documents, and manages the response to any incidents involving safety at AAD
Oversees student enrollment and removal of students from the program
Human Resources/Administration
Supervises the maintenance of all employee, volunteer, and student records
Provides orientation for new employees
Negotiates annual benefit renewals in consultation with Board Personnel and Finance committees
Is first point of contact for staff and volunteers regarding benefits and HR issues
Ensures consistent quality and integrity of financial and administrative practices
Ensures that AAD meets all its financial obligations
Required qualifications
Master’s Degree in Education or closely related field
Minimum of 5 years of experience in an instructional setting
Supervisory/administrative experience
Experience working with adolescents and/or young adults with limited school success
Knowledgeable in the areas of mental health and disabilities
Ability to maintain and build interagency collaborations
How to apply
Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume to director@achievedurham.org. Application deadline: March 4, 2016.