United States
Northwest Evaluation Association
Job#: 1105902
Employment Type: Full Time Regular
Category: Professional Development Services, FT
Job Title: Sr Manager, Professional Services
Location: Home-Based-US
NWEA has an exciting new opening for Senior Manager, Professional Development Services. If you have a background in K-12 education and professional learning, demonstrated leadership capabilities and a passion for coaching others, this could be the ideal opportunity for you! NWEA offers a competitive salary, an outstanding benefits package and career growth opportunities. While this position can be located anywhere working remotely, strong preference will be given to candidates who live in or can relocate to the Portland, OR metro area.
Founded by educations nearly 40 years ago, NWEA™ is a global not-for-profit educational service organization known for our flagship interim assessment, Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP®). More than 7,600 partners in U.S. schools, school districts, education agencies, and international schools trust us to offer pre-kindergarten through grade 12 assessments that accurately measure student growth and learning needs, professional development that fosters educators’ ability to accelerate student learning, and research that supports assessment validity and data interpretation. To better inform instruction and maximize every learner’s academic growth, educators currently use NWEA assessments with nearly eight million students.
Position summary
The Senior Manager of Professional Development Services reports to the Vice President of Professional Development and is responsible for providing leadership to the partner-facing delivery team of NWEA professional learning products and services. The Professional Development Services team is dedicated to facilitating learning experiences that enhance individual knowledge and build organizational capacity to improve student learning. This position works closely with other members of the Professional Development leadership team, members of the Professional Development regional teams and other decision-makers across the organization, in the creation, development, and deployment of professional development strategies and tactical plans that further the mission and goals of NWEA. The Senior Manager is responsible for leadership to a team comprised of both full-time and part-time Professional Development Consultants. In this role, the Senior Manager of Professional Development Services must foster a team culture that is conducive to promoting high quality professional learning and growth for all NWEA Professional Development Services team members.
Responsibilities
• Provide high-level vision and support to regional teams to deliver on organizational expectations, including business results, quality and organizational values.
• Act as a point of escalation for assigned regional teams. While regional Professional Development teams manage day-to-day workflow, the Senior Manager is available to the regional teams to support ongoing learning and improvement, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. The Senior Manager may act as a proxy for the regional team(s) as needed.
• Provide leadership, support and ongoing coaching for direct reports in their delivery, professional learning and engagement in regional teams’ continuous improvement efforts; leverage data dialogues and performance coaching tools to encourage a culture of continuous improvement for all direct reports. Provide coaching and support to direct reports in goal setting, individualized professional learning and career development.
• Along with other members of the Professional Development leadership team, provide overall vision and annual goals for the PD Services team; ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Utilize quantitative and qualitative team data to provide input into annual staff professional learning plan; ensure centrally developed staff professional learning is implemented in assigned region(s). Support regional teams and individuals in prioritizing and completing professional learning at the regional team and individual level as needed.
• Continuously advocate for resources and tools that will strengthen Professional Development in the future, and play an active role in their implementation. These resources could include staff professional learning, new processes/systems, additional human resources and more.
• Represent Professional Development Services with other members of Partner Services and Partner Accounts leadership; appropriately use advocacy and influence to achieve goals of the PD Services team and the organization overall.
• Collaborate with other members of the PD leadership team and others in the organization to find resolutions and move work forward; ensure timely and accurate completion of projects; model mutual accountability for the regional teams and the organization.
• Manage the recruitment and hiring process for assigned regional team(s); plan for resources to match anticipated partner demand.
• Prepare, manage, and possess accountability for the Professional Development Services budget.
• Model continuous improvement by maintaining awareness of industry standards, trends and best practices in Professional Development delivery; collaborate with other members of the PD Leadership team to integrate best practices, including digital online learning and adult learning standards, into all delivery methods.
• Represent the Professional Development team in organization-wide meetings and efforts related to assigned projects or sustaining work as requested.
• Travel up to 75% or as required to support the business dynamics of the function.
• Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the success of the PD team and the entire organization.
Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrated ability to provide instructional leadership to large, remote teams
• Demonstrated ability to coach individuals, with an emphasis on motivating continuous improvement
• Proven strength in supervising individual contributors and leading work teams; ability to create an environment that promotes individual creativity and empowerment while fostering professional growth and development
• Proven ability to collaborate within a leadership team, supporting a shared vision and mutual accountability
• Demonstrated depth of knowledge in the facilitation and implementation of professional development
• Proven ability to leverage data to drive continuous improvement in teaching and learning
• Exceptional skills in collaborating with partners and staff and in developing and maintaining long term supportive relationships
• Demonstrated ability to lead and operate in a complex environment that requires adaptability, decisiveness and ability to effectively work with and across all levels of the organization
• Proven ability to recruit a diverse skill set, with future needs of the business in mind
• Demonstrated sound business judgment and knowledge of financial issues impacting profitability
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent listening skills and ability to communicate (both written and verbal) clearly, professionally, and completely in a timely manner
• Strong coaching and consulting skillset
• High degree of self-motivation and initiative
• Systemic thinker with ability to identify barriers to success and propose solutions
• Motivation to work from an organizational perspective
• Motivation to affect change at the individual, team, and organizational level
• Ability to work both independently and as a contributing, collaborative team member
Education and Experience
• Master’s degree, or equivalent combinations of education and experience in lieu of degree.
• Previous experience as an educator in K-12 is highly preferred.
• Previous experience managing large, diverse teams; experience managing remote teams is preferred.
• 10+ years related experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience working in Professional Development field is preferred.
Benefits
NWEA’s generous benefits package includes: 100% employer paid medical, dental and vision insurance premiums for eligible employees; company-paid public transportation, indoor bicycle racks, and free on-site parking; convenient location near public transportation near the Pearl District in downtown Portland; additional monthly compensation in the form of Benefit pay; and a 15% annual employer contribution toward our 403b retirement plan. In addition, NWEA’s culture promotes work-life balance. Accordingly, we offer 4 weeks’ PTO in the first year; 5 weeks’ PTO after the first year anniversary; and 6 weeks’ PTO after the second year anniversary and in subsequent years. Our employees also enjoy flexible work schedules.
NWEA is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and we do not discriminate against employees or job applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status or consideration protected by local, state and federal laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies. Equal opportunity applies to hiring, promotion, training, compensation, and any other organizational action. NWEA’s written Affirmative Action Plan is available to all employees and job applicants upon request.