Academic Program Officer Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Director of Middle School Program 

Department 

Programming  

Job Status 

Full-Time 

Reports To 

Chief Program Officer 

Job Type 

Regular 

Positions Supervised 

Program Managers  

FLSA Status 

Exempt 

Amount of Travel 

50% local travel  

Work Schedule 

M-F 9:00 – 5:00 or 10:00-6:00, flexibility; Occasional evenings and weekends  

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Director of Middle School Programs, under the guidance of the Chief Program Officer (CPO), provides strategic leadership, oversight, and support for all middle school programs. The position is also responsible for building team capacity, managing program operations and using data to drive continuous improvement and scholar outcomes. The director ensures the development and delivery of a high-quality engaging program that aligns with ODA’s mission. This role also includes supervising the Middle School Program Manager and the Middle School Programming team. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Program Management:
  • Provides strategic oversight to the middle school program to ensure operational excellence and quality.
  • Manages ODA’s four core Northeast Ohio middle school programs: afterschool, summer, family and scholar trips.
  • Oversees scholar recruitment and retention. Ensures programs are operating at capacity.
  • Responsible for ensuring clear and effective communication at programmatic level so scholars and families have the information needed for full engagement.
  • Ensures programs reflect principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
  • Ensures consistent implementation of afterschool programming across sites.
  • Collaborates with the CPO to effectively onboard the programming team.
  • Ensures effective design and implementation of new and existing programs.
  • Collaborates with the CPO and Summer Programming Leadership Team to help plan and prepare for summer camp. 
  • Collaborates with the Director of Family Engagement to provide vision and structured family programming that is responsive to families’ needs.
  • Collaborates with the CPO on the design of scholar trips.
  • Manages the implementation of scholar trips.
  • Oversees the middle school budgets, including afterschool, summer, family, and travel.
  • Collaborates with the CPO to ensure effective and timely client communications.
  • Collaborates with Compliance, Operations and Data Managers to ensure efficient and effective systems.
  • Maintains annual programming calendar including dates of operation, family events, district-specific events, services learning trip, field trips, and coordinates transportation with the Operations Manager.
  • Collaborates with the CPO, to prepare, plan and deliver effective staff professional development programs.
  • Collaborates across departments including finance, advancement, and marketing and communication. 
  • Oversees scholars and families onboarding process. 
  • Develops a comprehensive curriculum for middle school that aligns with Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW), ODA, and other academic standards and expectations.
  • Coordinates and builds partnerships with stakeholders necessary for curriculum and program. 
  • Leads, plans and coordinates middle school summer camp including the management of partners and the overall summer programming quality.
  • Coordinates and develops career and college pathways for middle school scholars.
  • Develops a pathway to transition middle school graduates into ODA high school program. This includes a peer mentor system between high school scholars and middle school scholars.

• Staff Management
  • Builds and leads a collaborative team. 
  • Co-leads programming team meetings with the CPO and the Program Managers.
  • Leads weekly Programming Leadership Team meetings. 
  • Collaborates with the CPO and COO to develop program and team members’ goals and professional development plans.  
  • Conducts weekly one-on-one meetings with direct reports. 
  • Conducts quarterly performance conversations direct reports. 
  • Provides ongoing coaching, feedback, and support to direct reports. 
  • Responsible for ensuring clear and effective communication at programmatic level so scholars and families have the information needed for full engagement
  • Identifies training needs among staff and works with team to deliver training to enhance programming
  • Attends budget review meetings with direct reports and CFO.
  • Manages, motivates, and guides team members to achieve departmental and organizational goals. Foster a positive work culture. 
  • Evaluates staff performance regularly, providing constructive feedback and fostering career development.

• Program Quality and Assessment
  • Implements logic models.
  • Along with the CPO and Senior Director of Advancement, establishes and maintains data collection methods to track the progress of each scholar.
  • Implements program assessments according to assessment calendar.
  • Collaborates with the CPO and Data Manager to implement evaluation instruments.
  • Conducts quarterly campus observations to ensure high-quality programming.
  • Collaborates with the CPO to implement the program-level assessment.
  • Responsible for the attainment of all program goals, including but not limited to, recruitment, academic, social emotional learning, family, compliance, and data collection.
  • Ensures program data is effectively gathered and stored.

• Partnerships
  • Builds a collaborative relationship with all school personnel.
  • Builds strong relationships with community partners.
  • Serves as the primary point of contact for external partners engaged with the middle school program.
  • Builds strong partnerships with schools and community partners. 
  • Ensures effective and consistent communication between families, school leadership, and community partners. 
  • Leads communication efforts with the families, fostering strong family engagement and ensuring active participation in student activities and events.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES AND PRIORITIES  

• Advances the organization’s professional image.
  • Promotes the organization’s mission, philosophy, and vision.
  • Maintains open and effective communications.
  • Uses problem-solving techniques to tactfully address questions and concerns.
  • Maintains a professional appearance. 
  • Maintains the confidentiality of privileged information.

• Participates as an active member of the leadership team. 
  • Upholds company policies and follows administrative guidelines and procedures.
  • Provides staff leadership.  Engenders staff enthusiasm and teamwork.  Promotes a safe, efficient, and effective work/learning environment.  Advances the change process.  Implements strategies and timelines to accomplish company objectives.  Helps resolve problems.
  • Serves as a liaison between the leadership team and program staff. 
  • Develops a strong culture among staff, parents, and the community based on ODA values.
  • Maintains up-to-date knowledge around emerging program trends.
  • Collaborates with managers to administer approved budgets for assigned areas of responsibility.  
  • Prepares and maintains accurate records. Submits required paperwork on time.
  • Assists with other Programming Department initiatives as necessary.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS 

ODA Values - Essential Ten:  

• 100% For Our Kids: We place scholar success and safety above all else. We understand that scholars may need support at unlikely times and in uncommon ways, and we don’t shy away from uncomfortable conversations. We believe that no action is taken in vain.
• Inclusivity: Our diversity is our greatest asset, empowering us to serve scholars and families based on individual need. Everyone’s voice is heard at the same volume, and we provide space for open dialogue.
• Communication: When we are communicating effectively, information travels clearly through the organization. The rationale behind the decisions takes center stage.
• Positive Intent: Everyone is working to the best of their ability and with the best interests of the organization and our communities in mind. We welcome and respect diverse and creative ideas because traveling the road of success can look very different for everyone.
• Progress: To always be better that yesterday. Excellence is not an immediate achievement, but rather a product of daily improvement.
• Equity: We promote equal access to the resources that our scholars and families need to thrive. Striving for justice in all things removes the barriers to equity in our education system and our communities.
• Preparedness: We are intentional in our work, taking care to plan each step and interrogate every choice while exploring unconventional options. We pay attention to how scholars and families might respond and leave no stone unturned.
• Compassion: We do our best to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes because it is easy to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intent. We always aim to establish a trusting and safe space for everyone to be their authentic selves.
• Collaboration: We build trust, develop a purpose, and empower individuals to better serve our community. Collaboration strengthens our culture and leads to longstanding investment. Our work is done best when we synthesize the diverse facts and strengths of our staff to provide the best possible service for our families, scholars, and community.
• Curiosity: We take time to learn and grow from every experience. Our motivation is to intentionally develop ourselves in service of our mission. We are intentional in developing and motivating ourselves.

SKILLS & ABILITIES 

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, social work or related field required.
• Master’s Degree preferred.

Experience:  

• Experience in education in a non-profit setting highly desirable.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory experience. 
• Classroom management and curricula design and implementation experience preferred.

Technical Skills:  

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong organizational Skills

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: 

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Other Requirements:  

• Valid driver’s license 
• Must be certified as a Level III Administrator through the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRA)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

N (Not Applicable)  

Activity is not applicable to this occupation. 

O (Occasionally)  

Occupation requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs/day)  

F (Frequently) 

Occupation requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs/day)  

C (Constantly)  

Occupation requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs/day) 

Physical Demands  

Lift/Carry  

Speak 

F 

Stand  

O  

Walk  

F  

Sit  

F 

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