Position: Academic Programs Director
Organization: Level Playing Field Institute
Location: San Francisco, CA
The Level Playing Field Institute is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and implementing innovative approaches to fairness in education and the workplace by removing barriers to full participation for women, people of color, and LGBT people. Founded in 2001 by Freada Kapor Klein, LPFI now runs two education programs for high-achieving low-income underrepresented students of color and provides cutting edge research, tools, and consulting about fairness in the workplace. LPFI’s education programs are very successful, with 100% of their high school students and 64% of their college students going on to seek additional higher education opportunities. LPFI's workplace programs work to ensure that when students enter the workforce after their studies, their place of employment will be primed to recognize each individual’s value and will accept them based on merit.
This coming year is a pivotal time for LPFI as they work to prepare their education programs for scaling to achieve national impact. They are currently in conversation with nationally recognized civil rights organizations to explore next steps.
This position reports to the Director of Education, and is responsible for the success of the academic components of the five week residential SMASH summer academy and its academic year program, as well as the academic services offered to their IDEAL Scholars. This position will also craft academic services as their programs expand to serve more students in additional locations.
Responsibilities:
- Translate their current academic content into a replicable model which can be used to grow the LPFI education programs to other locations
- Evaluate existing academic programs/activities and make changes to enhance them
- Excellent presentation, communication and facilitation skills
- Ability to meet stringent deadlines and be flexible with change
- Proven experience in project management
- Manage a curriculum development team to customize culturally relevant course material with a STEM focus to include scope and sequence, lesson plans, instructional materials and experiential learning activities
- Design material for various workshops for scholars (study skills, interviewing, graduate school, career); train on the material as needed
- Recruit, train and develop SMASH instructional staff to ensure a high quality curriculum focus
- Refine and implement Individualized Academic Development Plans (IADP) for each SMASH scholar
- Conduct data analysis and develop reports based on results from evaluations/surveys and academic records of both program’s scholars
- Identify special opportunities to assist scholars and enrich their learning experiences in their courses of study and development
- Provide leadership and mentorship to scholars and SMASH and IDEAL staff. Anticipate problems, and proactively suggest solutions
- Serve as a source of support, inspiration, encouragement, and motivation for the scholars, but able to refer them to campus/professional resources when necessary
- Oversee all components of the student recruitment process, including outreach and selection
- Provide academic and scholar information to Development staff for requesting funds and reporting to donors
- Provide guidance to parents and facilitate student and parent meetings when appropriate; provide or arrange Spanish language translation to families, as necessary
- Participate in, and lead as necessary, key events and field trips
- Advanced degree in the STEM field and/or 4 + years of experience in education, or equivalent
- Some teaching experience in Math or Science a plus
- Experience with curriculum and/or course development
- Experience in developing academic programs from conception through implementation
- Demonstrated effectiveness in working with youth from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds
- Experience in project management
- Ability to speak Spanish a plus
- Energetic, entrepreneurial spirit
- Excitement about innovative business models and non traditional organizations
- Solid commitment to diversity issues
- Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication, presentation and facilitation skills
- Able to work both independently and collaboratively
- Good sense of humor
- Position requires lifting ¼ of the time up to 15 pounds
- Commitment to our Organizational Values:
- Teamwork
- Personal integrity and accountability
- Transformation and Growth
- Openness and Transparency
- Individual Initiative
- Sustainability and Impact
LPFI provides competitive compensation commensurate with experience, and an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life/disability insurance, paid time off, 401k, volunteer time and flexible spending accounts (i.e. parking, transit, medical and dependent care). Our dog-friendly, eco-retrofitted office is located in the SOMA district of San Francisco. LPFI shares space with other like-minded organizations (start-ups, foundations, non-profits) and has excellent access to public transportation. Lunch is provided for all co-located organizations twice weekly so as to facilitate inter-entity collaboration.
Statement of Non-Discrimination:
In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination/ harassment based on: race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/ domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status. Above and beyond discrimination/ harassment based on "protected categories," Level Playing Field Institute also strives to prevent other, subtler forms of inappropriate behavior (e.g., stereotyping) from ever gaining a foothold in our office. Whether blatant or hidden, barriers to success have no place at Level Playing Field Institute.
To Apply:
To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter to jarvis@lpfi.org.