Director of the Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP)

Department

University of Chicago Urban Education Institute

About the Department

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, & Practice (Crown Family School) builds upon a legacy of more than a century of scholarship, education and leadership in social work and social welfare, blending a distinctive interdisciplinary tradition with applied problem-solving to foster innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing social problems. For more information about the Crown School, please visit our website at: .

The University of Chicago Crown Family School is the academic home to the Urban Education Institute (UEI), an internationally and nationally renowned institute addressing educational inequality in urban communities by conducting rigorous research, informing evidence-based policies, and implementing innovative practices to promote educational equity and excellence.

Job Summary

Reporting to the UEI Faculty Director, the Director of the Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP) will provide overall leadership to and define the direction of UTEP and its staff. The Director will create the vision for the program, ensuring the quality of all aspects of UChicago UTEP's work. The Director will oversee all UChicago UTEP program design, program operations and grant awards, and the professional development of staff, faculty, and clinical instructors. The Director of UTEP will also be responsible for overseeing research efforts about UChicago UTEP program activities and engaging in all financial planning, budget management and fundraising activities.

The Director of UTEP will serve as a member of the UEI Senior Management Team, which includes the Faculty Director, Senior Executive Director, and leaders of the Chicago Consortium on School Research, the To&Through Initiative, Impact, Network for College Success, and UTEP.

Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate a compelling vision and lead the planning and strategic efforts of the Urban Teacher Education Program.
• Oversee all curriculum and program design.
• Oversee research efforts around program activities.
• Oversee all administrative functions to ensure efficient operations.
• Create and maintain unit budget; review and approve all expenditures.
• Support development and execution of a fundraising strategy, facilitating activities to support the financial sustainability of the program.
• Serve as liaison to the University community, the public schools, and the state regarding the preparation of new teachers.
• Represent UTEP to the public and key stakeholders (e.g. teachers, educational leaders and funders). Cultivate strategic partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders to advance UTEP’s mission.
• Manage the development, scheduling, and implementation of programs and marketing communications. Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and revise the curriculum as needed.
• Manage professional staff, overseeing all hiring, professional development, and evaluation of staff members. Provide feedback, support, and guidance in helping staff meet unit and individual performance goals.
• Ensure effective communications across staff through frequent check-ins, team meetings and collaborative tools and technology.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive organizational culture that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Manage and maintain contact with client organizations. Engage in activities that promote programs, including speaking at professional and alumni gatherings, writing articles, and presenting papers.
• Develop and maintain program budgets, analyze financial performance and implement corrective action when appropriate.
• Be accountable for the implementation of new developments in curriculum and student activity policy.
• Execute foundation relations and fundraising strategy. Act as an official representative at alumni, donor, and friend events and may undertake philanthropic initiatives when required.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications: None required.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in education or a closely related field.

• Five or more years of experience teaching in urban education and public school environments.
• Experience in grant-funded research organizations, and/or managing research projects.
• Five years of experience developing the professional capacity of aspiring, new, and/or veteran teachers.
• Supervisory experience.

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge of research and best practices with respect to urban teacher preparation and induction program design, development, policy, and research.
• Knowledge of research and best practices with respect to standards-based teaching and learning in urban public schools, particularly with respect to literacy.
• Strong organizational and management skills, including skills in innovating, problem solving, and team building.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with and engage a wide variety of key stakeholders and constituents.
• Ability to deal with the unexpected.
• Exceptional intellectual capacity and conceptual skills.
• Visionary with ability to take ideas and translate them into proposals for action.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative.
• Team player with ability to build consensus and to work through others in achieving desired results and objectives.
• Ability to develop and execute strategic plans in alignment with the organization's mission and objectives, in collaboration with team members.
• Deep commitment to educational equity and social justice, with a clear understanding of the structural inequities that impact urban communities.
• Ability to think strategically, anticipate emerging trends, and adapt to changing circumstances in the field of urban education.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule, on-site at the UChicago Hyde Park campus.
• Travel to external stakeholder sites as needed (Chicago public schools).

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Academic Affairs

Role Impact

People Manager

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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