Director, Program Development And Innovation

Department

BSD SUR - OHNS: Thirty Million Words

About the Department

The TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago develops, tests, and implements evidence-based interventions designed to promote very young children's cognitive and social-emotional development, with a priority placed on that of children living in poverty. TMW Center interventions are designed to be overlaid onto existing health, education, and social service systems working at scale in a given community in order to meet families where they already are. The TMW Center has a robust research and development strategy that includes further development and testing of TMW interventions; harnessing technology to support behavior change, intervention engagement, and analysis; and furthering strategies to engage parents in the TMW Center's interventions across the health, early learning, and social service sectors.

Job Summary

The Director, Program Development & Innovation will lead the development of the TMW Center's portfolio of curricula, including all aspects of module development and formative testing. The Director will engage stakeholders representing multiple disciplines and target populations to inform program design and development and ensure the consistency of messaging and quality of content, across the portfolio. This position will manage teams and professional staff responsible for the administration of TMW's Curriculum and development.

Responsibilities

Curriculum Team Leadership:

• Manage and direct Communications team members; promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.

• Oversee ongoing expansion of the Thirty Million Words portfolio of curricula.

• Lead the development and formative testing of all TMW curricula: engage stakeholders at multiple points; guide program design; build content; ensure messaging and visual consistency; oversee iterative phase; ensure timely completion of curricula.

• Oversee all production aspects and visual elements for TMW Center curricula and for public education purposes: develop and manage production budgets; vet and hire independent contractors including graphic designers, animators and production personnel; oversee edits; approval final drafts.

• Respond to curriculum-related matters with respect to the research design and scaling of TMW programs.

• Advise on curricula-related issues and needs with respect to new grant opportunities and serve as point person for all curricula-related matters.

• Conduct talks and contribute to papers related to TMW curricula.

Wearable Device User Interface Development:

• Create and implement a protocol for usability testing that applies to both the parent and educator use cases.

• Manage UI/UX development for both the parent and educator use cases.

• Gather, organize, synthesize, and share out learnings with wearable device team.

• Iterate designs and resources based on learnings.

• Cultivate partnerships with an eye toward stakeholder participation.

Online Parent Feedback Tool:

• Oversee the creation of the grid that will serve as the foundation for the tool, including writing, reviewing, and iterating feedback prompts and reviewing video content selection.

• Oversee the development, at the concept level, of the tool by managing UI/UX work across internal teams.

• Cultivate partnerships with an eye toward stakeholder review at both the concept and content level.

State Partnerships:

• Create and implement protocols for stakeholder focus groups to inform development of a classroom-level tool for teachers.

• Gather, organize, synthesize, and share earnings across the TMW Center.

• Create and implement an observation protocol to inform development of a classroom-level tool for teachers.

Other Responsibilities:

• Manages the media interface, including writing press releases, planning and organizing media coverage for major events, and responding to requests on sensitive or controversial issues.

• Oversees the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit. Is accountable for maintaining the unit's goals and communications strategy in publications, announcements, and speeches.

• Develops and manages the communications budget.

• Manages program operations and administrative functions which may include planning and scheduling, program evaluation, policy implementation, personnel administration, budget, marketing, fundraising and proposal development.

• Manages the dissemination, interpretation and application of program policies and recommends or makes exceptions. Contributes to design of program content, policies and strategic planning efforts.

• Performs 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:

• --

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Experience with developing communication strategy.

• Experience leading teams and managing staff.

• Prior experience in an academic medical center.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent organizational skills, including strong attention to detail.

• Proven ability to establish and stick to timelines.

• Problem-solving skills, including a strong ability to prioritize.

• Initiative and independent judgment.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (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

Administration & Management

Role Impact

People Manager

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

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.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.