Skip Navigation
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, provide ads, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.

Deputy Director, Professional Practices

This position works directly with education policy and research professionals, member-led professional development and instruction teams and the executive leadership team of NCAE.

Position: Deputy Director, Professional Practices with North Carolina Association of Educators

About North Carolina Association of Educators

The North Carolina Association of Educators is the state’s largest public education employees’ union and advocacy organization. NCAE members work in every school district in the state, represent every public school profession (classroom teachers, administration, classified staff and student support services) and includes retired and aspiring (student) educators. Against fifteen plus years of systemic attacks on public education that de-professionalized professions, disempowered stakeholders, and divided communities NCAE members in 2023 enacted a bold strategic plan with historic investments that includes leading public school professions through member professional expertise and professional practices.

The Position

The North Carolina Association of Educators seeks a visionary leader, experienced manager and adept practitioner to lead our professional practices department. This individual will center our transformational vision of socially,-racially, and economically just schools in NCAE members’ professional practices, reclaim NCAE as the professional development organization for school professions and advance the expansion of educator voice in school and classroom decision-making. This position works directly with education policy and research professionals, member-led professional development and instruction teams and the executive leadership team of NCAE.  

The candidate for this position will be both a visionary and an implementer, capable of leading with organization’s priorities to develop NCAE as the sought-after professional learning organization for educators and develop member capacity to carry out high quality professional development that is aligned with professional standards and best practices that impact student outcomes.

The position will report directly to the Associate Executive Director, and work closely with NCAE’s executive team to increase NCAE’s role in influencing and creating professional best practices.  The successful candidate must possess excellent relationship skills and display comfort providing high level advice and counsel to principals.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Organizational Advancement

  • Develop and provide leadership within the department and NCAE for a vision and plan for NCAE to “Lead Our Professions” and transform public schools aligned to NCAE’s values.
  • Align the work of the department to NCAE’s strategic plan and vision for just and equitable public schools
  • Provide strategic insight to leadership and governance that advances the priorities of the union
  • Drive the development of a multi-year department plan that aligns to the vision of NCAE as the
  • Identify challenges and opportunities in K-12 policy, professional practice standards and real time professional issues in schools and classrooms that NCAE members’ trainings and programs should be the solution to
  • Identify strategic opportunities for NCAE to become the premier professional practice training and development organization for public school staff

Partnership and Collaboration

  • Advise and collaborate with members who serve on the IPD Commission, the NCAE NBCT Network and NCAE Board of Directors
  • Identify and cultivate relationships with state and district school leaders  on professional issues
  • Serve as liaison/lobbyist to State Board of Education and attend all meetings advocating for progressive policy impacting school communities
  • Collaborate with school leaders on the implementation of programs and practices that drive equity for staff and students
  • Build relationships, collaborate and partner with internal (NEA and other NEA state affiliates) and external stakeholders invested in the goal of improving education outcomes through best practices programs and strategies
  • Assist in the development of convenings and other meetings for policymakers

Staff and Program Management

  • Manage staff, including providing regular and ongoing feedback, timely evaluations, development opportunities
  • Manage staff and programs, including but not limited to trainings and curriculum development and events
  • Identify opportunities for and execute steps to acquire program funding including through grants and service agreements
  • Occasionally Provide support to staff and local leaders in the design and implementation of training and other initiatives
  • Serve as or appoint a staff liaison to the NCAE Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) Commission; assisting the various IPD/NEA/NCAE Awards and facilitate/support other NCAE instructional initiatives.

Member Leadership Capacity Development

  • Support and manage the identification and development of professional practices members for facilitator and trainer roles
  • Support the design, delivery and coordination of member-centered cadre training programs that achieve member success with students and instructional leadership capacity
  • Track, manage and assess membership data and develop metrics and systems that help ensure data-driven strategic and program decisions that expand and deepen NCAE members’ capacities to lead

Professional Expertise

  • Serve as a staff expert on K-12 topics and policy to stakeholders and decision-makers
  • Develop and coordinate timely communications on instructional innovations, NCAE and local union activities, educational issues, and education policy
  • Be knowledgeable of state K-12 curriculum and educator evaluation instruments.
  • Be knowledgeable about licensure procedures, requirements, and standards and other policies impacting public school staff

Qualifications:

Required

  • Commitment to professional excellence, public education, worker rights, equity and inclusion
  • Dedicated to the belief and strategy that public school staff are best positioned to lead professional practices work and is deeply committed to member leadership development
  • Public school experience, preferably in North Carolina
  • Creative and solutions-oriented with a passion for the potential of NCAE and NCAE members in the professional practices space
  • Knowledge of adult learning modalities and facilitation practices
  • Experience in curriculum design for adult learners
  • Familiar with professional issues for public school staff, including but not limited to classroom educator issues.
  • Vehicle, drivers’ license and ability to travel and work occasional weekends

Preferred

  • Advanced degree in education, education policy or related field
  • Three years experience in staff management
  • Grant or contract writing, and management
  • Experience as a coach and trainer
  • Knowledge of school improvement models, including community schools

We’d be thrilled if you have:

  • Advanced knowledge or experience in school leadership and transformation
  • Sustained work in educational restorative practices or related field
  • Membership with NCAE
  • Established relationships with NC education leaders
  • Experience in union or community organizing
  • Senior or executive management experience

How to apply:

Logistics:

Location: Must live in North Carolina or willing to relocate. Has the ability and willingness to travel 

Compensation: 

  • Salary: $85,000 - $105,000/yr., depending on experience

Benefits: 

  • 100% employer paid healthcare coverage for the employee
  • 100% employer paid dental and vision coverage for the employee and family
  • Employer provided FSA/HRA monies
  • 401k Plan
  • Pension Plan (if a temp. position-not eligible until 1/1 or 7/1 after 1 year of service
  • Cell phone and internet reimbursement
  • Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel
  • Relocation costs
  • Paid holidays, employer paid life and LTD coverage, voluntary life insurance 
  • A generous personal, sick, and annual leave policy

NCAE is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected. 

Current and former/retired NCAE members and applicants committed to a strong public educators’ association who meet many, but not all, of the qualifications are encouraged to apply. 

Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process, please call Angela Schell in Human Resources @ 919-755-5541. 

 

Logo

A leading voice for educational excellence

The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) is our leading voice for educational excellence, for children and their families, and for the public schools they count on. As the public school employees union and the largest association of professional educators in North Carolina, our membership extends to all 100 counties and includes teachers, non-classified school staff, administrators, students, retirees, and community allies. NCAE believes that every child has a right to a high-quality education, an excellent teacher, and a well-funded school.