Director of Partnerships & Engagement

Appalachian State University; North Carolina; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education seeks a Director of Partnerships & Engagement to lead strategic alliances with public schools and external partners, aligning collaborations with the college’s priorities.

You will oversee the Office of Partnerships & Engagement, supervise NCNTSP coaches, coordinate with a advisory board, develop professional development, and pursue funding opportunities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education or a closely related field
• Teach/lead PK–12 experience
• Proven ability to cultivate partnerships between higher education and public schools
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Interpersonal and team leadership across university and external environments
• Proficiency with technology to support communication and collaboration

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for the Public School and other external Partnerships, aligning goals with the College’s mission.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen partnerships between the College and external partners.
• Coordinate and plan with the Public School Partnership Advisory Board.
• Coordinate and plan meetings with other external partners.
• Serve as the Regional Director of the NCNTSP and supervise coaches.

Job description

Director of Partnerships & Engagement

Below you will find the details for this position including key responsibilities and qualifications.

The Director of Partnerships and Engagement is responsible for developing, managing, and sustaining strong partnerships between the Reich College of Education and external stakeholders, public schools, and others. The Director oversees the strategic direction of the College’s collaborative efforts with external partners and plays a crucial role in aligning the College’s strategic priorities with the needs of external partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education or a closely related field
• Hold or be eligible for a North Carolina Teaching or Administrative License
• Teaching and leadership experience within PK–12 educational settings
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and sustain collaborative partnerships between higher education and public school systems and others
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Effective interpersonal and team leadership skills with the ability to work seamlessly across both university and public school and other external environments
• Proficiency in using technology to support communication and collaboration among stakeholders

License/Certification Required

• Hold or be eligible for a NC Teaching or Administration License

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in education or a closely related field
• National Board Certification
• Familiarity with higher education systems, particularly in the context of educator preparation programs
• Demonstrated experience in writing and securing grants
• Strong understanding of state-level education policies and legislation, with the ability to effectively articulate to others
• Experience in designing and delivering professional development for educators
• Proven ability to plan, coordinate, and execute events
• Proficiency in educational technology tools, social media management, and website maintenance
• Experience supervising staff or leading teams

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for the Public School and other external Partnership. Align the goals with the College’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen partnerships between the College and external partners.
• Coordinate and plan with the Public School Partnership Advisory Board.
• Coordinate and plan meetings and initiatives with other external partners.
• Serve as the Regional Director of the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program (NCNTSP). Supervise the NCNTSP coaches.

Partnership Development, Management, and Sustainability

• Serve as the primary liaison between the College and public schools and other external partners, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
• Collaborate with district leaders, school administrators, teachers, and university faculty to identify opportunities for partnership initiatives, including joint projects, research, and professional development.
• Support public school and other external partners by providing professional development, resources, and special programming.
• Monitor and be informed about P‑12 education policy as it affects public schools.
• Collaborate with university faculty and staff and public school partners to strengthen the educator pipeline.
• Manage the day‑to‑day operations of the Office of Partnerships & Engagement, including budgeting, staffing, and resource allocation.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of partnership and engagement initiatives, making adjustments as necessary.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and other documentation to communicate the impact of partnership initiatives to internal and external audiences.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities to support partnership and engagement initiatives.

Physical Demands

This position requires regular travel to public schools and other external partnerships across the northwest region, the university’s lab school, and local, state, and national meetings, conferences, and events. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.