Senior Director, Center

the-tech; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Tech Interactive in San Jose, CA seeks a Senior Director, Center to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of its emerging technology initiatives. This exempt role collaborates with research, educational programs, and cross‑sector partners to advance human agency, critical thinking, and civic resilience.

You will guide a 5‑year roadmap, steward university and industry relationships, and engage frontier AI partners and foundations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of executive leadership in edtech or related fields.
• Proven track record building interdisciplinary initiatives at the intersection of technology, human flourishing, and public education.
• Strong fluency in emerging technologies (Generative/Frontier AI) and learning sciences.
• Executive-level fundraising and partnerships with universities, research institutions, foundations, and industry partners.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the Center's 5-year strategy and roadmap.
• Lead cross‑functional teams across research, education programs, and partnerships.
• Manage multi-year operational budgets, program resources, and governance.
• Host high‑level executive summits and multi‑sector convenings with partners.

Skills

Executive leadership

Fundraising

Strategic planning

Partnerships

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Public speaking

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Education

Learning Sciences background

Job description

Who We Are

Since opening in 1998, The Tech Interactive has been an integral part of the San Francisco Bay area and is proud to serve families and young people through hands‑on activities, experimental labs, and design challenge experiences.

Here at The Tech our mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone! We are a team of diverse individuals committed to creating learning experiences that empower young folks to innovate with creativity, curiosity, and compassion. We believe that technology is leading and transforming lives all over the world and we want to help develop the next generation of problem‑solvers.

If you join our team, we know you will have a fulfilling and rewarding role focused on giving back to our community, especially those that have been historically marginalized and underserved.

Senior Director, Center

The Senior Director of the Center (to be named) leads the vision, strategy, and overall execution of the emerging technology initiatives at The Tech Interactive. Operating as a non‑partisan, trusted convener in Silicon Valley, this role leads the Center in helping learners, educators, families, and community leaders navigate rapid technological change (AI, social media, emerging tech) while prioritizing human connection, critical thinking, and civic resilience.

The Senior Director works with multidisciplinary teams across research, educational programs, and cross‑sector convenings. They drive a 5‑year strategic roadmap, steward relationships with Tier‑1 research institutions, and engage frontier AI corporate partners and philanthropic foundations. This exempt role reports to the Vice President of STEM Programs.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Define and drive the vision, 5‑year strategy, and long‑term roadmap for the Center.
• Position The Tech Interactive as a premier, non‑partisan hub for human agency, problem‑solving, digital thriving, and responsible technology engagement.
• Monitor rapid technological shifts (frontier AI, quantum computing, social algorithms, and digital technologies) and shape agile, research‑backed programmatic responses.

Program Operations

• Lead the lifecycle of core Center initiatives and rapid‑response educational assets.
• Oversee intergenerational programs, educator learning experience development, and collaboration with research and industry partners.
• Direct educator institute focused on emerging technologies and associated curricula targeting algorithmic bias, media literacy, and healthy digital habits.

Thought Leadership, Convenings, & Partnerships

• Host high‑level executive summits (such as NAILD) and multi‑sector convenings connecting tech leaders, civil society, academic researchers, and policymakers.
• Steward Research‑Practice‑Industry Partnerships (RPIPs) with universities and industry partners.
• Lead the development of position papers, executive summaries, online curricular materials, technology standards and guardrails, and responsive professional learning opportunities.

Team, Financial, & Revenue Leadership

• Build, mentor, and direct a high‑performing cross‑functional team of researchers, content designers, and program managers.
• Partner with the development team to execute a Frontier AI and Corporate CSR fundraising strategy, securing major foundation grants, multi‑tenant sponsorships, and donor support.
• Manage multi‑year operational budgets, program resource allocation, and strategic committee governance.

Requirements and Skills

• 10+ years of executive leadership experience across edtech, human‑centered technology policy, public research, or related fields.
• Proven track record building and scaling interdisciplinary initiatives at the intersection of technology, human flourishing, and public education.
• Strong fluency in emerging technologies (Generative/Frontier AI, social media dynamics) combined with deep grounding in human development or learning science.
• Executive‑level communication, fundraising, and partnership skills; comfortable engaging tech executives, academic researchers, board members, policy leaders, and diverse public audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex budgets, cross‑functional teams, and external advisory boards.
• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Education, Learning Sciences, Human‑Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related discipline preferred.

Working Conditions and Schedule

• Schedule includes weekend and evening work as executive events, donor convenings, and organizational business needs require.
• Hybrid role at The Tech Interactive in San Jose, CA, with flexible options depending on organizational needs.
• Domestic and international travel up to 20% for conferences, academic partnerships, and thought leadership convenings.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at The Tech

Our success is dependent on building teams that include people from different backgrounds and experiences who challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives. To that end, we look for a diverse pool of applicants including but not limited to those from historically marginalized groups — women, people with disabilities, people of color, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or nonconforming, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Tech will provide an equal opportunity in recruitment and employment to all individuals and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.Any applicant with a disability may contact The Tech Interactive to arrange for accommodations. Please contact the Tech at [e-mail] or call [phone].