Director of Open Education Resources Academic Content (Director III)

Job Description

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

Core Values:

We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.

We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.

We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.

We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

Position Overview: Teachers and students deserve the highest quality instructional materials that align to Texas standards and reflect research-based instructional practices. Unfortunately, many of these resources are expensive, paper-based, difficult to customize for a teacher's local context, and do not address the full needs of Texas students and teachers. As the Director of Open Education Resources Academic Content for the Open Education Resources division, you will help ensure that districts have access to high quality instructional materials (HQIM) in multiple subject areas and grade bands that are openly accessible to districts and support effective teaching and learning.

As Director of Open Education Resources Academic Content, you will drive student outcomes by overseeing the academic content team through the procurement, development, review, editing, and continuous improvement cycles of high-quality instructional materials across PK-12 core contents. In this role, you will support the communication of the state vision for high-quality open education resources for classrooms, schools, and districts, while also building relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Candidates must demonstrate exceptional knowledge around curriculum development and instruction, as well as the ability to manage agency vendors, cross-department projects, and multiple priorities. This position reports to the Director of Open Education Resources. Candidates have likely served in a district role managing a team of Contents Coordinators or Specialists or serving as a lead on a Curriculum and Instruction team and/or have curriculum experience working with textbook providers or related vendors.

The OER team sits within the Department of Instructional Strategy which is focused on helping school systems to bring learning to life for students across Texas. We do this by developing and offering a portfolio of different programs, products and services that school systems can selectively use based on local needs and define success by their ability to help educators sustainably improve student outcomes.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume, tailored cover letter, and short answer responses are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Build and Execute a Cohesive Vision and Strategy: Build and execute a cohesive vision and strategy to support the development of high-quality instructional materials including the review, release and continuous improvement of core and supplemental PK-12 Open Education Resources ensuring alignment with Texas Education Code, district needs and other TEA initiatives.

2. Build Relationships with Stakeholders: Strategically engage and build relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to impact and influence project partnership and the adoption and utilization of our open educational resources.

3. Alignment of Strategic Priorities: Support the TEA in aligning strategic priority initiatives through cross-department collaboration and initiative integration.

4. Monitor Contracts: Monitor division and project related contracts and expenditures to ensure high-quality project deliverables and appropriation control.

5. Management of a Team: Demonstrate exceptional ability to manage, support, coach, and cultivate high performing teams.



Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

• Experience: At least seven (7) years of experience in administrative support work; experience in a public school district or charter school, regional education service center, institution of higher education, or other education setting preferred.

• Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

Other Qualifications

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military

• Relentless focus on improving quantitative and qualitative student outcomes

• Understanding of the Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code, particularly with respect to curriculum requirements

• Demonstrated understanding of the processes and challenges of school districts, charter schools and educational service centers and a track-record of system level outcomes

• Excellent written and verbal communication, specifically as it relates to clearly communicating initiative goals and outcomes to a variety of stakeholders

• Exceptional personnel management skills, including demonstrated skill in vision-setting and coaching

• Experience authentically engaging stakeholders and leveraging feedback for continuous improvement

• Data-driven decision maker with the ability to structure ambiguity into actionable, value-added plans

• Superior project and time management ability

• Ability to handle multiple, shifting, and competing priorities, and drive team towards results

• Consistently exercise excellent judgement, integrity, and commitment to personal responsibility and accountability

• A track record of performance and successful implementation across multiple concurrent projects

• Fast learner who can understand and communicate intent of state law and rule and work within statutory authority

• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve

• Understanding of curriculum and assessment design and/or advanced skill in writing and/or reviewing curriculum

• Experience with effective, high-quality professional development activities and techniques in a core content

• Ability to build relationships and communicate clearly, concisely, respectfully, and inclusively with contractors, ESC staff, Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff, and external stakeholders

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.