Northwestern University Hiring for Director, Digital Youth Network at Evanston, IL  Full Time

Department: Educ Digital Youth Network
Salary/Grade: EXS/11

Job Summary:

DYN focuses on understanding the human and technical infrastructure necessary to increase equitable access to and joyful participation in STEM learning activities in communities. A key component of this work is the design and implementation of the CitiesLearn platform that provides the necessary technical and social practice infrastructure to support the communities from large urban cities to suburban communities in bringing together their stakeholders to reimagine how to provide equitable access their community’s learning resources. The CitiesLearn platform anchors core DYN initiatives such as Opportunity Landscaping and STEAMbassadors while also powering city specific initiatives such as My Chi My Future, EL-3, and Dallas City of Learning. This role is responsible for oversight of the DYN website, the CitiesLearn platform, and core initiatives it powers. Specifically, the Director oversees the development of the CitiesLearn platform through management of the Infrastructure team, stewards the relationship with implementation partners, manages the Opportunity Landscaping initiative, and leads the DYN leadership team. A successful candidate has over 8 years experiences as a product manager of a enterprise learning platform, 5 years experience working in an organization focused on providing informal learning programming in marginalized communities, and 5 years experience as a senior manager.

The candidate work closely with Dr. Pinkard is responsible for successful leadership and management of DYN.

Please note:

The Director works primarily in an office environment, but may sometimes need to work in non-standard workplaces.

The Director works a standard work week, but additionally will often work evening, weekends, and overtime hours to accommodate activities such as Board meetings and representing the organization at public events

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership of Platform and Partnerships

• In consultation with the faculty lead, develop a vision and strategic plan to guide the Citieslearn platform and related research projects and contracts.
• Leads a team ensuring the proper design and configuration, and functioning of enterprise systems. Also manages knowledge transfer of contractors to staff at project completion.
• Contributes to defining methodology and documentation standards, and periodically reviewing them to integrate appropriate industry practices.
• Represents organizational area in regard to advisory groups, planning committees, and similar standing work groups whose purpose is to develop requirements related to the implementation of enterprise business systems
• Identifies, establishes, and manages externally-facing strategic relationships and good working & collaborative relationships with University-affiliated organizations, individuals, funders, colleges and universities, community-based organizations, school districts, municipalities, and other stakeholders.
• Identifies, builds, and manages internally-facing strategic relationships with university-based partner organizations, including institutions and centers, academic departments and divisions, and other groups.
• Develops and executes strategy to facilitate effective outreach to partners interested in the work of the research laboratory and represents the program, research, and faculty in national collaborations, conferences and consortiums.
• Will work with research lead to ensure fluid access Citieslearn data for approved research purposes.

Platform and Program Development and Management

• Manages the design of all digital platforms and websites.
• Develops and executes an operational plan which incorporates goals and objectives that work towards the strategic direction of the research laboratory.
• Manages operations of the Infrastructure and Landscaping projects including planning and scheduling, program evaluation, policy implementation, personnel administration, budget, marketing, and proposal development.
• Works with DYN Adminstrator and faculty lead to prepare a comprehensive budget.
• Works with the faculty lead to secure adequate funding for the operation of DYN.
• Provides the faculty lead with comprehensive, regular reports on the revenues and expenditures of DYN
• Manages iterative feedback processes among users, developers, and analysts to ensure software functionality aligns with requirements. Granted authority to make decisions based on knowledge of interdependency between systems and business processes.

Human Resource Management

• Recruits, interviews, and selects staff that have the right technical and personal expertise to fulfill DYN’s staffing needs.
• Appropriately liaises with DYN Adminstrator to utilizes human resources, legal, financial and accounting resources to ensure that DYN establishes a positive, healthy, and safe work environment, complies with all legislation & regulations applicable to the University
• Work with the DYN Adminstrator and faculty lead to draft policies and prepare procedures to implement the research laboratory’s policies; reviews existing policies on an annual basis and recommends changes to the faculty lead as appropriate.
• Work with the DYN Adminstrator to implement a performance management process for all staff which includes monitoring the performance of staff on an on-going basis and conducting an annual performance review to identify areas of strength and corrective action
• Coaches and mentors staff as appropriate to improve performance.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters in a technology related field.
• 10 years as in a product lead for a learning technologies platform.
• 10 years as a lead administrator for an organization that implements informal STEM learning in the Chicagoland area.
• Experience overseeing budgets of $2 million or more

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Data literacy, data analytics and the data life cycle
• Research methods and analysis techniques
• Grant writing, budgeting, administration and oversight.
• Trends, developments and application of educational technologies
• Principles and practices of strategic planning
• Principles and practices of effective management, performance evaluation, leadership coaching and supervision
• Principles and practices of organizational improvement, equity and culture change

Personal characteristics

• Creativity/Innovation: Develops new and unique ways to improve operations of the research laboratory and to create new opportunities.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates a willingness to be flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Behaves Ethically: Understands ethical behavior and business practices and ensures that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the research laboratory.
• Relationship Building: Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the research laboratory.
• Communicates Effectively: Speaks, listens and writes in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Client Needs: Anticipates, understands, and responds to the needs of internal and external clients to meet or exceed their expectations within the University’s parameters.
• Fosters Teamwork: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Leadership: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the research laboratory.
• Make Decisions: Assesses situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and makes clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the research laboratory.
• Organized: Set priorities, develops a work schedule, monitors progress towards goals, and tracks details, data, information and activities.
• Strategic Planner: Determines strategies to move the research laboratory forward, set goals, creates and implements actions plans, and evaluates the process and results.
• Problem solver: Assesses problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
• Strategic Thinker: Assesses options and actions based on trends and conditions in the environment and the vision and values of the research laboratory.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $115-$135,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

#LI-GY1