Senior Director of Program Innovation & Impact

Interested candidates

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application through our online portal promptly. Please email [email protected] with questions or for support submitting your application.

Background on UTEC, Inc.

UTEC’s promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of our most disengaged youth to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. UTEC’s outcomes-focused model begins with intensive street outreach, reaching proven high-risk youth where they’re at. UTEC engages youth in workforce development and educational programs and provides mental health services and intensive case management. Social justice and civic engagement are embedded in all programming. For more info, please visit www.utecinc.org.

UTEC is committed to its vision for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which pledges to honor the lived experiences and expertise of individuals, create community and celebration of cultures, challenge all forms of oppression, and embody a culture that leans into discomfort and recognizes it as a growth opportunity. UTEC is dedicated to fair and equitable compensation practices, the health, mental health, and overall well-being of young adults and staff, and creating an environment that supports work-life balance and individual and professional growth.

About the Opportunity

The Senior Director of Program Innovation and Impact will lead UTEC’s efforts to develop and enhance our programs. The Senior Director will cultivate a culture of continuous professional growth, reflection, learning, support, and accountability on the Programs team. The role will embed data-driven practices to inform and assess program quality and outcomes. This position will support UTEC’s replication in Lawrence and Haverhill and the expansion of education and workforce services in these communities.

The ideal candidate will be a passionate leader with experience in designing new program models, setting targets for success, developing curriculum, integrating data into learning processes, supervising staff, and fostering students’ interest in social justice. The Senior Director reports to and collaborates closely with UTEC’s Chief Program Officer and will directly supervise four directors on the Programs team.

Responsibilities

Agency Leadership

• Serve on the CEO’s Leadership Team, supporting:
  • Agency direction setting, monitoring, and gathering input from colleagues and young adults.
  • Representation of the organization in meetings with partner agencies, funders, and others as needed.
  • Development and support of agency culture.
  • Agency efforts to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in all activities.
  • Centering the needs of youth in org-wide decisions and any intended or unintended impact on the program.

Educational Leadership

• Support the Education and Training components of the program and lead the growth of learning activities for UTEC Young Adults. Key activities include:
  • Supervise the Director of Education and Director of 2Gen and their work with teachers and educational consultants/contractors.
  • Supervise the Director of Workforce Development to create practical training programs that lead to meaningful employment.
  • Supervise the Director of Transitional Coaching to ensure TCs provide a high-quality, intensive wraparound service to all youth.
  • Oversee professional development for teaching staff and develop opportunities for UTEC staff and program managers.
  • Identify workforce and educational needs of local employers to ensure UTEC participants gain necessary knowledge and skills for employment.

Development of the Learning Agenda

• In partnership with the Chief Program Officer, UTEC teachers, and Program Managers:
  • Refine current UTEC competencies and curriculum.
  • Develop and oversee educational and learning opportunities that support young adult economic and social success, focusing on:
    • Expansion of learning components of the UTEC model to Lawrence, Haverhill, and local jails.

Evaluation Effectiveness

• Review and revise evaluation methods and data to effectively track program effectiveness and positive outcomes for young adults.
• Evaluate program implementation processes and develop metrics to quantify goal attainment.
• Work with the Evaluation Team to integrate or expand data collection methods.
• Collaborate with program leaders to integrate learning that supports competency development and whole family outcomes across all stages of UTEC programming.
• Develop strategies to engage proven-risk young adults and create procedures regarding operations, discipline, and instructional practices that promote student learning and success.

Qualifications & Mindset

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work.

This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below:

• Significant experience in youth development or educational settings with a strong understanding of nonprofit program management.
• At least 3 years of management and supervision experience in a school, nonprofit, government agency, or comparable setting required.
• Demonstrated success mentoring and cultivating people managers.
• Ability to utilize data to develop and track benchmarks for success.
• Ability to multi-task and adapt to a changing environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work as a leader and as part of a team.
• Ability to provide instruction to students on an as-needed/substitute basis.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Salary Range

The salary range is $100,000–$120,000 annually, as determined by experience. UTEC offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 4 weeks of vacation (3 standard for new employees and 1 week of agency-wide closure between Christmas and New Year).
• 12 holidays, 10 sick days, 2 personal days.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Annual cost of living increases.
• A 457B retirement plan.
• Up to $4,000 per employee for professional development support.

With time, benefits grow to include:

• Up to 6 weeks of vacation.
• 80% coverage of employee health and dental insurance costs.
• Availability for a 3-week sabbatical.

Application Process

We are committed to diversity and encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application through our online portal promptly. All applicants will receive a response to their application. Please email [email protected] with questions or for support submitting your application.

While subject to change, candidates advancing through the process can expect:

1. Initial interviews with Positively Partners.
2. A follow-up video interview with Tamara Soraluz, Chief Program Officer.
3. A multi-part, in-person final interview day and facility tour.

Positively Partners is committed to conducting an equitable, accessible assessment process. To request an accommodation during the interview process, please email [email protected]. Accommodation requests will be handled confidentially.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTEC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, UTEC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.