Assistant Director of K-12

Screen reader users may encounter difficulty with this site. For assistance with applying, please contact [email protected]. If you have questions while submitting an application, please review these frequently asked questions.

Current Employees and Students:

If you are currently employed or enrolled as a student at The Ohio State University, please log in to Workday to use the internal application process.

Welcome to The Ohio State University's career site.  We invite you to apply to positions of interest. In order to ensure your application is complete, you must complete the following:

• Ensure you have all necessary documents available when starting the application process. You can review the additional job description section on postings for documents that may be required.

• Prior to submitting your application, please review and update (if necessary) the information in your candidate profile as it will transfer to your application. 

The Ohio State University’s motto, Disciplina in Civitatem, or “education for citizenship,” is not merely a slogan; it is an exhortation to remain focused on the responsibility to develop an informed, engaged, and civic-minded citizenry. It is essential to fulfilling Ohio State’s land-grant mission.

The State of Ohio established the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Ohio State ("the Chase Center" or “Center”). The Chase Center is a multidisciplinary university center that conducts teaching, research, and public programming concerning the core texts and great debates of Western civilization; the principles, ideals, and institutions of the American and Ohio political order; and the foundations of responsible leadership and informed citizenship. It is an independent academic unit of the University. The Center is a leader of the growing cadre of similar schools of civic thought in Ohio and throughout the country.

In just its second year of operation, the Chase Center has quickly established itself as a dynamic academic community with world-class faculty. Building on this strong momentum, in the upcoming year the Center will launch its first major (to accompany its minor), develop three new degree programs, and further expand its extensive course offerings. It will also deepen its outreach by continuing to deliver a robust suite of public events, professional development for K-12 educators, and study abroad opportunities for both students and faculty. Backed by a growing Chase Society student community and generous public and private funding, the Center is on pace for full maturity over the next three years.

Position Overview

The Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society is conducting a nationwide search for an Assistant Director for K-12 Education. The Assistant Director will be a leader in classical and liberal arts education in the national K-12 arena. He or she serves as the Center's senior strategic leader for K-12 engagement and advancement of citizenship education. Reporting to the Associate Director, the position develops and directs the Center's long-term K-12 strategy and serves as the principal resource for K-12 initiatives, partnerships, policy engagement, and program development.

The Assistant Director works closely with the Executive Director, Center leadership, faculty, university leaders, and external stakeholders to identify opportunities that advance the Center's mission and national influence. Through strategic partnerships, policy engagement, thought leadership, academic program development, and recruitment initiatives, the position shapes the Center's impact on classical and liberal education and citizenship education at the regional and national levels.

The position represents the Center in national forums, develops influential partnerships with educational leaders and organizations, and provides strategic recommendations that influence the Center's priorities, growth, and long-term direction. The Assistant Director serves as the Center's primary advisor on K-12 education strategy and is accountable for advancing initiatives that strengthen the Center's reputation, visibility, and impact across the field.

Salary will be commensurate with experience, skills, and expertise. 

Strategic Leadership of the K-12 Portfolio (35%)

• Direct the development and implementation of the Center's long-term K-12 strategy and establish priorities that advance the mission of citizenship education at the state, regional, and national levels.
• Serve as the Center's primary strategic advisor on K-12 education, providing recommendations to the Executive Director regarding emerging opportunities, risks, trends, and investments.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives involving faculty, staff, university partners, and external organizations to advance the Center's strategic priorities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with national and state leaders, educational organizations, policymakers, foundations, and institutions to strengthen the Center's influence and impact.
• Identify and advance opportunities that expand the Center's visibility, partnerships, and leadership within the classical and liberal education movement.

National Partnerships, Influence, and External Engagement (20%)

• Serve as a recognized leader and ambassador for the Center within state, regional, and national K-12 education communities.
• Cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships with classical and liberal arts schools, state and national organizations, education networks, and other Civics Centers.
• Influence discussions related to K-12 education, citizenship education, educational policy, and related issues through active engagement with educational leaders, policymakers, and partner organizations.
• Represent the Center and Executive Director in high-profile external engagements, conferences, advisory groups, and collaborative initiatives.
• Lead strategic initiatives that position the Center as a national resource and thought leader in classical and liberal education.

Academic Program and Professional Learning Strategy (20%)

• Provide strategic leadership for the development and expansion of undergraduate, graduate, and professional education initiatives that support the Center's long-term mission and objectives.
• Collaborate with faculty and leadership to develop innovative academic programs and educational opportunities that strengthen the Center's national reputation and impact.
• Direct the development of professional learning and continuing education opportunities that serve regional and national audiences of K-12 educators and leaders.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration among university faculty, school leaders, and external organizations to advance educational innovation and program growth.
• Support the Center’s convenings of K-12 educators and leaders.

Recruitment and Pipeline Development Strategy (20%)

• Direct the Center's K-12 student recruitment strategy, strengthening relationships with classical and liberal arts schools and related educational organizations.
• Establish long-term recruitment priorities and initiatives that support enrollment, engagement, and awareness of the Center's academic offerings.
• Oversee recruitment-related staff and initiatives and evaluate outcomes to continuously strengthen the Center's educational pipeline.
• Engage state, regional, and national audiences in recruitment and development activities that support the Center's long-term growth objectives.

Leadership and Organizational Impact (5%)

• Lead strategic projects and special initiatives as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Provide leadership and guidance to staff, faculty collaborators, and project teams supporting K-12 initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

·        Demonstrated commitment to the Chase Center’s mission. 

·        B.A. degree. 

·        8 years relevant experience required

·        Record of developing and maintaining partnerships across a variety of stakeholders, especially in the K-12 classical and liberal arts context. 

·        Experience building, leading, and managing an organization.

·        Excellent written and oral communication skills.  

·        Record demonstrating poise, professionalism, good judgment, attention to detail, and ability to respond to deadlines in a timely manner. 

·        Record of success in a fast-paced, changing environment that involves the management of multiple projects simultaneously.  

Desired Qualifications:

• Record as a thought leader in classical and liberal education.

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application via https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Assistant-Director-of-K-12_R160426

Once you start the application you will need to fill it out to completion and upload all required materials. Please be aware that you will not be able to edit your application or materials after submission.

Application materials must include the following:

o   Cover letter describing how the candidate meets the qualifications for the position, including his or her commitment to the Center’s mission and an explanation of how the candidate is prepared to support that mission by executing the responsibilities of this position. The letter should be addressed to:

Lee J. Strang

Executive Director, Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society

Professor of Law, Moritz College of Law

5042 Smith Lab

174 W. 18th Ave.

Columbus, OH 43210

[email protected]

o   Resume

o   The names and contact information of at least three professional references. (We will request letters of reference if/when candidates move to the interview stage.)

The application deadline is November 6th, at 11:59 p.m. We will review all applications submitted by the deadline. Please email Professor Stéphane Lavertu at [email protected] , if you have questions about the application process.

Function: Business Planning and Operations

Subfunction: Strategic Planning

Band: Specialized

Level: 5

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.