About the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary

The role of Director, Family Life Programs, is to maintain and develop innovative programs that extend the school’s mission before and after the school day and throughout the summer. These programs include summer camps and classes, extended day (before and after school programming), and special classes, for children in grades nursery3 through eighth grade. These programs serve over a thousand children over the course of the year.

The Director, Family Life Programs, has the opportunity to lead in a dynamic learning environment where administrators and staff are committed to the continuous improvement of the program, engage in open discourse, and share a passion for big ideas. Family Life Programs attract and benefit the entire Lab community including our growing international population. These programs also have potential to generate income and net profit with good business management applications.

Key responsibilities of the role include: Define and lead the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of the Family Life Programs department. Foster a school-wide environment of continuous learning through co-curricular programs and activities. Collaborate with key stakeholders internally and externally to identify learning needs and strategic priorities for the department programs. Incorporate educational and youth development best practices pertaining to program development. Recruit and develop exceptional staff. Utilize and implement contracts that can deliver quality programs. Ensure regulatory compliance related to youth work standards. Structure and manage for strong profit value of key programs. Effectively market to grow participation. Adhere to good business practices including robust budget management and budget analysis.

Responsibilities

The Director, Family Life Programs, manages a team of eight to ten professionals and numerous seasonal positions and contracted providers involved with all the programs. The Director needs to be skilled in management and development of staff. The Director needs to be skilled in budget management, resource management, and forecasting. Seeks, hires, trains, develops, monitors and evaluates the performance of staff and program providers; reviews and recommends personnel actions.
Oversees the design and implementation of programs, initiatives and interventions aligned to program development strategic objectives and best practices. Sets benchmarks and tracks strategic indicators of quality program and operations, including feedback from the Lab community as well as internal/external partners and translates results into formative and summative decisions as appropriate. Ensures compliance with legal and regulatory reporting requirements.
Develops, maintains and regularly consults a comprehensive network of input data to assess and prioritize the learning and program development needs of the overall school co-curricular program. Strives to build-out a planning horizon that enables Lab to be increasingly proactive/strategic in its Family Life Program development efforts. Maintains an ongoing portfolio of ideas, research, and initiatives in the area of co-curricular school programs to ensure progressive programing and elevating Lab to become a national leader in the area of extended day and summer programming.
Develops internal and external collaborative partnerships in support of the Laboratory Schools’ vision.Internal: Utilize and develop resources within the University and other populations of the Lab community and lead joint efforts to enhance co-curricular programs.External: To strengthen Lab’s role and stature as a key contributor and partner to building/enhancing the City of Chicago and its manycommunities and neighborhoods.
Proposes annual budget. Executes responsibilities and manages resources in alignment with budget directives. Assures net profit goals are achieved.
Understand the complexity of operating co-curricular programs within four divisions (Grades N–12) and as part of a larger university.
Dynamically integrate both strategic and tactical thinking, action, and accountability.
Proactively engage initiatives while also being collaborative and intentional in planning regarding community cultural implications.
Balance the needs of the students and families across the Schools in conjunction with schools, mission, goals, and resources.
Meet the needs of international students and families who attend summer programming.
Find opportunities to expand programs where there is greater demand and generate a viable net profit for some programs.
Contributes to developing and modifying overall funding strategies. Develops and manages the annual operating budget
Manages campus efforts to strengthen student community and satisfaction with campus life to enhance the overall student experience.
Performs other duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master’s Degree in education, youth development, social services, social justice, political policy, or a related field, or a combination of education and experience relating to this position.

Experience:

10+ years in education, youth development, social services, or organizational development experience, including youth program development and managing and directing the work of staff performing a variety of classroom, training, or social service functions.

Preferred Competencies

Demonstrated knowledge and skills in the areas of youth development, training facilitation, and business acumen.
Working knowledge of various educational and training approaches, methods, media, and technologies.
Strong project management skills and ability to execute initiatives from start to finish.
Experience in managing and developing staff.
Strong command of MS Office and/or Google Suite and learning management systems.
Demonstrated ability to formulate and drive a comprehensive co-curricular program.
Excellent written and oral communication skills including presentation experience to diverse audiences.
Experience in managing contracted providers and vendors and monitoring their performance and quality.
Experience in a unionized environment helpful.
Experience on a university campus in an employment capacity helpful.
Experience in building an effective team to meet school/organizational goals in a high growth organization.
Experience must demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, collaboration, project management, problem solving, and change management.

Working Conditions

Requires sitting for extended periods of time, standing, visual acumen, manual dexterity, and fingering for working with computer keyboards.
Ability to stand for two to four hours, climb stairs, and lift up to 25 lbs.
Ability to walk or travel between Lab’s campuses and other locations on the University campus in all seasons and weather conditions.

Application Documents

Resume (required)
Cover Letter (required)
3 Professional References (required)

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The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

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Director, Family Life Programs