Working Title: Ambassador: Youth Leadership Development

State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Education

Department: 540992 - I'm Determined Center FY26

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? Yes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 03/09/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Virginia Department of Education I'm Determined Center (IMD) at JMU is seeking a qualified and experienced education professional to provide training and consultation of youth related to fostering self-determination skills in students with disabilities. We are looking for a dynamic candidate who is interested in a work environment that affords ongoing professional learning opportunities, collaboration with colleagues, and an opportunity to influence educational practices. This is a grant-funded position.

The Youth Leadership Development Ambassador’s role is to organize, plan, and facilitate youth leader development throughout Virginia including but not limited to the I’m Determined Youth Leaders. The ambassador will plan leadership activities, record and manage TRACK evaluation data, and identify training opportunities outside of IMD. Key areas include disability awareness, IMD tool utilization, peer support, mentorship, and community building.

When working with youth and young adults, the ambassador will also need to build and maintain relationships with families so that they know how to best support the development of their child. This could look like equipping parents and caregivers to help youth prepare for a student-led IEP or conference presentation, helping them think through how to problem-solve in the school, work, and community environments, and help the continuation of self-determination skill development when they are not in the presence of I’m Determined staff.

These are tele-eligible positions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Statewide Leadership Initiatives:

• Coordinate and oversee youth involvement in statewide events, including I’m Determined Youth and Family Summits, educator workshops, and other statewide conferences where youth leadership development opportunities are available.
• Develop and implement statewide youth leadership programs, ensuring alignment with Virginia Department of Education goals.
• Act as a liaison between youth leaders and other stakeholders to advocate for the inclusion of youth perspectives in educational initiatives.
• Establish and support youth leadership networks within specific regions, connecting youth leaders with local schools, families, and community organizations.
• Facilitate youth leadership and participation in regional training workshops and events that focus on youth leadership, self-determination, and advocacy skills.

Training and Curriculum Development:

• Design and distribute statewide training materials and toolkits to support youth self-determination and leadership growth.
• Support, participate and deliver virtual and in-person training sessions for youth leaders, families, and educators across Virginia.
• Coordinate and conduct professional development sessions focused on self-determination skills essential for students with disabilities, such as self-advocacy, decision-making, and goal-setting.
• Help educators incorporate practices that build students' competence, autonomy and sense of belonging in order to generalize skills, abilities and beliefs that are necessary for meaningful participation in postsecondary life, whether in college, employment, or community engagement.

Statewide Youth Mentorship Programming:

• Provide direct mentorship to youth leaders at the state level, offering guidance on personal leadership development and community involvement.
• Facilitate small group sessions and activities to empower youth leaders to identify and pursue their strengths.
• Empower youth leaders to design and lead activities that inspire their peers and educators.

Statewide Collaboration and Advocacy:

• Partner with schools, communities, and state agencies to expand leadership opportunities for youth with disabilities.
• Represent and invite youth perspectives to state-level meetings and advisory boards to promote youth-inspired policies and practices.

Impact Measurement and Reporting:

• Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of statewide youth leadership initiatives to project leadership and the Virginia Department of Education.
• Document and share success stories to highlight the impact of the I’m Determined Project across the Commonwealth.

School and Community Engagement:

• Support individual schools and classrooms in implementing I’m Determined programs, including youth-directed IEPs and self-advocacy workshops.
• Collaborate with local educators, parents, and service providers to identify and nurture emerging youth leaders.
• Assist in planning and hosting local leadership events, including school-based summits, presentations, and advocacy campaigns.
• Work with local schools and communities to increase awareness and participation in I’m Determined initiatives.
• Advocate for accessibility and inclusion in schools to ensure greater opportunities for youth leadership development.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s degree in education, special education, psychology, social work, leadership development, or a related field.
• Experience in education, youth development, or a related field.
• Proven experience working with youth, particularly those with disabilities, to foster self-determination and inclusion.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated expertise in providing professional development and technical assistance to educators or school administrators.
• Familiarity with implementing research-based educational practices, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL), High Leverage Practices (HLPs), and Specially Designed Instruction (SDI).
• Knowledge of Self-Determination Theory, understanding of its principles (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and the ability to apply them in educational and youth leadership contexts.
• Ability to serve as a mentor for youth leaders, educators, and other stakeholders in fostering a welcoming environment and a culture of empowerment.
• Strong ability to build relationships with educators, families, and regional organizations, and to facilitate partnerships that support youth engagement.
• Skilled in designing and delivering high-impact professional development sessions tailored to various educational settings.
• Ability to document technical assistance and generate reports that analyze effectiveness and share best practices.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for engaging with diverse audiences, including students, educators, families, and policymakers.
• Ability to travel regionally and occasionally statewide to meet the needs of assigned school divisions and work with youth leaders.
• Experience leading youth leadership initiatives or events.
• Familiarity with Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) initiatives and policies.
• Experience collaborating across organizations or regional networks in ways that enhance youth participation.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.