Working Title: Associate Director: Implementation

State Role Title: N/A

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

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Education

Department: 540961 - I'm Determined Center

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: 03/28/2025

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
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 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. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. 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 Associate Director of Implementation to supervise the Center's Ambassadors as they provide training and consultation related to fostering self-determination skills in students with disabilities, and ensure the implementation of the scales of work of the grant. 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.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead Regional Ambassador Programming & Youth Leadership Development:
Provide strategic oversight and leadership to the Regional Ambassadors, ensuring alignment with the I’m Determined framework and statewide goals for fostering self-determination.
Support Regional Ambassadors in their delivery of technical assistance, capacity-building, and professional development initiatives across the Commonwealth.
Coordinate regular training and professional development sessions for Regional Ambassadors, ensuring consistency in the quality and content of their work.

Enhance Youth Engagement and Leadership Development Activities:
Provide strategic oversight and leadership to the Youth Leadership Development Ambassadors ensuring alignment with the I’m Determined framework and statewide goals for fostering self-determination.
Support Youth Leadership Development Ambassadors with statewide leadership initiatives, training and curriculum development projects, youth mentorship programming, and school and community engagement opportunities.
Oversee the design of programs that empower student voices in IMD, emphasizing self-determination and advocacy for youth with disabilities.
Direct the coordination and content delivery of workshops and leadership events that equip students with skills in communication, collaboration, and self-determination.
Establish and lead creative models for youth mentorship programs where youth leaders can share insights and mentor peers, fostering a community of support and learning.

Ensure Consistency and Fidelity of Implementation:
Develop and monitor systems to ensure that self-determination practices are implemented with fidelity across regions.
Collaborate with Ambassadors to identify and address challenges in school divisions, providing tailored support to ensure successful implementation.
Serve as the primary point of contact for evaluating and refining regional strategies to ensure their alignment with IMD principles and the needs of each school community.

Strengthen Regional and Statewide Collaboration:
Facilitate communication and collaboration between Regional Ambassadors, school divisions, and the I’m Determined Center to share best practices and resources.
Oversee the development of regional networks for youth leaders, educators, and administrators, creating opportunities for peer support and shared learning.
Act as a liaison between Regional Ambassadors and state-level stakeholders, ensuring that regional efforts contribute to statewide goals.

Develop High-Impact Implementation Resources:
Collaborate on the development of resources and tools to support Regional Ambassadors in their technical assistance and professional development efforts.
Collaborate with the Associate Director of Innovation to ensure training modules, digital content, and other resources are effectively adapted for regional implementation.
Use data from Regional Ambassador reports to identify areas for resource development, improvement, and future innovation.

Oversee Data Collection and Reporting:
Monitor and analyze data collected by Regional Ambassadors to assess the impact of their work on student outcomes, school capacity, and implementation fidelity.
Use data-driven insights to provide targeted feedback and recommendations for enhancing regional efforts.
Prepare reports summarizing regional accomplishments, challenges, and next steps, communicating findings to the I’m Determined leadership team and stakeholders.

Foster Professional Growth in Regional Implementation:
Support Ambassadors in pursuing ongoing professional development in self-determination theory and inclusive practices.
Provide coaching and mentoring to Ambassadors, helping them refine their technical assistance, consultation, and capacity-building skills.
Stay informed on emerging research and trends in self-determination and inclusive education to guide the Regional Ambassador program effectively.

Promote Geographic Relevance in Implementation:
Work closely with Ambassadors to adapt statewide strategies to meet the diverse cultural and geographic needs of school communities.
Ensure that implementation efforts reflect a commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all students and educators.
Lead initiatives to address systemic barriers to self-determination and inclusion in regional contexts.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
• Master's degree or higher in education, special education, educational leadership, or a related field.
• Extensive experience working directly with youth, educators, and families in an educational setting.
• Experience leading and managing program implementation, particularly with a focus on inclusive education, self-determination, or related initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in managing large-scale projects or initiatives, ideally within diverse K-12 school systems.
• Experience in facilitating professional development and capacity-building for educators and school administrators.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a proven ability to inspire, motivate, and guide both staff and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams (e.g., educators, community partners, regional ambassadors) to achieve strategic goals.
• Skilled in overseeing the coordination and delivery of multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with statewide objectives.
• Ability to identify and resolve challenges in program implementation, adapting strategies to meet the needs of diverse contexts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences (educators, families, community members).
• Ability to present data-driven insights and program outcomes to stakeholders, including senior leadership, school divisions, and external partners.
• Skilled in building relationships with stakeholders at all levels, fostering collaboration and shared goals across regions.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to identify areas for innovation in program delivery and implementation.
• Ability to think creatively to overcome challenges, tailor solutions to diverse regional needs, and design impactful programs that foster self-determination.
• Exceptional attention to detail, particularly in ensuring program fidelity, monitoring outcomes, and refining strategies for continuous improvement.
• Commitment to high-quality implementation practices, balancing creativity and consistency across multiple regions.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Deep understanding of K-12 education systems, special education processes, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Ability to lead organizational or systemic change, engaging stakeholders and effectively managing resistance.
• Proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and applying qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate program success and guide adjustments.
• Expertise in managing timelines, resources, and deliverables for multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Capacity to design and deliver engaging, accessible training sessions for educators, administrators, and families.
• Proven leadership in education, particularly involving special education, inclusive practices, or youth advocacy.
• Success in rolling out initiatives or programs at scale, working with multidisciplinary teams, and achieving measurable results.

Additional Posting Information:

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.