Job Description

Job Location: Lynx Den - Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Position Type: Full TimeEducation
Level: Graduate Degree
Salary Range: $89,145.00 - $104,645.00 Salary/year
Travel Percentage: Up to 25%
Job Category: Strategy - PlanningPosition Title: Director of Innovation and Strategy
FLSA Status: Exempt
Employee Category: Full-time 12-Month Employee
Salary Schedule: Director
Salary Range: $89,145.00 - 104,645.00
Position Code:  DIRINN 111/2329
Immediate Supervisor: Chief of Innovation and Strategy
Office Location: Henderson Center/Lynx Den
Work Schedule: This role will be on-site 4-5 days a week.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of Innovation and Strategy serves as a leader within the Department of Innovation and Strategy and supports the Chief of Innovation and Strategy in advancing organizational innovation, strategic initiatives, digital learning, operational improvement, and cross-functional implementation efforts across University View Academy. At all times, the Director of Innovation and Strategy works in accordance with all applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, and UVA policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Leadership and Innovation
- Support the Chief of Innovation and Strategy in implementing and monitoring the organizational strategic plan and innovation roadmap.
- Lead department initiatives aligned to innovation, organizational effectiveness, operational improvement, and student success.
- Coordinate and manage cross-functional strategic projects across departments and schools.
- Analyze data and trends to identify areas for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Assist in developing systems, procedures, and workflows that improve organizational efficiency, scalability, and educational and operational goals.
Program Management and Organizational Support
- Support the implementation and evaluation of programs supported through the Department of Innovation and Strategy.
- Direct Lynx Den operations and support innovation-based student programs, micro academy initiatives, tutoring initiatives, and district-supported enrichment opportunities.
- Ensure effective coordination of schedules, staffing, logistics, communication, and compliance related to departmental initiatives.
- Ensure project documentation, reports, records, contracts, and implementation materials are maintained accurately and efficiently.
Leadership and Supervision
- Supervise and support coordinators, project leads, and assigned departmental staff.
- Provide coaching, mentorship, performance feedback, and professional growth opportunities to staff members.
- Build collaborative, cross-functional teams that support organizational goals and foster innovation.
- Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
- Assist with staffing recommendations, onboarding, training, and development of team members.
Data, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement
- Collect, analyze, and interpret student, program, operational, and organizational data to support decision-making.
- Use data to monitor initiative effectiveness, identify trends, and recommend improvements.
- Support accountability reporting, strategic metrics, implementation fidelity, and organizational performance monitoring.
- Collaborate with leadership teams to align data analysis with school improvement goals and strategic priorities.
- Support the development of systems for gathering, integrating, and reporting meaningful organizational data.
Professional Development and Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead and support professional development opportunities aligned with strategic priorities, innovation initiatives, and organizational goals.
- Provide training and implementation support related to instructional innovation, digital learning, organizational systems, and operational initiatives.
- Build strong relationships with students, families, staff, community partners, and external stakeholders.
- Support family engagement initiatives and community partnership opportunities.
- Communicate updates, progress, expectations, and resources to relevant stakeholders.
- Remain informed of emerging trends, technologies, educational practices, and innovation strategies.
Technology, Operations, and Vendor Coordination
- Support district-wide initiative implementation through resource coordination, sourcing, troubleshooting, and follow-up support.
- Assist with technology-supported systems, digital learning tools, and operational processes related to innovation initiatives.
- Coordinate with vendors, external partners, and service providers to support departmental priorities and projects.
- Assist with project management, contract coordination, purchasing processes, and implementation logistics.
- Support non-programmatic technical problem-solving and operational troubleshooting as needed.
Compliance and Additional Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with district policies, administrative regulations, state requirements, and applicable laws.
- Support statewide testing initiatives and student-sponsored events as requested.
- Travel occasionally to observe, monitor, support, and manage innovation-related programs, testing, events, and initiatives.
- Participate in ongoing professional learning related to innovation, leadership, digital learning, organizational systems, and educational technology.
- Keep the Chief of Innovation and Strategy informed regarding progress, concerns, implementation barriers, and emerging opportunities.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
COMPETENCIES:
To perform the position successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Student Focus: Understands and prioritizes the needs of students, making decisions with their best interests in mind. Cultivates an organizational culture that fosters strong relationships with students.
- Professional Decorum: Exhibits appropriate, respectful behavior and etiquette in a professional setting, always maintaining a positive attitude. Upholds the standards of professionalism in all interactions.
- Servant Leadership: Serves and supports others with empathy and active listening, assisting in developing other leaders. Prioritizes team members and creates a positive, inclusive work environment.
- Adaptability: Adjusts effectively to changing circumstances, processes, requirements, or technologies. Navigates an ever-changing world with ease, demonstrating flexibility and resilience.
- Organization: Remains focused on priorities, meets deadlines, and accomplishes tasks systematically. Design systems to support all work levels and workflows, ensuring efficiency and productivity.
- Compassion/Empathy: Understands and shares the feelings of colleagues or employees by demonstrating active listening, using emotional intelligence, and offering assistance. Promotes a supportive and understanding workplace culture.
- Problem Solving: Identifies challenges and develops effective solutions through reasoning and strategic thinking. Employs innovative approaches to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.
- Soft Skills: Possesses personal attributes and interpersonal abilities that enhance efficient communication and collaboration while maintaining emotional balance. Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills in all professional interactions.
- Action Orientation: Results-driven and proactive, making data-informed decisions to achieve goals with a focus on student outcomes. Takes initiative to drive progress and achieve results.
- Team Development, Collaboration, and Coordination: Fosters shared goals that build trust, support, and communication. Encourages cross-departmental collaboration and coordination on tasks or projects to enhance teamwork and achieve common objectives.
- Self-Awareness: Recognizes personal strengths and weaknesses, balancing them effectively with team members' strengths. Actively seeks constructive feedback and looks for opportunities for self-development, promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here represent those an employee typically performs in this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential function.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally required to sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 15 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here represent those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
BENEFITS:
Health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, basic life, short-term disability, long-term disability, 403(b) retirement plan, employee assistance program, flexible spending account.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK:
Employment is contingent on a satisfactory criminal background check.
DISCLAIMER:
This position description summarizes the essential duties, responsibilities, and qualifications to clarify the general nature and scope of this position’s role in the organization. The position description does not list every task that an employee may be expected to perform. An employee assigned an unlawful duty or task should report the assignment to the Office of Human Resources. This position description does not list duties or responsibilities in any order of importance.
All UVA employees, regardless of their classification or position, are employed on an at-will basis. This means that each employee’s employment is terminable at the will of the employee or the school at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. No officer, agent, representative, or employee of UVA has any authority to enter into any agreement with any employee or applicant for employment other than on an at-will basis.
University View Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

QualificationsREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s Degree
- Minimum of three years of related professional experience in educational leadership, strategic initiatives, innovation, project management, online learning environments, or district-level leadership
- Experience leading cross-functional projects and organizational initiatives
- Experience working in traditional public schools, charter schools, or non-traditional educational environments
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s Degree +30
- 5 + years of experience as an educational leader
- 4 + years in online learning environments
- 3 + years of charter or traditional school system
- Experience leading district-wide initiatives and strategic implementation efforts
- Experience with digital learning systems, organizational improvement, and educational technology integration
- Experience supervising staff and managing teams
- Experience with data analytics, accountability systems, and strategic planning