Director, Academics, New Opportunities

About the Role

• The Academic Director for the New Opportunities group is responsible for the successful debut of all academic programming in a new territory.
  
• The inaugural cohort of schools in any territory could range from the 100s to the 1000s, and every single school must be prepared to deploy a world-class academic programme from Day 1.
  
• This work will include researching all aspects of standard academic programming in the new market, then working closely with Shared Services to develop the “Academic Plan” for the new programme, which details how our standard offering is adjusted so that learning might thrive in this new, particular context.
  
• This plan will cover course offerings, textbooks, assessment design, daily timetable, co-curriculars, and more. In this role, you are also responsible for initial technical consultation with government curriculum leaders. Eventually, you will hire your permanent replacement for this market, ensuring (s)he is set up to succeed even after you leave to begin work in another new market.
  

What You Should Have

• 10 years’ experience working in education, with 2+ in teaching; evidence of generating outsize student learning gains preferred
  
• Love of travel and ability to spend upwards of 75% of the job travelling
  
• Openness to new settings and constant change
  
• Scrappiness, ability to solve problems when no clear path is presented for doing so
  
• The skill and discipline needed to create order amidst chaos; strong project management
  
• Cultural sensitivity, emotional maturity, discretion
  
• Experience of living and/or working in emerging markets, including rural and remote communities
  

About the Role

• The Academic Director for the New Opportunities group is responsible for the successful debut of all academic programming in a new territory.
  
• The inaugural cohort of schools in any territory could range from the 100s to the 1000s, and every single school must be prepared to deploy a world-class academic programme from Day 1.
  
• This work will include researching all aspects of standard academic programming in the new market, then working closely with Shared Services to develop the “Academic Plan” for the new programme, which details how our standard offering is adjusted so that learning might thrive in this new, particular context.
  
• This plan will cover course offerings, textbooks, assessment design, daily timetable, co-curriculars, and more. In this role, you are also responsible for initial technical consultation with government curriculum leaders. Eventually, you will hire your permanent replacement for this market, ensuring (s)he is set up to succeed even after you leave to begin work in another new market.
  

What You Should Have

• 10 years’ experience working in education, with 2+ in teaching; evidence of generating outsize student learning gains preferred
  
• Love of travel and ability to spend upwards of 75% of the job travelling
  
• Openness to new settings and constant change
  
• Scrappiness, ability to solve problems when no clear path is presented for doing so
  
• The skill and discipline needed to create order amidst chaos; strong project management
  
• Cultural sensitivity, emotional maturity, discretion
  
• Experience of living and/or working in emerging markets, including rural and remote communities
  

What You Will Do

• The New Opportunities Group Spearhead the debut of the entire academic programme in this new territory, leading all academic work that ensures the best possible learning experience for this new cohort of pupils
  
• Learn the status quo academic programme inside and out
  
• Conduct desk research to learn about the standard academic programme in the new market
  
• Conduct field research to gather initial data about teachers and student abilities in the new market
  
• Write the Academic Plan for the new market through thoughtful merging of the standard academic programme and the particular needs of the market
  
• Prepare and present detailed plans to the relevant government officials about our academic plan
  
• Collaborate with the Leadership & Development Director to ensure induction training appropriately addresses academic programme for both school leaders and teachers
  
• Hire and onboard the Academic Manager who will permanently take over the academic programme in the new market after you leave