Director, Curriculum

Why we need you

Springboard Collaborative invites talented and passionate candidates to apply for the position of Director, Curriculum. The Director, Curriculum will be responsible for leading a team that develops and continually improves our literacy curricula and instructional methods to optimize learning and impact for students and families. A successful candidate will be customer-focused, outcomes-oriented, accountable, and thorough while also being adaptable and flexible, with strong business alignment.

Springboard Collaborative closes the literacy gap by closing the gap between home and school. We coach educators and family members to help kids learn to read by 4th grade. Springboard envisions a world in which parents and teachers work together—rather than in isolation—to accelerate student learning. The Director, Curriculum supports this goal by ensuring the academic curriculum used in Springboard Collaborative programming is evidence-based, of high quality, and engaging so that teachers feel competent and families feel confident in accelerating the academic growth of our students. 

The Director, Curriculum will supervise the K-5 Curriculum Specialist, K-5 Family Programs Curriculum Developer, and the Curriculum Editor, as well as project-based resources that may be fulfilled through internal and external partners. The Director, Curriculum will report to the Assistant Vice President, Curriculum & Instruction and work as part of the Product and Service department. This is a great opportunity to support an entrepreneurial team to maximize the impact of a rapidly growing organization.

You can read more about the requirements, competencies, goals, and responsibilities below. We'd love to have you join us!

This is important

We are an equal-opportunity employer. Diversity is more than a commitment at Springboard Collaborative—it’s at the core of what we do and how we do it. No one can solve a problem better than those who experience it firsthand. That’s why Springboard aspires to hire a diverse team that is representative of the marginalized communities we serve.

We also know that having a diverse workforce makes for a better workplace. Springboard’s hiring process seeks individuals who value diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, etc.

Finally, if you’re passionate about an open role, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications listed on the job description!

Here are your priorities in the first year:

• In partnership with Senior Directors, Product & Program Success, you will elaborate the Springboard Collaborative Instructional Framework by defining instructional methods and skills for daily instructional plans to be used in programming. 
• You will establish a strategy and plan for leveraging a number of different curriculum providers to execute daily instructional plans based on content standards, concepts, and skills. 
• You will exercise and continuously improve the authoring and revision of instructional materials leveraging the new Content Management System and Digital Experience Platform.

Here are your responsibilities within and beyond the first year:

• You lead the development and integration of curriculum, instructional methods, and assessments that achieve successful learning outcomes for teachers, families, and students participating in Springboard programming.
• Decide whether to buy, build, or partner to fulfill our instructional offerings. 
• Develop course enhancements, curricular resources, instructional materials, etc. according to teacher and/or student specifications
• You ensure that internal and external student data drives decision-making for curricular development and instructional improvement. 
• Provide training and support in the use of student data for instructional decision-making purposes.
• Use evidence-based instructional practices/strategies to achieve high student growth and achievement rates. 
• Develop KPIs that show a measurable long-term impact on curricular performance and how it influences learner outcomes
• You regularly audit and identify areas of improvement for all curricular materials and instructional plans that support Springboard programming. 
• Oversee all instructional offerings, including bi-annual review and updating of instructional catalog and instructional planning collateral.
• Regularly visit and observe programming to assess curriculum strengths, weaknesses, and development opportunities.
• Oversee the maintenance of course documentation, including course maps and learning objective frameworks.
• You lead the curricular team and develop the talent needed to meet organizational goals. 
• Improve the team’s ability to succeed by focusing on key priorities, projects, and goals.
• Ensure planning and milestones are on track and hold team members accountable for their work.
• You work with subject matter experts and/or strategic partners to develop course enhancements in alignment to standards, including state-specific academic standards
• Stay informed of discipline-specific and district-wide curriculum bands, as well as national and state content standards and curriculum policy.
• Lead subject matter experts and/or strategic partners to develop course enhancements in alignment to standards, including state-specific academic standards
• Develop financial plans and forecasts to inform business cases and annual operating plans

What you offer us

Here are the competencies and requirements we expect the right candidate to have: 

• Customer Focus: You build and maintain customer satisfaction with the products and services offered and provide excellent service to internal and external customers. You anticipate and respond timely to customer needs. You seek customer feedback and make the changes necessary for meeting customer success. You constantly seek ways to improve service delivery and standards. 
• Coaching and Mentoring: You promote Springboard’s mission and goals, and exhibit ways to achieve them. You create an environment where all staff are motivated to do their best and convey confidence in your team. You set clear, meaningful, challenging, and attainable group goals and expectations that are aligned with Springboard. 
• Accountability: You take personal responsibility for the quality of our curriculum, and timeliness of work, and achieve results with little oversight. You are accountable for the instruction and assessment components that achieve successful learning outcomes for all Springboard participants. 
• Results Focus: You set high goals and work hard to achieve them. You are persistent in difficult situations and respond to setbacks with renewed and increased efforts. You rely on data and evidence-based instruction to support decision-making and are focused on the results. 
• Decision-making & Judgement: You make timely, informed decisions in your team leadership, curricular work, and partnerships, combining data collection/analysis, experience, and wisdom to enhance our impact and reach team and org-wide goals.
• Valuing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: You strive to eliminate barriers to achieve diversity and ensure that new barriers to achieving diversity are not built in our programming. You create an environment of learning about, valuing, encouraging, and supporting differences. You understand the importance of equitable and inclusive language and practices in all Springboard material. 
• You have 5+ years experience in educational publishing, technology development, instructional design, curriculum development, or related fields.
• You have 3+ years of teaching experience in a K-12 environment. 
• You have experience leading staff in a high-quality, results-driven, team-oriented environment.
• You deeply understand K-12 academic standards and how to develop aligned curricula, instructional materials, and assessments.

It would also be nice if you had:

• Understanding of Agile methodologies and a proven ability to collaborate with product management teams.
• Familiarity and experience with programs rooted in the Science of Reading.
• Basic knowledge of content management systems.

While this description is meant to provide an overview of the responsibilities of the Director, Curriculum, we are seeking candidates who demonstrate flexibility and can adapt to evolving needs in an entrepreneurial environment.

What we offer you

Compensation
Our compensation values: At Springboard, compensation equity is integral to the way we operate and our commitment to competitiveness, pay equity, performance-based rewards, transparent & equitable career growth, and progressive benefits.

Compensation for this role: Each role at Springboard is placed in a compensation band with 5 levels. Generally, we expect candidates that meet all the hiring criteria to be offered the midpoint of the band. This role sits within Band 5. The midpoint of this band is $122,193. The actual level of the successful candidate (and corresponding salary) will be based on compensable factors such as job-relevant education, job-relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, and other factors. You may also be eligible for Springboard's bonus program.
Our process to determine compensation: Springboard does not negotiate the offered salary during the offer conversation. Throughout the interview process, we will evaluate your alignment with the compensable factors listed in the job description. From there, we will determine your starting salary on a level within the job band.

Benefits

At Springboard, we feel it is important to take care of our employees, which is why we offer a competitive benefits package. These benefits include the following:

• The usual stuff - Medical insurance with a cash stipend for those who waive Springboard coverage. Options include PPO, High Deductible/HSA, and EPO.
• We’ll take care of it - We fully cover your vision & dental insurance premiums, plus your short & long-term disability coverage.
• Securing your future - We match up to 6% of your salary in 403(b) retirement contributions after your first twelve months at Springboard.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) is important - Four weeks (20 days) annually. At Springboard, time off isn’t earned. Everyone gets access to their time at the start of the calendar year.
• Holidays! - All 11 federal holidays, two extra floating holidays, weekdays between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Election Day, and your birthday!
• Under the weather? - We don’t cap the number of sick days available to employees.
• Paid Leave - Parental Leave (12 weeks after the first 6 months of employment). Marriage Leave (five days). 
• Technology - All employees receive a Springboard laptop and optional monitor. Springboard uses Google Workspace and Asana. 

• We are committed to your development - We provide personal & professional development funding of $2000/year.

• Your wellness is a priority - Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides support for stress/anxiety, finance, law, family, substance abuse, grief, and more. 

• Transparency is key - We ensure regular opportunities to discuss individual and organizational development and our commitment to equity. Consistent and structured real-time feedback is foundational to Springboard’s c

Location and travel

Applications are welcome from any location within the United States. This role can be performed remotely, with quarterly travel to participate in team and org-wide retreats. This role may also require occasional travel to observe programming at partner sites. Springboard Collaborative’s headquarters office is in Philadelphia, PA.

Springboard requires in-person employees at a Springboard facility or participating in in-person SBC programming or events to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of a CDC-authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be asked to provide their COVID-19 vaccination status and proof of vaccination, as required.

About Springboard

Since our founding in 2012, we have grown Springboard’s reach from 40 to nearly 20,000 students across 51 cities. Amidst rapid growth, Springboard consistently delivers best-in-class results. In schools that often struggle to get 20% of parents to show up for report card conferences, Springboard’s weekly family workshops average 88% attendance. Students average a 3-4-month reading gain during each program cycle, closing the gap to grade-level performance by about half in just five or ten weeks. Springboard’s work has been featured by Forbes, NPR, and the New York Times (twice). Nationally, Springboard Collaborative is the only organization to have cracked the code on equipping marginalized families to teach reading at home. You can learn more by watching our CEO on the main stage of ASU GSV.

Our org chart & mission

Click here to view Springboard’s structure at a glance, and here to browse our incredible staff. You can read more about how we engage teachers and families to accelerate student learning in this op-ed.