Note: This is a remote/work-from-home position covering the state of Georgia. Applicants must live within the state of Georgia to be considered

Education is ever-evolving. And so are we.

We seek passionate people from diverse backgrounds who are committed to helping improve the work of schools as a trusted partner in advancing learning. By joining the Cognia team, you will be immersed in a community of energetic and resourceful people dedicated to a common vision to impact and inspire education providers to advance and enable pathways of success for all learners. At Cognia we have developed a holistic approach to education that empowers schools to create real outcomes and optimize learning for students of all backgrounds, servicing more than 36,000 institutions, 5 million teachers, and 25 million students in 85 countries. When you join Cognia, you join a team of experts passionate about our mission and embracing our core values in everything we do.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

The Senior Director is a leadership position as a member of the regional team with a primary responsibility of building strong relationships with education agencies, schools, districts, and the education community. The Senior Director utilizes knowledge and expertise in education to manage and facilitate continuous improvement efforts for the organization. The Senior Director has a deep understanding of Cognia's products and services, inclusive of accreditation, improvement, assessment tools, services, and solutions to support high-quality delivery to schools and districts. The Senior Director works in collaboration with Cognia colleagues to ensure quality and relevant solutions are delivered to institutions and key stakeholders. The Senior Director cultivates relationships with partner organizations to expand capabilities across institutions of all types.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

• Mentor and train staff in alignment with individual professional development plans.
• Manage assigned team including recruiting, training, managing, mentoring, and motivating talent, while creating a positive environment of continuous improvement through coaching and development.
• Develop and maintain meaningful local working relationships with education agency representatives, partner organizations, schools, and districts to strengthen efficient and effective collaborative culture in support of Cognia's mission.
• Serve as the key contact for all Cognia services for education agencies, partner organizations, schools, and districts.
• Retain, engage, and grow membership including leadership for proposal processes, as appropriate.
• Manage current and future Cognia activities with all clients.
• Provide quality assurance supervision and oversight of contracts with school districts, schools, education agencies, and education organizations.
• Utilize educational knowledge combined with expertise for strategic, customized, and technical understanding of Cognia's Continuous Improvement System to successfully provide guidance, and solution recommendations.
• Craft and drive an implementation plan aligned to organizational strategic priorities to meet quarterly and annual benchmarks.
• Maintain and grow knowledge to serve in thought leadership on state and federal program regulations, requirements, funding, best practices, future trends, and current issues aligning to continuous school improvement, accreditation, assessment, STEM, and early learning.
• Provide advocacy for continuous improvement in education with all constituencies.
• Contribute to meaningful collaboration with Cognia colleagues to ensure quality service.
• Market Cognia brand with educational entities to promote advocacy for education.
• Collaborate with internal departments to create and implement solutions for clients.
• Plan/Lead/Manage and evaluate Cognia events, professional development, workshops, and conferences.
• Oversee and support the work of the accreditation process and protocols inclusive of approving Accreditation Engagement Review Teams.
• Cultivate relationships with Advisory Committee Members.
• Recruit influential Advisory Committee Members.
• Lead, manage and facilitate the Advisory Committee meetings and cultivate thought leadership and advocacy.
• Provide progress reports as requested by the Regional Vice President or other Cognia leadership.
• Successfully meets established goals and priorities.
• Participate in continued personal and professional growth, including updating of job and industry knowledge, through participation in educational opportunities, professional associations, and networking to best lead Cognia Continuous Improvement efforts.
• Provide other services as assigned by the Regional Vice President.
• Perform duties and fulfill responsibilities that may, from time to time, include related or unrelated tasks.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

• Master's degree in Education, Education Policy or related field required
• Five (5) to Seven (7) years of related experience preferred with a proven track record of success as a leader and/or partner providing continuous improvement facilitation and support in an education-related organization required
• A proven track record of successfully assessing institutions' needs to improve learning and organizational effectiveness required
• Demonstrated experience in building relationships and/or strategic partnerships
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of education, quality learning environments, curriculum and effective instruction, program development and evaluation, learning assessment and diagnosis, and /or research related to teaching and learning
• Extensive knowledge base of current issues in education, especially continuous improvement

Competencies:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and make things happen in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to attain an extensive knowledge of all products, services and solutions offered by Cognia
• Ability to deliver high quality oral and written presentations
• Ability to build and maintain connections and relationships with leaders of educational organizations and agencies within the territory as assigned
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and assume personal initiative to promote Cognia
• Ability to work and communicate effectively using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint and other software and web-based applications

Anticipated Travel (may include local, national, and/or international travel):

• Significant travel (20-50%)
• Travel to Annual All Staff Company Meeting required

At Cognia, we recognize the critical role played by our teams in carrying out the organization's important educational mission. As a reflection of that recognition our exceptional benefits offerings include generous paid time off and holiday breaks, comprehensive insurance plans, and a 12.5% retirement savings contribution which is immediately vested, all effective on your date of hire. This represents an affirmative commitment by the organization to attract and retain the highest quality workforce - to ensure our continued ability to effectively serve our mission for years to come.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristics protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. Cognia is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.