Senior Director

Job Profile:

Creative Services Manager 4

Job Family:

Creative Services

Time Type:

Full time

Max Pay – Depends on experience:

$128,000.00 USD Annual

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including five (5) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:
Develops and executes complex media engagement programs and outreach activities to actively engage with media outlets, secure impactful coverage, and promote the university's stories, achievements, and expertise.

Job Description:

Arizona PBS, a service of Arizona State University, seeks an experienced and visionary Senior Director of Education to lead our comprehensive education initiatives. This leadership role oversees grant management, educational programming, community partnerships, and a dynamic team delivering PBS educational content and resources across Arizona and tribal communities. The position reports to the general manager of Arizona PBS, is a vital part of the executive management team for the organization and is responsible for the station’s primary mission outside of broadcasting.

Position Salary Range:

$100,000 - $128,000 per year; DOE

Essential Duties:

Strategic Vision & Organizational Leadership

• Develop and articulate a comprehensive strategic vision for Arizona PBS education initiatives that addresses the diverse needs of children, families, and educators across Arizona

• Assess educational challenges and opportunities in Arizona, particularly in underserved communities, rural areas, and tribal nations

• Navigate and adapt to a rapidly changing funding landscape, identifying sustainable models for long-term program growth and impact

• Align education department priorities with Arizona PBS's mission, ASU's strategic goals, and PBS national education standards

• Create innovative approaches to leverage technology, partnerships, and resources to maximize reach and effectiveness in a state with significant educational needs

• Lead the department in responding to emerging educational trends, policy changes, and community priorities

• Foster a culture of innovation, equity, and excellence within the education team

• Establish measurable goals and outcomes that demonstrate Arizona PBS's impact on educational equity and achievement across the state

  • Lead and mentor the education leadership team, including three Assistant Directors with distinct grant and station responsibilities

  • Conduct weekly education leadership team meetings and individual one-on-one check-ins with leadership team members

  • Provide strategic direction for 12 or more education staff members including Program Managers, Program Coordinator Seniors, and PRN educators/ambassadors

  • Oversee community programs including camps, professional development workshops, and special events

  • Create budgets and allocate resources effectively across programs and personnel

Team Leadership & Staff Development

Educational Programming & Content

• Provide strategic oversight for PBS LearningMedia content promotion and ingestion with internal and external partners

• Monitor content ingestion following PBS national editorial standards and processes

• Oversee content development for multiple programs including Trail Mix'd, What Happened in AZ, Switch On, Resolve to Solve, Wild Arizona, and Arizona Game & Fish productions

• Collaborate with engineering team on PBS LearningMedia promotions, QR code integration, and Spanish/ASL Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) for PBS KIDS properties

• Manage Healthy Smile Learning initiative including content creation, professional development, and analytics

• Oversee Lantern (formerly Bright By Text) local messaging platform with zip code and age-specific content

• Mentor staff and interns on content development and recruit subject matter educators for curriculum content

Grant Management & Development

• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, collaborating with internal and external partners to develop competitive grant applications

• Serve as Principal Investigator for awarded grants, working with ASU's Research Administration Services (RAS) and Office of Research & Sponsored Projects Administration (ORSPA)

• Develop grant budgets, secure necessary approvals including Tribal Affairs coordination, and manage all fiscal aspects of education grants

• Write and submit compelling grant proposals and renewals, incorporating input from stakeholders across the station

• Present to potential funders independently and in partnership with the development team

• Provide fiscal oversight including monthly budget reconciliation, expense approvals, and alignment with deliverable schedules

• Prepare and submit quarterly and monthly narrative reports, collecting and analyzing data from staff and community stakeholders

Community Partnerships & Outreach

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse partners including Navajo Nation Department of Education, Navajo Nation Public Libraries, First Things First, Phoenix Public Libraries, PBS SoCal, and numerous educational and cultural institutions

• Coordinate trans-creation projects, workshop delivery, and train-the-trainer initiatives with tribal and community partners

• Design and implement special events in partnership with organizations such as Fred Rogers Productions, WETA, GBH, Heard Museum, and regional PBS stations

• Manage event logistics including budgets, materials, mascot coordination, volunteer staffing, and post-event evaluation

• Oversee Super Why and STEM camp delivery including site recruitment, training, and community celebrations

• Promote Little Free STEM Library partnerships and coordinate book delivery to community locations

• Collect and report community outreach data for grant funders and station reporting

Public Representation & Advocacy

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for Arizona PBS education initiatives to media, policymakers, funders, and the public

• Articulate a compelling vision for Arizona PBS's role in improving education outcomes across the state, including early childhood development, K-12 achievement, and lifelong learning

• Advocate for education funding before state and national governmental agencies, legislative bodies, and policy leaders

• Present Arizona PBS's education impact and needs to foundation leaders, corporate partners, and philanthropic organizations

• Build relationships with key stakeholders including state education officials, tribal leadership, legislative representatives, and community advocates

• Communicate education program successes, data, and outcomes through presentations, media interviews, and public forums

• Position Arizona PBS as a thought leader in educational equity, access, and innovation within Arizona and nationally

• Represent the organization's education mission and values in alignment with ASU and PBS national standards

• Serve on PBS KIDS and PBS Education national leadership councils and attend monthly community of practice meetings

• Participate in the State Pyramid Leadership Team with representatives from Arizona Department of Education, DHS, DES, and Head Start

• Conduct station tours for families, educators, and community partners

• Support donor events, screenings, and station promotional activities

Station Leadership & Strategic Coordination

• Take an active role as member of the executive leadership team and contribute to station strategic decisions

• Collaborate bi-weekly with Senior Director of Content and Production on PBS LearningMedia projects and promotional activities

• Partner regularly with Executive Director of Development on grant deliverables and funding opportunities

• Coordinate with sales, traffic, operations, programming, and web teams on educational initiatives

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, public administration, communications, or related field

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in educational programming, nonprofit management, or public media

• Proven track record in grant writing, management, and principal investigator responsibilities

• Demonstrated success in team leadership and staff development

• Strong fiscal management skills including budget development and oversight

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience managing complex, multi-partner projects and initiatives

• Commitment to serving diverse communities including tribal nations

• Knowledge of PBS educational standards and public media content

• Experience working within higher education or university settings

• Familiarity with ASU systems including RAS/ORSPA processes

• Background in early childhood education and K-12 educational programming

• Established relationships with Arizona educational and community organizations

• Experience with educational assessment and program evaluation

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and visionary leadership

• Grant development and fundraising expertise

• Cross-cultural competency and partnership building

• Project management and organizational skills

• Data-driven decision making

• Public speaking and presentation abilities

• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style

• Adaptability and creative problem-solving

Working Environment:

This position requires regular interaction with diverse stakeholders including funders, community partners, educators, and ASU leadership. Travel throughout Arizona and to tribal communities is required. Occasional evening and weekend work for events and community programs. Hybrid work environment with both remote and on-site responsibilities at Arizona PBS facilities.

Department Statement:

Arizona PBS specializes in the education of children, in-depth news and public affairs, lifelong learning, and the celebration of arts and culture — utilizing the power of noncommercial television, the Internet, educational outreach services, and community-based initiatives.  Arizona PBS began broadcasting from the campus of Arizona State University on January 30, 1961.  Now more than 80 percent of  Arizonans receive the signal through a network of translators, cable and satellite systems. With more than 1 million viewers each week, Arizona PBS consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. Arizonans provide more than 60 percent of the station's annual budget.

Driving Requirement:

This position may require driving. Employee must possess a valid US Driver’s license of the appropriate class and required endorsements throughout employment.

Location:

Campus: Downtown Phoenix

Funding:

No Federal Funding

Instructions to Apply:

Current Employees and Students should apply directly within Workday using the Jobs Hub. Use this link and log in using SSO:

https://www.myworkday.com/asu/d/inst/1$9925/9925$17841.htmld

To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments:

• Cover letter
• Resume/CV

Note: Multiple documents can be submitted into the attachment box. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission.

Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position. Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position. NOTE: GA and Intern positions are counted as .5 for job experience (ie. 1 year equals 6 months experience equivalency). Only electronic applications are accepted for this position.

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ASU Statement:

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

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Employment Verification Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Fingerprint Check Statement:

This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the fingerprint check.