Director, Product

Position Summary

The Director, Product is a key leadership role reporting directly to the Associate Vice President (AVP), Center for Whole Human Education and Research, Harmony Academy. Leads, in collaboration with the AVP, functional area oversight of product, content, and strategic engagements with partners. Deepens and executes product development in the K-12, out-of-school time, global and consumer markets, as well as leads the development of professional learning, coaching, and strategic engagement agenda across Harmony Academy in close collaboration with senior leadership and National University.

The Director, Product serves on the business senior leadership team and is responsible for leading the product and content team efforts including national level initiatives and partnerships related to the Harmony Curriculum, Professional Learning, Coaching, Certificates, Credential-Rich Pathways, Consumer Market Products, and Strategic Engagements. Serves as a key leader to help ensure content and products align to evidence-based practices. Assists executives and/or senior directors in defining organizational goals and strategic plans which have critical impact on the success of the functional area and organization.

Essential Functions:

• Provide product strategic direction, content oversite, and conceptual leadership, in collaboration with Academy staff, in new products and professional learning that is consistent with donor-established/contractual obligations and reflects current research and best practices.
• Create product roadmaps, from conceptualization to execution, in partnership with content, technology, and marketing teams.
• Lead development of a system of support, creating coherent professional learning, coaching, and special events that integrate Harmony Curriculum, Professional Learning, and Coaching, including connections and pathways into National University
• Determine new and innovative solutions for K-12, consumer, out-of-school time markets.
• Create plan and lead updates and revisions to content for Harmony Curriculum, Professional Learning, and Coaching, including teacher and leader certificates, and credential-rich pathways into National University.
• Collaborate with the data and infrastructure team on technology and data systems needed for product, professional learning, and coaching.
• Lead continuous improvement of Harmony Professional Learning and Coaching based on district and educator needs.
• Partner with the Research Director to determine impact measurement tools, tracking outcomes, and report findings.
• Partner with the Research Director to evaluate the Harmony Curriculum, Coaching, and Professional Learning.
• Collaborate with the sales and professional learning teams to identify needed content, product, professional learning, and coaching needs.
• Provide necessary training and support with the sales and professional learning teams on new and emerging content, product, professional learning, and coaching supports.
• Provide oversight into specific events and projects that provide deeper engagement, including, but not limited to, webinars, advisory groups (national and teacher), content for conferences.
• Partner with senior leadership team in market analysis of consumer market segments.
• Lead content of products for new market segments (e.g., families).
• Partner with other subject matter experts to help customize, develop, or adapt current and new products and professional learning.
• Engage with National University and other senior leaders to ensure alignment of SEL-related content across programs and National University.
• Develop and implement innovative ideas and creative solutions utilizing data driven decision insights.
• Ensure products, professional learning, and partnership reflect a vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 
• Review content, products, and materials to ensure they align with evidence-based practices.
• Lead, motivate, and guide team to ensure alignment with National University mission, vision, values, and departmental objectives.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages innovation and creativity.
• Establish performance standards and expectations for team members and the team while providing regular feedback and coaching to support employee development and improve performance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervisor duties to include:
  • Hire, train, and develop up to five (5) direct reports.

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, education, psychology, or related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) + years of related experience in teaching or professional learning required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in adult learning (coaching, mentoring, or training) strongly preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years developing product preferred.
• Leadership experience required.
• Experience in higher education preferred.
• Experience working in a technology-driven enterprise preferred.
• All skills, abilities and education will be considered for minimum qualifications.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing successful content strategies in leadership roles.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and generate innovative content ideas that resonate with target audiences. 
• Proven experience in effectively leading and managing teams to achieve their goals. 
• Familiarity with Pre-K through high school, schools and community-based organizations for profit and non-profit sectors with a strong knowledge in child development.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with meticulous attention to detail. 
• Ability to lead teams, foster collaboration, and efficiently manage multiple concurrent projects. 
• An analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and provide strategic recommendations. 
• Strong organizational and project management skills, enabling effective task prioritization. 
• Ability to develop an inclusion, equality, and diversity framework that is connected to the program’s mission and business strategy.
• Able to work across a variety of teams and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, as well as manage and support external communications where appropriate.
• Skill and experience building strategies and execution plans, including budget and project management.
• Ability to understand, diagnose and plan for business issues, processes, structure, outcomes, and profitability. Understands the implications of decision and actions, including a deep understanding of the overall big picture of the business; capable of taking an idea from concept to reality.
• Aptitude to drive towards achieving measurable and challenging goals to support organizational success.
• Actively seeks opportunities to influence, build effective relationships and gain alignment with peers, functional partners and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives.

Location: Remote

Travel: Some Travel Required; up to 20% travel required, 4-5 days per month

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Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies.  Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family.  For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

Compensation Range:

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality, diverse workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 5,000 faculty and staff and serves over 41,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community and a commitment to diversity. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our diverse student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University offers an opportunity to work in an innovative environment that supports diversity.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a diverse mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University. We are focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, color, ancestry, age, family care status, veteran status, marital status, creed, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and other legally protected group status.