Director of Education

Overview:
The Last Mile seeks a seasoned education professional passionate about empowering underserved populations. The Director of Education will oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of all educational programs, ensuring alignment with best practices in pedagogy and the unique needs of The Last Mile’s participants. This role will lead a dynamic Education Department, fostering cross-team collaboration to achieve organizational goals while advancing opportunities for growth and impact.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in education program leadership, working with underserved populations, and a commitment to bridging education with real-world career pathways. As a strategic leader, the Director of Education will align learning initiatives with The Last Mile's mission to create meaningful opportunities for its participants, including incarcerated individuals and returned citizens.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and implement a strategic vision for the Education Department, aligned with organizational goals.
  • Propose and oversee initiatives to improve program outcomes based on data and feedback.
  • Advocate for lifelong learning across the organization and with external partners.
• Program Oversight:
  • Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of all educational programs.
  • Ensure programs are responsive to participant needs, incorporating best practices in pedagogy.
  • Collaborate with Reentry and Partnerships teams to align education programs with hiring partner needs and real-world employment opportunities.
• Team Management:
  • Directly manage the Senior Managers of Education
  • Support professional development and collaboration across the Education Department.
  • Identify pain points and propose solutions to foster team effectiveness and efficiency.

• Cross-Team Collaboration:
  • Work closely with the Programs, Engineering, Partnerships, and Reentry teams to ensure seamless implementation and expansion of programs in new facilities and states.
  • Partner with Research & Analytics to measure success metrics for learning initiatives.
  • Collaborate with other departments to ensure education initiatives support broader organizational objectives.

Qualifications:

• 8 to 10 years of academic development experience required.  This includes program or curriculum development, teaching, or managing an academic team. Experience developing and delivering education programs online is preferable.
• Significant experience in education leadership.
• Experience serving marginalized communities or justice-impacted individuals preferred..
• Proven success in designing and managing educational programs, including curriculum development and assessment.
• Strong strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Exceptional ability to foster collaboration across teams and manage staff effectively.
• Deep commitment to equity, education, and empowering underserved communities.

Why Join The Last Mile?
At The Last Mile, you’ll have the opportunity to shape life-changing educational experiences for individuals impacted by the justice system. You’ll collaborate with a passionate, mission-driven team to create programs that prepare participants for real-world success and break cycles of recidivism. We encourage you to apply if you’re an experienced educator driven by a commitment to social justice and transformative learning.

The Last Mile is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our organization.  We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected class.  Additionally, we are a Fair Chance Employer, meaning we do not discriminate against justice-impacted individuals or perform background checks.  We openly encourage justice-impacted individuals to apply for employment.

CompensationTBD by location and experience