[Resume Drop] Partner, School Design Services

[Resume Drop Only]  

WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACTIVELY RECRUITING FOR THIS POSITION.  IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED IF/WHEN WE RE-OPEN THIS SEARCH, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION:

[Resume Drop] PARTNER, SCHOOL DESIGN SERVICES

Role Type: Full-time

Title: Partner, School Design Services

Location/Travel: ~30-35% time. Willingness to travel approximately 2x per month for 2-3 days depending on the location and duration of trips.

Who We Are

Transcend’s mission is to support communities to create and spread extraordinary learning for all. Founded in 2015, Transcend has partnered with over 390 schools/partners which collectively serve thousands of students in over 30 states across the country. As a research and development (R&D) hub for the education field, Transcend provides schools and systems with research-backed, community-driven models and capacity so they can make significant leaps to reimagine the future of education. Transcend is a nonprofit that operates with a fully remote, nationwide team; currently with 120+ teammates and growing. For more information, visit our website; follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter, check out this podcast featuring our two co-founders on Class Disrupted, or read this recent article that illuminates the need for this work.

The Opportunity:  

Across the country, more and more communities are recognizing that the 100+ year-old, one-size-fits-all school model no longer serves every learner’s potential. The challenges of recent years have made it clear that there’s an opportunity to create something better—learning environments that inspire, support, and empower all young people to thrive. In response, Transcend is partnering with communities to reimagine and redesign schools for a brighter future for all learners.

The Partner, School Design Services role guides school design teams, in partnership with their learning communities, to design, build, and spread innovative school models. Specifically, Partners on our School Design Services team coach and support school design teams to:

1. Reimagine and create new school model designs grounded in their unique community’s context and aspirations
2. Build the conditions for innovation in their school communities, including the capacity to do ongoing, applied research & design in their context. Learn more about our community-based design approach here!
3. Help create the networks and partnerships schools need for their innovation efforts to take root and thrive

Working in portfolio teams, the Partner, School Design uses various methods to achieve these aims, including facilitation of in-person and virtual workshops, 1:1 coaching (virtual and in-person), hands-on instructional and new model design work, resource creation and sharing, and forging connections to support the work. 

We are hiring across multiple teams and below are sample portfolios/projects to help you see the work in action:

Postsecondary Pathways Portfolio 

The Postsecondary Pathways Portfolio seeks to transform the high school experience, equipping students nationwide with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities they need to explore a wide range of postsecondary options that match their individual needs and goals. By partnering directly with communities to redesign the high school journey, we can ensure meaningful experiences and positive outcomes for every student.

Pathfinders Portfolio

Pathfinders is charged with supporting communities across the country to start and sustain design journeys that ultimately contribute to leaps towards equitable, extraordinary learning. The portfolio is dedicated to launching design journeys at any stage, and with defined resources ensuring that every path young people take through our collaboration empowers them to define the life they want to live. Whether we’re building on familiar experiences or exploring new territory, we transcend all barriers to create impactful and transformative outcomes for all.

New Design Partners will likely work on projects within their home-base Portfolio for the first one to two years (if not more). We will explore Portfolio match and team alignment more closely and share more specifics about each opportunity in the hiring process.

Who You Are:

You are a facilitator, instructional designer, coach, and project manager extraordinaire who believes deeply that we must redesign school as we know it, to truly achieve the outcomes we know all students deserve, and to prepare young people to thrive now and into the future. You are relationship-driven in your work and energized by coaching others to achieve excellent outcomes for students. You are able to build relationships quickly and thoughtfully and recognize the importance of elevating a whole community’s voice in the redesign process. You are excited about partnering with school and community stakeholders to bring ambitious new school designs to life. 

In this role, you will get to: 

• Coach: Advance the school team’s conditions for change, and build capacity in others to bring new school designs to life
• Create Content: Develop the teams’ capacity to design and build school schedules, curriculum, instructional practices, PD, etc., in alignment with their school blueprints, research, and best practice 
• Facilitate rigorous research and development (R&D): Help teams pilot their innovations throughout the year: from setting up effective pilot structures, implementing pilots, and summarizing their learning to inform their overall design and next steps 
• Lead Strategic Implementation of New School Designs: Through project management, guide and support schools in building and adapting the school elements needed to bring their designs to life 
• Design & Facilitate: Design, build, and facilitate learning experiences and sessions for partner teams, young people, families, and community members. 

And in doing so, leverage your: 

• Commitment to Transcend’s mission of transforming education, with a passion for creating innovative school models that generate unprecedented results for all students
• Strong and demonstrated commitment to fostering a range of perspectives and ensuring all individuals have the opportunity to thrive. You design, coach, and facilitate with a focus on creating balanced and supportive environments.
• Skillful relationship-building and communication skills, working with a wide range of stakeholders, including school partners, teammates, funders, research partners, etc
• Outstanding project management and organizational skills that allow you to gather and organize multiple work streams and logistics efficiently
• Passion for and experience with adult facilitation
• Stewardship of a healthy team culture, and eagerness to share and learn from your teammates
• Eagerness to live into Transcend’s core values and support others to do the same 
• Significant experience leading in schools, preferably with experience working as a former school Principal, and with direct experience with design, innovation, 21st century skills, change management and/or “next generation” school models 
• Entrepreneurial hunger to build, learn, and lead in a lean and at times ambiguous context

Perks and Benefits: 

Transcend is committed to providing our colleagues with a competitive benefits package. Transcend offers medical, dental and vision coverage options, org-wide holidays, paid time off, paid parental leave, professional development opportunities, and fully remote work. We take pride in our collaborative environment, exceptional team, and shared commitment to principled, impactful work.

Join Us!

We are an experienced team focused on extraordinary learning for all. We welcome candidates who are passionate about ensuring that all students thrive.