Educator Learning & Development Director

Overview

The Department of Education and Early Learning’s (DEEL) mission is to transform the lives of Seattle’s children, youth, and families through strategic investments in education. We believe equitable opportunities and access to high-quality education services should be the reality for all. Our staff is committed to eliminating opportunity gaps, advancing academic achievement, and ensuring students graduate prepared for a college and career path of their choice.

Educator Learning & Development (ELD) Director. This newly-created role translates Mayoral directives and citywide education priorities into strategic, evidence-based, and equitable programs that strengthen the City’s provider and educator ecosystem. The position operates with a broad corporate orientation and provides long-term, strategic influence on how the City invests in and evaluates the success of its education providers across the Early Learning, K-12, and Postsecondary continuum.

You will oversee a division of 27 employees, with direct supervision of 4.

• Shape and drive high-impact strategies in instructional practice, curriculum development, systemic equity, and adult learning, ensuring alignment with the City’s broader educational goals and outcomes.
• Lead the design, coordination, and continuous improvement of a coherent, research-informed professional learning system that strengthens adult learning internally and across external partners.
• Ensure professional development is aligned, high-quality, and directly connected to improved outcomes for children, youth, and families.
• Set strategic vision and provide operational leadership for the newly formed Educator Learning & Development (ELD) Division.
• Align and integrate fragmented provider professional learning efforts across Ready to Start, Learn, and Launch programs to create a seamless continuum from early learning through postsecondary.
• Develop and implement Professional Learning Frameworks.
• Design, refine, and monitor curriculum standards and pedagogical frameworks (e.g., SPP Standards, 5
  
  Essentials Framework, Youth Program Quality Assurance) across the education continuum to ensure coherence and research alignment.
• Lead educator and provider professional development (PD) activities, including intervention-based PD and cross-partner learning.
• Plan, deliver, and oversee training, coaching models, and cohort-based initiatives (e.g., Academy for Rising Educators, Seattle Preschool Program Scholars).
• Strengthen organizational and instructional capacity; support programs in building internal capacity by improving leadership practices and youth learning environments.
• Monitor the quality and effectiveness of PD efforts and ensure investments support high-quality programs.
• Assess and improve the effectiveness of internal and external professional learning initiatives, including managing PD and capacity-building contracts.

You will be most successful if you have demonstrated experience leading or supporting educator learning, professional development, or capacity-building initiatives. A commitment to listening, equity, inclusion, and diverse perspectives must inform your practice. The ability to communicate thoughtfully and effectively at all levels is essential. Specifically, you should have a combination of the following:

• Managing educational professional development for educators
• Providing strategic leadership, including guiding teams, managing projects, or coordinating cross-functional or cross-partner efforts
• Using data, feedback, or evidence to inform decision-making and improve learning outcomes
• Leading a large team or division
• Continuous quality improvement
• Managing large training events

• Design, implement, and evaluate learning programs that support adult learners and instructional improvement
• Collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including educators, leaders, partners, and community members
• Hold the team accountable for their work and meeting goals
• Represent the City as an educator professional development expert in the community (child care, preschool, K-12, and Seattle college partners)
• Synthesize complex…