About the OpenSciEd Project

The OpenSciEd Project is a new initiative that brings together multiple partners, including a group of states and curriculum developers, and many national science education leaders and experts, to create a complete set of robust, research-based, open-source K-12 science instructional materials while building in tandem demand for these materials and supports for their implementation. Launched by the Carnegie Corporation of New York with additional support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the OpenSciEd Project is housed at the Fund for the City of New York’s National Center for Civic Innovation.

The initiative is governed by an Advisory Board including state education leaders, funders, and other experts in the education community. It is also guided by a State Steering Committee, consisting of state chiefs and state science supervisors from each of the core partner states. The Executive Director will report to the Advisory Board, and will be responsible for leading and managing the work, based on recommendations from the State Steering Committee, and oversight and input from the Advisory Board.

The OpenSciEd Project is initially organized into two overlapping phases spanning approximately 24 months. Phase one is a start-up phase that focuses on launching the initiative and infrastructure, establishing specifications for the OpenSciEd instructional materials and developing and field testing prototype units. Phase two will be the development of an OER middle school science program for grades 6-8 designed to address the Framework for K-12 Science Education from the National Research Council at the National Academies and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Subsequent phases will evolve as the work is launched and developed.

Position Summary

The founding OpenSciEd Executive Director will be responsible for leading and managing the work of the initiative and all of its partners, collaborators and stakeholders. The Executive Director also will hire and manage a small staff and several consultants, manage budgets and contracts, and work closely with the initiative’s fiscal sponsor, the National Center for Civic Innovation (NCCI) on the administration of the project. Additionally, the Executive Director will be the external face of the initiative, representing the work in the science education community and broader education community. Finally, while the project is currently envisioned through the first two phases of work, the Executive Director will work with all of the partners to develop the longer-term plans for the initiative, and ultimately lead the project through subsequent phases of developing and field testing K-12 science instructional materials designed for the Framework and the NGSS. The Executive Director will report to the Advisory Board, and make decisions based on the guidance and recommendations of the State Steering Committee, as well as the input and oversight of the Advisory Board.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Leading and coordinating the work of the partners

  • Serve as Chair of the State Steering Committee, and in that role design and lead monthly meetings to develop recommendations and
  • Ongoing work between State Steering Committee meetings to work with states and curriculum developers.
  • During phase 1, with all stakeholders, lead decision-making about science content and structure of the OpenSciEd instructional
  • During phase 1, also lead collaboration and facilitate dialogue to propose options and recommendations about the scope and sequence for a middle school science program, the specifications of prototype units, and the designs for professional learning and data collection during field
  • Based on the progress of phase 1, lead State Steering Committee to develop recommendations for the process and mechanisms to solicit the development of additional units via a formal request-for-proposals.
  • Lead and manage the work to develop the OpenSciEd content management system for OER K-12 science instructional
  • Oversee the development and management of the OpenSciEd.org
  • Coordinate reviews of developed materials with external
  • Ongoing solicitation of feedback from project advisors, as

External face and thought leadership

  • Develop and implement a communications strategy, including thought leadership for the field, with the goal to generate buy-in and support for the work, and also demand—from teachers, schools and districts—for the instructional materials that the OpenSciEd Project
  • Manage communications about the OpenSciEd Project to various stakeholders in the education community.
  • Partner with other key science leaders and organizations to provide communications and thought leadership to the field in a strategic and coordinated
  • Cultivate third-party entities to provide OpenSciEd associated supports to schools, districts, and states, including curriculum distribution and printing, professional learning and implementation support, and equipment/materials procurement and
  • Serve as a key spokesperson for the OpenSciEd Project and effectively leverage and deploy other spokespeople at partner

Management and administration

  • Serve as liaison with the National Center for Civic Innovation to lead all project
  • Hire small team of staff and consultants to manage the
  • Manage budgets and contracts with all partners, most notably the consortium of curriculum developers.
  • Develop and implement management systems to ensure that the project, and all its partners, are progressing on schedule and on

Strategy, planning and sustainability

  • Work closely with an Advisory Board and Board Chair to develop and oversee strategy and planning for current and future phases of work, including plans for ongoing funding and financial and operational sustainability

Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate will have:

  • 10+ years of professional experience, which may include a track record of success in state or district educational leadership, and/or K-12 curriculum development in science education
  • Strong project management experience, including successfully leading multi-stakeholder initiatives and/or leading improvement efforts
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including communicating complex information with clarity to diverse audiences, facilitating dialogue, and building consensus
  • Strong knowledge of the Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards, and strategic vision related to the important role of curriculum reform and the implementation of high quality instructional materials as a strategy to advance science learning for all and close the achievement gap
  • Strong knowledge of the state of education reform in the United States, including policy experience; understanding of major issues and players; savviness about the political realities of various improvement strategies
  • Experience working with state education agencies and school districts
  • Evidence of an entrepreneurial mindset
  • Experience with fiscal management, budgeting, and contract development and oversight
  • Ability to thrive in a collaborative and diverse environment
  • Advanced degree preferred
  • Familiarity with science education history, research, entities, and players in K-12 science education reform efforts preferred
  • Relevant classroom teaching experience at the secondary level, preferred Compensation and Benefits will be competitive and commensurate with

OpenSciEd celebrates, supports, and thrives on difference and diversity for the benefit of our team members, our partnerships, and our community. We are an equal opportunity employer and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to openscieddirector@gmail.com. To receive the fullest consideration, applications should be received no later than May 15th, 2018.