Director of Field Operations
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Full-time
Construction / Physical Labor / Skilled Trades
Posted on May 19, 2023
Mission or Goal of Unit:
The School of Education (SOE) is committed to excellence in the initial preparation and continuing development of professionals for leadership, teaching, service and scholarly inquiry in culturally diverse settings across the life span. Our mission and values are grounded in and committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and engagement.
Virginia Commonwealth University RRTC's Center on Transition Innovations provides evidence-based resources and information along with emerging practices to assist individuals with disabilities obtain postsecondary and employment opportunities.
Chief Purpose of this position:
The chief purpose of this position is to serve as the Director Field Operations in a grant supported position focusing on overseeing the development, implementation, and sustainability of various demonstration projects across the Commonwealth and providing direct support to school divisions to enhance collaboration and coordination of transition services and interagency partnerships that will lead to improved outcomes for students with disabilities. The purpose of this position is to coordinate and manage project teams that provide services to ensure strategic development and implementation of project goals to ensure positive impact and outcomes. This position will work in collaboration with staff and others in the development and design of instructional content and course materials and provide professional guidance on appropriate and effective methods for professional development. This position will also provide technical assistance, collaborate and coordinate Pre-ETS, communicate with school administrators, staff, families, service providers, and others in secondary transition.
This position requires extensive knowledge and experience in providing technical assistance to enhance the quality of transition services, increase and implement effective transition-related practices, interagency collaboration and coordination, and support the use of data-driven decision-making to improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. In addition, the position requires a detailed understanding of federal and state laws (IDEA, WIOA, Perkins V, HEOA, ADA), experience in conducting research, writing grants and manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, and delivering presentations at national and state conferences. This position requires the ability to establish strong working relationships with leadership at the Virginia Department of Education (DOE), Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI), Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and other state and local agencies and businesses.
The Director of Field Operations will be expected to take on a leadership role, support activities for a national study for VCU's Transition RRTC, assist in identifying and developing grant applications to fund projects that support the mission of CTI, serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on sub-contracts, and lead various grants and contract projects.
The Director of Field Operations must also have experience in an administrative role, creating new innovative initiatives to improve the transition outcomes for youth with disabilities, and understand the barriers and challenges that school divisions, DARS, and other state agencies face in implementation of regulations and initiatives with limited resources.
Position Responsibilities:
The duties associated with this position requires overseeing the transition-related training needs of stakeholders and the development of online training materials and resources aligned with best practices. This position requires the delivery of presentations through videos, webinars, and conferences in addition to providing technical assistance to regions, divisions, and schools aimed at improving the quality of transition services and supports. This position will also conduct presentations on the research and demonstration outcomes of the RRTC-CTI to advisory councils, stakeholders, funding sponsors, and other state and national professional groups and organizations.
The position requires identifying areas of evaluation and research on transition of youth with disabilities and conducting evaluation and research activities. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of federal, state, and local transition services and programs; demonstrate experience and knowledge of the collaboration process among local education agencies, adult service agencies, employers, postsecondary programs, students with disabilities, and families; extensive knowledge of the legislation for individuals with disabilities (e.g., IDEA, WIOA, Perkins V, HEOA, ADA); coordinate and facilitate logistical activities and meetings, monitor and report on completion of grant deliverables, and disseminate information on project activities and outcomes to stakeholders; write for peer reviewed professional journals, chapters, and manuscripts on the outcomes of RRTC-CTI research and demonstration studies and projects.
The Director of Field Operations is responsible for representing VCU, RRTC, and CTI to the public, key stakeholders, colleagues, and other professional organizations and must have the ability to create and establish collaborative working relationships with secondary administrators and educators, vocational rehabilitation (VR), families, and other agencies in the disability field to advance the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in higher education, employment, and the community.
Other responsibilities (for instance administrative duties, etc.): of the position requires developing applications to obtain approval from VCU IRB to conduct human subjects research, and submitting reports on progress toward meeting goals, objectives, and outcomes of funded projects.
Required Qualifications:
Master's degree from an accredited college/university with major course work in special education, vocational rehabilitation, or social/behavioral sciences.
A minimum of 10 years experience working in schools or VR with students with disabilities and extensive knowledge of the transition of youth and young adults with disabilities and associated evidence-based practices.
Excellent organizational skills; ability to manage multiple requests and prioritize the work of staff members to ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner; ability to maintain accurate and complete electronic and paper filing systems.
Extensive knowledge of the field of intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities, especially federal, state, and local regulations, policies and practices in the disability employment field.
Demonstrated experience in supervision of staff in prioritizing, assigning and monitoring tasks to complete project activities within designated timelines.
Demonstrated experience with inclusively educating and mentoring students from under-represented minority and/or historically marginalized communities.
Demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance to teams of school personnel, community agencies, families, and students with disabilities to implement person-centered transition services and supports to enhance transition practices and improve student outcomes.
Demonstrated experience in writing and speaking on research or demonstration outcomes to stakeholders, funding sponsors, and other professional groups or organizations.
Demonstrated experience in working in a multi-cultural environment and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
Demonstrated experience in college and career readiness preparation of individuals with disabilities.
General knowledge of qualitative research methods and understanding of confidentiality involved with collection and storage of research data.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with strategic planning and knowledge and experience with developing grant applications. Experience working with state agencies including but not limited to the Department of Education and Vocational Rehabilitation.
Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 1
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Open
Months: 12
Department: SOE Spec Ed & DP - RRTC
Salary: $90,000 - $94,000
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Staci Carr
Contact Email: secarr@vcu.edu
Contact Phone: