Business Unit Description

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.

AARP Foundation is AARP's 501 c3 charitable affiliate. We are a public charity with revenue from federal agencies, corporations, foundations and individuals. AARP Foundation's vision is a country free of poverty where no older person feels vulnerable. Staff are located in Washington DC and throughout the US.

Every year, AARP Foundation helps millions of struggling older adults 50 and over win back opportunity by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face each day. Through the Foundation's many groundbreaking and innovative programs and services, we create and advance effective solutions to meet their basic needs for nutritious food, safe and affordable housing, adequate income and much-needed personal connections.
Summary

About Experience Corps

Experience Corps' vision is a just society where all children have an equal opportunity to succeed and older adults are valued. Through this generational exchange, children succeed, older adults thrive and communities are made stronger.

Now in 22 cities, Experience Corps works to solve serious social problems, beginning with literacy. Today, over 2,300 Experience Corps volunteers serve as tutors and mentors to children in urban public schools and after-school programs, where they help teach children to read and develop the confidence and skills to succeed in school and in life. Research shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, strengthens ties between these institutions and surrounding neighborhoods, and enhances the well-being of the Experience Corps volunteers in the process.
Responsibilities

• Leads Knowledge Development: Leads the curriculum development, program design, research and evaluation for Experience Corps, building the body of knowledge, continuous improvement and recognition within the sector. Has thorough industry knowledge and uses insights to guide the decisions and work of the organization. Foresees the emerging policies and external factors, formulating proactive organizational responses.

• Manages Network-wide Program Fidelity: Implements effective programmatic strategies so that Experience Corps can meet the challenge of rapid network growth while maintaining quality and fidelity of the program model. Leads the Quality Assurance System-a network-wide system of accountability designed to align practice with evidence-based quality programming and the Experience Corps standards. Eliminates obstacles that affect organizational and network performance. Drives the organization to achieve results.

The impact of this work is substantial. The ability of AARP Foundation Experience Corps to replicate and expand to new markets is fully dependent on the success of the director's work. A knowledgeable and well-regarded educational expert guiding its program model is critical to Experience Corps' success. In addition to leading the Education and Evaluation team, the director serves as the primary point of contact and collaboration with all Experience Corps programs (branches and affiliates) on matters of program components and implementation, and is ultimately responsible for the skill level and effectiveness of nearly 2,000 volunteer tutors.

The director approaches problems from a systems perspective, synthesizing information from many sources to arrive at a broad and deep understanding of complex issues.

The director uses independent judgment to articulate a growth-focused vision for consistent application of an evidence-based literacy tutoring model; create strategies to align the national network to achieve this vision, and manage staff, consultants and teams of network professionals to deliver on these strategies. The director regularly evaluates organizational capabilities and identifies how they can be improved to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders.

The director forms and nurtures strategic partnerships with literacy curriculum and service providers and recommends appropriate alignments. Serves as a thought-leader in the education community and interacts at the highest level with that sector. Creates, embodies, and enforces an organizational culture in which people at all levels show the highest possible ethics and deep cultural sensitivity in their dealings with stakeholders.

The director must have a deep understanding of the educational system, educational research and program evaluation, reaching beyond the organization to become fully knowledgeable about research, evidence, learning strategies, and best practices, and synthesizing this knowledge to continuously improve practice and outcomes.

• Drives Research to Guide Practice: Leads strategic research to strengthen the evidence base of Experience Corps, ensuring that results from internal and external evaluations are effectively translated into programmatic practice. Ensures that curriculum, training and evaluation are aligned with best practices to continuously improve the learning experience and professional growth potential for volunteers and network staff.

• Commands respect as National and Network Thought Leader: Represents AARP Foundation Experience Corps nationally, developing and expanding strategic partnerships with peer organizations in the youth literacy arena. Builds relationships and influential connections among and across cultural, organizational, and national boundaries. Makes it a priority to broker relationships and forge connections that can contribute to others' success and advance the goals of the organization. Plays an instrumental role in industry-wide conferences and forums.

• Effectively Leads a Matrixed Team: Leads a team of at least three direct reports (and consultants as required), coordinating the programmatic, compliance and data reporting activities of Experience Corps nationally. The director is accountable for the strategic direction, planning, budgeting, staff supervision, policies, and business practices of the research and learning function in alignment with organizational priorities and the AARP Foundation Experience Corps Strategic Plan. The Director position has critical organizational leadership responsibilities including membership on the Experience Corps management team, cross functional workgroups and new business explorations.

Requirements

• Master's degree required, PhD preferred.

Work Experience

• Ten (10) years of leadership experience in the nonprofit, education or education-focused business sector with the ability to create, develop, direct, organize, and analyze programs, preferably at multiple locations.

• Ten (10) years of experience hiring, directing, motivating and evaluating staff with demonstrated strong leadership and team-oriented management skills.

Competencies

• Expertise and experience with literacy programs.

• Knowledge of and experience with volunteer and program management

· Ability to translate research and evaluation findings into action

· Strong familiarity with the latest in education reform and evolving academic standards

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including public speaking, report writing, and developing and delivering trainings for a variety of audiences.

· Experience with managing education technology preferred.

• Strategic thinking with demonstrated success in developing and implementing short and long-range strategic plans.
Benefits Offered

AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.