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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of High School Innovation performs a wide range of duties including, but not limited to, the following: 

Supervisory Responsibilities 

As a Department Director, this role carries the responsibility of leading and guiding the High School Innovation team, managing workflow, professional development, performance management, conflict resolution, problem solving, team building and ensuring compliance.

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, team check-ins, and quarterly engagement conversations to provide feedback, coaching, and support.

• Set clear goals, expectations, and accountability structures aligned with departmental and organizational priorities.

• Lead the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes for new team members within the department, in partnership with the Administration and Human Resources Department.

• Support the professional growth of direct reports by identifying development and skill-building opportunities and promoting a culture of continuous learning.

• Delegate projects and responsibilities effectively to maximize team strengths and ensure balanced workload distribution.

• Address performance challenges promptly and constructively, following organizational policies, processes, and best practices.

• Promote a high-trust, inclusive, and equity-centered team culture aligned with MCAN’s values and strategic goals.

• Collaborate with other department leaders to foster cross-functional alignment and learning across the organization.

Strategic Leadership and Expertise

• Lead and advance MCAN’s High School Innovation strategy and department. Support the existing strategy and oversee departmental budget.  

• Lead efforts to achieve MCAN’s strategic plan goals within the K12 education sector to increase college readiness, access, and success.

• Seek opportunities to leverage and transform the K12 system as a strategy to increase college access and success internally and with partner organizations.

• Gather and analyze pertinent data to use in decision-making, program design, and presentations.

• Develop and monitor departmental goals and performance indicators, ensuring continuous improvement across all programs and initiatives.

• Manage external contractors engaged in departmental projects, including onboarding, scope alignment, performance monitoring, and ensuring deliverables are completed on time and within budget.

• Serve as a thought partner with the Senior Director of College Access and the Deputy Director to ensure strong program funding, cross-departmental collaboration, and mission alignment.

Programmatic Oversight

• Oversee multiple statewide initiatives and programs, including but not limited to: School Counselor Fellowship, School Leadership Fellowship, FAFSA Specialists, College and Career Planning Course, and College Bound Michigan.

• Lead the development and delivery of a comprehensive professional development strategy for school counselors, school leaders, college advisers, adult education practitioners, and other individuals providing college advising support to students.

• Lead and support all aspects of the high school systems change-focused grant strategy including ongoing support and coaching to the grantees.

• Lead MCAN’s strategy to increase opportunities for students to earn college credits in high school and to create more on-ramps, structured pathways, and smooth transitions for all students, particularly students with the most college-going barriers.

• Provide tailored coaching, technical assistance, data support, and capacity-building to Southeast Michigan community colleges participating in D3C3 to strengthen K12 partnerships and expand structured on-ramps to college through dual enrollment and other college-in-high-school models. 

• Support data tool usage and validation, including FAFSA Tracker and Impact Map.

• Provide support and lend expertise and guidance to the AdviseMI program led by the Advising and Coaching department.

Equity and Inclusion

• Serve as a champion of equity-focused strategy development and program implementation.

• Lead internal and external efforts to close equity gaps in postsecondary readiness and attainment for low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.

• Apply Targeted Universalism and data disaggregation to guide strategic action and support implementation across schools and districts.

Partnership and Coordination

• Build and maintain relationships with key national partners and state-based K12 professional associations. 

• Ensure programming and activity within the department is aligned, connected, and representative of the organization and its mission.

• Work with and support Local College Access Networks, Promise Zones, and other partner organizations to assist their efforts in connection with the K12 system.

• Represent MCAN in regional collaboratives such as D3C3 and at statewide meetings or task forces.

• Lead regular communication, reporting, and convenings with grantees, school leaders, and external consultants.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in internal strategic planning, budgeting, and departmental alignment processes.

• Manage departmental financial administration, including submitting timely and accurate invoices, check requests, and expense reports to the finance team for processing.

• Use QuickBooks and related tools to monitor budgets, track grant expenditures, and review expenses to ensure compliance with organizational policies and processes and grant agreements.

• Lead the drafting and preparation of grant agreements and vendor contracts related to departmental work, using organizational templates and coordinating with relevant staff to ensure accuracy, alignment, and timely execution.

• Present MCAN’s work and outcomes at state and national conferences.

• Other duties as needed to advance the mission of the Michigan College Access Network.