Title: Executive Director - Excellence and Best Practices
State Role Title: Education Administrator III
Hiring Range: Exact Commensurate Based on Qualifications & Experience
Pay Band: 6
Agency: Dept of Ed Central Operations
Location: JAMES MONROE BUILDING
Agency Website: doe.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Office of the Superintendent is seeking a strategic leader to serve as a critical leader for the Virginia Department of Education and is responsible for ensuring that proven, results-driven practices and innovations are identified, supported, and scaled to improve student performance, advance academic excellence, accelerate student learning and opportunities, and promote local school success across the Commonwealth.
Advance Proven, Results-Based Practices That Improve Academic Achievement: The leader will work in collaboration across the agency and with stakeholders to identify schools and divisions delivering strong student results and support the replication and scaling of these high-performing practices and models. This role exists to help promote instructional practices rooted in academic rigor, merit, high expectations, and content knowledge leading to measurable gains in student academic outcomes.
Identify and Promote Local Innovation and Replication of Success: In partnership with the Office of Innovation and partnerships like ODU’s Center for Education Opportunity and Innovation, catalogue practical, scalable, and fiscally responsible approaches while making room to support promising new practices in teaching and learning, student engagement, and postsecondary readiness. Identify and support school leaders adapting successful strategies locally, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all approaches. This includes capturing innovative approaches to the new educator workforce, transportation modernization, ways schools are rethinking space and building designs, and more.
Elevate School Performance Spotlights to Scale: This leader will use state and national performance data to identify schools demonstrating high growth, high performance, lowering chronic absenteeism, and/or delivering on student readiness. A critical component is to capture these best practices grounded in objective, comparative data in partnership with the Office for School Performance to help schools use this information to drive improvement.
Advise Policy and Budgetary Decisions Based on Results: This leader will inform policy decisions and resource allocation by highlighting programs, practices, and schools that achieve the greatest return on investment. This role will help advise agency leadership and policymakers on how to streamline efforts and invest meaningfully in what demonstrably works. The leader will help ensure education dollars through the agency are prioritized for programs with a track record of success in advancing academic performance and closing achievement gaps as well as those willing principals and system leaders who want to replicate successful best practices.
Additionally, this position will collaborate with and create connections among multiple offices from operations and educator workforce to student pathways, opportunities and innovation. The executive will serve as the gatherer of best practices for the agency and the go-to location from the field for sharing what works.
Minimum Qualifications
Excellence and Effective Practice: Knowledge of research-based instructional strategies that demonstrably improve student achievement, especially in core content areas. Capable of identifying high-performing models and supporting replication or success scaling. Able to evaluate new ideas critically while favoring scalable, proven, and fiscally responsible practices.
Assessment and Data Use: Expertise in academic assessment systems, growth metrics, and commitment to using data, including disaggregated data, to drive decision-making, continuous improvement and student outcomes. Proficient in using data platforms, dashboards, and student performance reports to identify trends and inform decisions.
Results-Driven Leadership: Relentless focus on student outcomes, accountability, and impact with a focus on action.
General understanding of state and federal accountability frameworks (e.g. ESSA, School Performance and Support Frameworks)
Ability to lead long-term strategic initiatives across agency divisions and offices as well as agency priorities. This includes managing high-level projects and driving results through others.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying data, findings, and policy recommendations to a variety of stakeholders (e.g. teachers, parents, General Assembly members, etc.).
Ability to synthesize evidence into clear, actionable policy recommendations for elected officials and education leaders. This includes commitment to transparency to ensuring public funds are used effectively to serve students.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a complex organization with competing priorities, budget constraints, and oversight.
Strong project-management and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
Models a strong sense of mission rooted in student success.
Demonstrates ability for visionary and strategic thinking, novel solutions, and exemplary analytical abilities.
Must have excellent communication skills with the ability to foster positive working relationships.
Ability to supervise, inspire, and evaluate staff, with strong receptivity to team partnership and collaboration.
Leverages financial and student data to inform future staffing needs and student-based distributions.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access, as well as rapid communication tools.
Additional Considerations
Experience in administration at the management or executive level to drive student outcomes and solutions grounded in systems change.
An advanced college degree in Education, Entrepreneurism, Education Administration/Supervision, Education Leadership, or a related field preferred.
Experience in strategic and innovative collaboration, including leading large-scale initiatives.
Education and experience in performance-based leadership and systems administration.
Graduation from an accredited college/university with studies related to the job description or an equivalent combination of education and direct working experience.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Pursuant to Sections 2.2-3114 and 2.2-3115 of the Code of Virginia, this position has been designated as requiring you to disclose your financial interests. Financial interests shall be disclosed as a condition of employment and thereafter as required. The mechanism you will use to disclose these interests is called Statement of Economic Interests.
A résumé will be accepted in lieu of a completed state application. Applications submitted via e-mail, postal service, fax or hand-delivered will not be considered. Successful candidates must pass a criminal background check. Commonwealth of Virginia employees may have teleworking options available. Final teleworking agreements will be reviewed and approved upon hire.
Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process:
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to prove their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: https://www.vadars.org/drs.cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800-552-5019.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process. For assistance call: (804) 225-2021, [TTY: 786-8389]
It is the policy of the Commonwealth and the VDOE that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.
Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. The Virginia Department of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.
Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.
Contact Information
Name: Human Resources
Phone: N/A
Email: humanresources@doe.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.