Director of Education & Engagement (29480)

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title Director of Education & Engagement (29480) Classification Director Position Number 00029480 Open Date 11/11/2026 Close Date Priority Review Date 11/26/2026 Employee Class Staff Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Status Temporary FLSA Exempt Job code 1330SPS03 Union Representation Non-Union Union Code N/A Unit/Department Education Systems Center College/Unit P20 Initiatives Network Division Outreach Engagemt Regl Dev Dv Location LH 204 Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://celfe.org/

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

About CELFE

The Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE) was established to develop and promote research and data-informed strategies to transform funding of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs for children ages 0-5. Housed in Northern Illinois University's Division of Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development (OERD), CELFE works in collaboration with academic, data, and research partners across the NIU system as well as with external partners.

CELFE began its work focused primarily on Illinois' ECEC system, in which our founder and Executive Director, Theresa Hawley, Ph.D., spent over 30 years as a researcher, advocate, and government systems change leader - working to improve ECEC policies with children and families at the center. Now, CELFE is building on that experience and its passion for systems change to focus more deeply on the funding adequacy and equity of the ECEC system. The scope and reach of CELFE has expanded to include all states and municipalities interested in transformation.

About the Early Childhood Education Funding Design Institute (ECEFDI)

Each year, decisions across multiple funding streams shape early childhood systems in our communities. CELFE's new Early Care & Education Funding Design Institute will build leaders' capacities to see the full system and equip them to design and sustain fairer, more effective funding strategies with children and families at the center. The Institute is designed for early- to mid-career professionals across state government who inform ECE budget, finance, program, and policy, as well as advocates and other key stakeholders. Each cohort includes participants from 5-6 state-based teams ready to pursue innovative funding design strategies for children aged birth to five. The Institute helps participants move beyond incremental fixes and design funding systems that are adequate, equitable, and built around the needs of children, families, and the early childhood workforce.

Position Summary

THIS POSITION IS LOCATED IN CHICAGO, IL

This position, located in Chicago, will be a hybrid between in-person and remote.

CELFE seeks a Director of Education and Engagement to lead the growth and evolution of the Institute's content and reach, and to maximize engagement with the ECE field. This is a strategic, externally facing role for someone who can effectively engage with state leaders and design adult learning experiences that advance the field. The Director will help the CELFE team to translate complex funding concepts (cost estimation, rate-setting, financing mechanisms, funding adequacy, and equity) into learning experiences that change how the field thinks about what is possible and build a community of leaders ready to act.

The Director will provide leadership for the Institute and will manage its growth and implementation: its curriculum, its audiences, its partnerships, and its influence. The CELFE team will provide subject matter expertise for the Institute. Logistics and event production are supported by CELFE and NIU operations staff, with the Director setting direction and quality standards.

Beyond the Institute, CELFE has a robust communications strategy to build the field's awareness of the importance of effective funding design to the growth, efficiency, and fairness of the early care and education system. This includes research and policy briefs, the Shortchanged Project, webinars, and the CELFE Digest series. The Director of Education and Engagement will work collaboratively with CELFE leadership and communications staff to expand and deepen the impact of our communications efforts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Curriculum & Thought Leadership

• Work with CELFE's policy, research, and financial modeling staff to turn analyses and tools into accessible, engaging learning experiences for varied audiences.
• Recruit and prepare expert faculty, practitioners, and people with lived experience as speakers and co-facilitators.
• In partnership with CELFE subject matter experts, develop written and multimedia thought leadership (briefs, blogs, case studies, and facilitation guides) that advance new ways of thinking about ECEC funding.
• Present and facilitate at national, state, and local convenings; serve as a visible voice for the Institute and for CELFE

Field Engagement & Partnership

• Build and sustain relationships with state and local leaders, national organizations, philanthropic partners, provider and family networks, and other intermediaries.
• Cultivate a network of Institute alumni and support peer learning, follow-up, and shared problem-solving across jurisdictions.
• Identify opportunities to connect the Institute with CELFE's technical assistance and consulting engagements.

Vision & Strategy

• Set the Institute's strategic direction, theory of change, and annual priorities in partnership with the Executive Director and CELFE leadership.
• Identify emerging issues, policy windows, and field needs, and shape the Institute's agenda in response.
• Develop measures of success that capture changes in field knowledge, practice, and policy, not just attendance and satisfaction.

Revenue Generation

• Generates revenue sufficient to cover costs of research-related partnership activity.

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

N/A

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

N/A

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

N/A

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

• Master's Degree required in communications, marketing, education, public policy, or related field.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience managing projects and/or people.
• Experience with developing impactful learning experiences for professionals in early childhood policy and/or programs.
• Experience with fundraising, developing project budgets, and other business skills required in a start-up environment.

Additional Requirements (SPS)

• Extensive knowledge of early care and education systems of governance, finance, and public funding streams at the federal and state levels.
• Demonstrated skill in designing and facilitating learning experiences for adult professionals and senior leaders.
• Meeting planning, convening, and facilitation skills.
• High comfort level with the use of technology-based platforms for project management, adult learning, communication, and presentation of information.
• Excellent written and oral communication, including the ability to make technical funding topics clear and compelling.
• Experience building trusted relationships across policy, practice, advocacy, and philanthropic communities.
• Strong project management experience and skills.
• High comfort level and skill with publicly presenting data, research findings, and client work at conferences, workshops, and webinars as it emerges from CELFE's work.
• Problem-solver with strong initiative to keep work moving; helping to establish clarity of goals and purpose if they don't already exist.
• Strong leadership and management of content, strategy, product, and people.
• Strong commitment to early childhood education and care as an engine of equalizing opportunity for young children, especially those in poverty.
• Passion for early childhood education and care with children and families at the center, and specific interest in the public financing of these services.
• Comfortable with a start-up environment and flexibility to adapt to uncertainty and changes in work priorities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet client-driven deadlines and needs.

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

• Ten (10) years of experience managing projects and/or people.
• Experience managing adult learning experiences, hosting large convenings, or similar experiences.
• Experience working inside government and/or working closely with publicly funded programs and systems.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.

Physical demands/requirements

• General office work.
• Long periods of time seated/stationary.
• Ability and willingness to travel for in-person meetings, attend and present at conferences and/or client-related meetings.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date January 1, 2027 Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 1.00 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Working Hours 8 - 4:30; evenings and weekends as needed Salary $90,000.00 - $115,000.08/annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package. Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $3,750.00 - $4,791.67/semi-monthly Earn Type Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

For full consideration, please visit https://employment.niu.edu/postings/98471 to submit the following materials by November, 26, 2026:

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter - Please include your interest in employment with NIU and how your previous experiences position you for success in the role for which you are applying.
• Current Resume
• List of Three Professional References
• Transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable for initial review of application; official copies required to confirm appointment).

Applications submitted after November, 26, 2026 are welcomed but will be considered as needed.

Special Instructions

• Cover Letter
• Current Resume
• List of Three Professional References
• Transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable for initial review of application; official copies required to confirm appointment).

Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/98471 Is Background Check Required? Yes EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Director of Civil Rights Office, Title IX Coordinator

Health Services 2nd floor

CivilRights@niu.edu

815-753-0455

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
• List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

• Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).