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Sherman Center

UMBC has launched The George and Betsy Sherman Center, funded with a transformational gift from the Sherman Family Foundation. It aspires to be a national leader for excellence in education in urban communities with a focus on early learning, STEM, and Baltimore. 

The Executive Director is a passionate champion for Baltimore’s children and youth, harnessing teacher preparation, school partnerships, and applied research to improve educational outcomes. 

The inaugural Executive Director will provide innovative, experienced, and thoughtful leadership and executive-level management of this multifaceted university center and, through the center, will advance the university’s vision, mission, and values, which include civic engagement and social justice. They will have a keen understanding of the PreK-12 educational pipeline, the whole-child model, especially as it relates to student achievement and family engagement, and a perspective on where and how higher education should be an active participant in this work. They will be deeply invested in building positive team cultures through a lens inclusive of equity. They will build upon and continue to diversify the Center’s financial base of support.

The Executive Director should bring a balanced approach as a visionary and operational leader. They will establish strategic direction for The Sherman Center, with an early emphasis on efforts to unify existing programs and partnerships of the Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities and the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program.

UMBC offers competitive compensation.  This role starts at $148,500-170,000 and has over 4 weeks of vacation for regular full time roles. Tuition remission is also available.

What is it like to work at UMBC?  Check out Glassdoor or Indeed. And read about our recent award, UMBC is a 2023 Great College to Work for…. In every category.

A hybrid telework schedule may be available. 

Champion a Diverse and Values-Driven Team Culture

•   Inspire a team culture that values respect, compassion, teamwork, and accountability. Lead, develop, and mentor a motivated, diverse, and values-driven staff, building positive team cultures, developing internal talent, and empowering staff.
•   Supervise, encourage, and develop the performance of a senior leadership team to administer programs with creativity, professionalism, sustainability, and effective teamwork. With senior leadership team and Sherman Professors of Education and Early Childhood, establish effective programmatic strategies, partnerships, and alliances.
•   Define effective decision-making practices and clear communication strategies that align staff across different areas, increase belonging, and facilitate transparent working relationships.

Community Partnerships

•   Maintain and grow existing partnerships with critical stakeholders, including Baltimore City Public Schools, funding partners, and school and community members, and with a strategic network of community partners, educational institutions, corporations and employers, and financial supporters.
•   Build and sustain effective partnerships with on-campus constituencies including the Office of the Provost, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Institutional Advancement, and the Department of Education.
•   Build strong relationships with academic leaders, faculty, administrative unit leaders, and other campus stakeholders to develop a deep understanding of core issues and priorities.

Raise Organizational Profile and Resources

•   Represent and promote Sherman Center’s mission, programs, and outcomes to a broad constituency of community and educational partners, employers, supporters, and media.  
•   Identify opportunities, strategies, and partnerships that enhance the visibility of the Sherman Center’s priorities and programs.
•   In coordination with the development team, play a leadership role in increasing and diversifying financial support, including setting a strategy for annual and long-term plans that cultivate and maintain relationships with a range of donors and funding agencies and envisioning new revenue-based partnerships.
•   Steward and solicit major gifts on behalf of the Center.

Operations

•   Manage comprehensive Center-wide budget.
•   Budget and track expenses, ensure clear financial reporting, and project accurate cash flow. Ensure grant proposals and reports reflect the organization's vision, values, and outcomes.
•   Develop and implement a productive staffing plan to support day-to-day activities and leverage organizational capacity across the three key Center priorities relative to budget, human resources, and other administrative functions.

• A PhD or terminal degree in education, public policy or a related discipline or field.
• A minimum of 7 years of collaborative leadership experience in Pre- K-12 context as a school or system leader, or in university setting with informed understanding of issues facing urban school systems and families.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex budgets.
• Record of identifying, securing, and stewarding public and private resources; and of working with a broad range of partners, constituents, and stakeholders.  
• Expertise/proven track record of developing and sustaining multi-level, community-engaged partnerships. 

We are seeking a skilled executive director who brings a record of successful leadership experiences to this role. We recognize that the most competitive applicants will have many, but likely not all, of the following personal and professional experiences, skills, and qualities:

• Passion for PreK-12 education and teacher development with an advanced understanding of issues, trends, and policies affecting educational outcomes and community development.
• A significant supervisory record; experience mentoring and developing other senior leaders and staff.
• A strong record managing finance and operations within a complex, multi-million dollar entity. A command of core functions of budgeting, financial management, human resources, and external communications.
• Comfort in a highly visible role. An effective and influential communicator in public settings and personal conversations.
• Nuanced and intersectional understanding of equity in educational contexts.
• Proven ability to build effective and respectful relationships with people of various backgrounds, opinions, and perceptions.
• Talent for building consensus through strong emotional intelligence, listening skills, and deep compassion. Leads teams with empathy, equity, dignity, and respect.
• A successful record implementing strategy and setting goal frameworks, action-oriented budgets, and outcome measurements.
• Accomplished with senior level fundraising efforts, including strategizing and securing support through partnerships, institutions, corporations, and/or individuals.

A background check will be required. 

Upload a cover letter and a resume.  

UMBC offers a rich benefits package.

Regular and grant funded regular positions (Full benefits summary click here):

Generous Leave which includes accruing:

• 22 Days of Annual Leave  
• 15 Days of Sick Leave  
• 15 Holidays
• 3 Personal Days

Tuition Remission:

• 8 credit hours per semester
• Tuition remission at UMBC for eligible dependents after two years of FT employment

Additional Benefits:

• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plans (including the choice of joining the pension plan)
• Professional development opportunities
• Wellness opportunities
• & Much more

Salary: $148,500-$170,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations.

The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 410-455-2337 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.