Adult Learning and Development Director

Urban Initiatives is seeking an experienced adult learning instructor to design, develop, and implement coaching support services across UI’s adult services and youth programs. This leader will support coaching practice development for internal staff while also leading the logistics of outreach and implementation for external training events. They will supervise, train, and engage facilitators and support the alignment of all training materials across the organization grounded in UI’s sport- and play-based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) methodology, emphasizing practical application in youth programs. This position will collaborate closely with a team of learning leaders to support the design and development of the organization’s learning programs.

Our Culture: 

Our healing-centered approach to youth development helps young people reach their full potential and puts YOU right in the middle of making an impact that will shape generations of Chicago youth. We are coaches by trade and we bring this expertise into our work environment. You can expect us to deliver ample learning opportunities, growth mindsets, a culture of feedback and transparency, and fun as a core value. Our first-in-class benefits- including competitive salaries and fully-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance - are guaranteed to keep you in the game. 

Are you ready to put passion into action to build a stronger Chicago?

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities You Possess:

• Instructional skills: The ideal candidate has demonstrated excellence in teaching, group facilitation, and connecting with diverse audiences.
• Relationship-building skills: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience building transformative relationships with various stakeholder groups: teachers, parents, funders, coaches, and kids. Demonstrated experience working with young people required, preferably in sport or recreational settings.
• Spanish Fluency: This position requires professional-level fluency in oral and written Spanish.
• Leadership and supervision skills: The ideal candidate has professional experience as a team leader and managing people to support their growth.
• Learning facilitation skills: The ideal candidate has experience designing, curating, implementing, and evaluating highly effective training and workshops spanning multiple audiences, modalities, and varying levels of complexity.
• Teamwork skills: The ideal candidate will be a team player who is able to work effectively with others. They will be able to motivate and inspire their team and create a positive work environment.
• Commitment to improvement: The ideal candidate will demonstrate a growth mindset and stay abreast of best practices in sports-based youth development, sport- and play-based social-emotional learning, and workforce development.
• Commitment to supporting young people: The ideal candidate is committed to supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for young people and is competent in social emotional learning, youth development, and healing-centered work.
• Committed to Diversity Equity and Inclusion: This person will join the UI team on our anti-racist journey, which includes interrupting oppression in our work whenever we encounter it.

What You Would Do:

Training Delivery - 40%

• Lead implementation and facilitation of training for all adult services and youth programs, and UI employee learning programs, including up to 200 learning events per year 
• Lead implementation and adaptation for effectiveness with a variety of audiences including parents, teachers, and youth

Training Content Development - 35%

• Support the design and development of new learning services and adaptation of existing services to deliver highly effective learning experiences in collaboration with UI’s internal and external partners
• Co-design learning with Lead Director of Learning, Curriculum Director, and other stakeholders through inclusive design practices; co-manage the Learning Management System with the other members of the Learning Team.

Administrative, Supervisory, and Logistical Support - 25%

• Support assessment of each learning program to ensure consistent feedback loops with stakeholders to drive continuous user-centered improvement and utilize data gathered to inform how to iterate programs to achieve impact goals
• Ensure consistent, accurate tracking of learning engagement across all audiences to support learning program assessment, reporting, and strategic planning; codify organizational learning to support ongoing organizational development
• Supervise an experienced, part-time Learning Specialist in the completion of their goals; and up to eight workshop facilitators.

HOW TO APPLY: 

This is a Chicago-based position. Target Start Date is July 15th. Click the HERE to apply.

EEOC Statement

Urban Initiatives is dedicated to intentionally fostering a climate of purposeful inclusion in our workplace, and candidates of diverse backgrounds and identities are strongly encouraged to apply. Urban Initiatives is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. This is in accordance with federal and state law.

Urban Initiatives Overview

Founded in 2003, Urban Initiatives is a nonprofit organization that runs youth development programs in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Urban Initiatives’ mission is to use the power of sport and play to empower Chicago’s youth to achieve academic success, develop social-emotional skills, and build social capital. Currently, Urban Initiatives serves an estimated 90 schools throughout the City of Chicago.