Director of Educator Preparation Innovation

University System of Maryland

Director leading educator preparation innovation at the University System of Maryland, overseeing strategic programs and collaborations for teacher preparation.

Posted 6/16/2026contractAdelphi • Maryland • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $116,725 - $137,025 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

The Director of Educator Preparation Innovation provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for the University System of Maryland’s (USM) educator preparation priorities and innovation portfolio.
This role leads systemwide efforts to strengthen, modernize, and expand educator preparation by guiding collaborative program design, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advancing instructional quality across multiple licensure and professional growth pathways.
The Director fosters cross-institutional collaboration among USM institutions, local education agencies, and state partners to address emerging workforce needs, improve educator recruitment, preparation, licensure, and retention, and support innovation and institutional transformation.
The position is accountable for program integrity, scalability, sustainability, and continuous improvement, including oversight of partnerships, fiscal management, and data-informed decision-making.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Masters Degree in Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration, Instructional Design, or a closely related field.
7 years of progressive experience in educator preparation, teacher licensure, academic program leadership, or related field.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-partner education initiatives.
Experience working with state education agencies, accreditation bodies, or regulatory frameworks.
Knowledge of educator licensure requirements, state policy frameworks, and accreditation standards (e.g., MSDE, COMAR, CAEP).
Skill in program design, strategic planning, and continuous improvement for licensure or educator preparation pathways.
Ability to interpret and ensure compliance with complex regulations and state licensure requirements.
Knowledge of online instructional design principles, asynchronous learning models, and adult learning theory.
Skill in managing online program infrastructure, including LMS configuration, integrations, and accessibility requirements.
Skill in supervising and developing professional staff, including instructional coaches or similar roles.
Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with school districts, state agencies, and higher education institutions.
Skill in coordinating complex administrative processes, such as admissions, onboarding, verification, or data workflows.
Skill in project management, including managing multi-stakeholder timelines, deliverables, and cross‑organizational collaboration.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to convey technical, policy, and compliance information clearly to diverse audiences.
Ability to analyze data, manage budgets, and drive continuous improvement.
Preferred Education Level/Certifications: Advanced degree in Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration, Instructional Design, or a closely related field.
Preferred Experience: Experience leading alternative teacher preparation or residency-style programs. Experience with edTPA preparation and portfolio-based licensure assessments. Experience securing and managing grant-funded education initiatives. Experience scaling programs across multiple institutions or districts.
Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Demonstrated success in equity-centered, workforce-aligned program design. Skill in competency-based program design or job‑embedded teacher preparation models. Skill in negotiating contracts, MOUs, or partnership agreements. Working knowledge of learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas, including configuration, integrations, or credentialing workflows.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Paid Leave: 22 days of annual leave, 15 days of sick & safe leave, 16-17 holidays, 3 personal leave days, 12 weeks paid family medical leave.
Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with flexible spending accounts.
Retirement Plans: Supplemental retirement options with major providers like Empower, Fidelity, and TIAA.
Life Insurance: Optional term life and AD&D benefits through MetLife.
Tuition Benefits: Tuition remission for employees and their families.
Training & Development: Free professional development conferences and unlimited LinkedIn Learning access.
Credit Union Access: Membership eligibility for SECU, Maryland’s largest credit union.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free counseling, legal, financial, and work-life support services.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

program designstrategic planningcontinuous improvementdata analysisbudget managementproject managementonline instructional designadult learning theoryLMS configurationeducator licensure requirements

Soft Skills

communication skillsrelationship-buildingcollaborationsupervisionpartnership developmentorganizational skillsanalytical skillsleadershipnegotiationproblem-solving

Certifications

Masters Degree in EducationMasters Degree in Curriculum & InstructionMasters Degree in Educational LeadershipMasters Degree in Higher Education AdministrationMasters Degree in Instructional Design