EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NORTHLAND CENTER FOR ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (NCAPS)                                                                                                                                                                

 

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies (Northland CAPS) is a cooperative, profession-based learning program offered by nine public school districts in Clay and Platte Counties of Missouri (northern suburban areas of the Kansas City metropolitan area). These school districts (Excelsior Springs, Kearney R-I, Lathrop R-II, Lawson R-XIV, Liberty 53, North Kansas City 74, Park Hill, Platte County R-III, and Smithville R-II) represent over 60,000 students.  Northland CAPS provides a unique opportunity for junior and senior high school students to develop professional skills and knowledge through immersive, project-based learning opportunities in partnership with local business and industry partners.  Whether working in small, collaborative student teams supported by a lead instructor or deployed more independently in partner worksites alongside professional mentors, students have the opportunity to apply and grow their capabilities in regionally relevant, high-demand career fields including:

• Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing
• Medicine and Healthcare
• Digital Media and Design
• Global Business and Logistics
• Business Accelerator
• Technology Solutions

 

The vision of Northland CAPS is to provide Northland high school students with a professional, innovative and entrepreneurial education through career-oriented experiences that are both hands –on and real world.  Launched in 2013, NCAPS has grown 20% each year and will serve students in the 2019/20 school year. This authentic learning model for students is also emerging as an economic driver for business and industry. Student demand as well as feedback from parents, educators, and business stakeholders indicates this approach to secondary education will continue to grow to satisfy the need to equip students effectively for future careers.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

The cooperating school districts of the Northland CAPS program are seeking a dynamic individual to fulfill the role of executive director. The ideal candidate will have experience in both private business and public education and possess the following key capabilities:

• Missouri certification in Administration preferred.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Teaching and administrative experience preferred.
• Demonstrates effective human relations and communication skills.
• Collaboration, particularly as needed to engage diverse stakeholders in problem-solving around a common purpose.
• Leadership, including the ability to identify and motivate talent to deliver exceptional learning experiences.
• Drive for results.
• Ability to bridge the unique cultures of business and education and identify common value proposition for both as outcome of the NCAPS program.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate or acceptable.

 

The Executive Director of Northland CAPS will report to a nine member board comprised of local industry leaders and participating school superintendents.  The Executive Director is employed by the consortium’s Fiscal Agent, North Kansas City School District and includes benefits dependent on the candidates’ certification and credentials.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Program Development & Evaluation
  • Define career strand offerings in partnership with economic development and business leaders and the Board
  • Oversee CAPS curriculum including R & D for future curriculum and program innovations.
  • Manage and progressively monitor strand effectiveness according to established success metrics and adjust accordingly.
• Stakeholder Relationship Development and Management
  • Develop and maintain member school partnerships, advocating for NCAPS as an essential component of secondary education.
  • Recruit, develop, and retain business partners ensuring curriculum input and relevance, mentorship, internship, and other gifting of assets and/or financial support.
  • Develop and manage effective parent communication strategies.
• Leadership and Management
  • Establish professional culture expectations and an environment of collaboration, transparency, and accountability for all who engage with NCAPS.
  • Recruit, train and retain NCAPS instructors and guest instructors to ensure program quality and future succession plans.
  • Manage and evaluate NCAPS staff and instructors.
  • Develop NCAPS instructors and guest instructors based on instructional effectiveness assessments.
• Program Operations
  • Establish annual financial budget and manage within board guidelines.
  • Manage student enrollment and application processes including recruiting and marketing activities.
  • Oversee internship as well as curriculum components of the program.
  • Establish and maintain highly effective methods of student assessment informed by real-world expectations.
  • Establish and oversee post-secondary relationships to meet dual credit and matriculation expectations.
  • Be the ‘face of the program’, providing marketing and informational presentations to stakeholders and interested external parties in support of board-developed Strategic Goals.
• Student Development
  • Manage the student body in the adherence to NCAPS Business Ethics Expectations, implementing disciplinary actions as needed.
  • Oversee implementation of the Northland CAPS Professional Skills training and certification for students.

 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

This position requires strong written and verbal communication skills. The individual who holds this position will:

• Possess sufficient reading skills to interpret educational, scientific and technical journal articles, financial reports, Board policy, governmental guidance and regulation and legal documents.
• Have listening skills sufficient to receive inquiries and complaints and respond appropriately.
• Be able to make effective presentations to the Board, staff and community.
• Have the ability to do basic mathematic calculations and apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
• Be able to define problems, collect data, verify facts, make valid conclusions and deal with abstract concepts.
• This position requires basic skills in the use of computers and hand-held devices such as PDAs and phones.

 

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:                                                     The individual who holds this position is regularly required to walk, hear and speak and must have close moderate and distance vision ability. This individual must be able to travel between district facilities. The position requires a moderate amount of travel within the state.

 

 

CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT:                         The work environments are consistent with typical office/school, hospital, and manufacturing environments.

 

 

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:                                           Salary and twelve-month work calendar to be established by the Board.  Benefits according to North Kansas City Schools Board policies. 

 

 

FLSA:                                                                                     Exempt

 

 

RETIREMENT:                                                                    Public School Retirement System (PSRS)

 

 

CLEARANCES:                                                                    Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

 

 

EVALUATION:                                                                    Performance of this job will be evaluated by the Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies Board.