Location
Summary:
TERC is a nonprofit research and development organization committed to improving the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through research, curriculum development, professional development, and evaluation. At any given time, TERC’s 100-plus employees lead more than 70 initiatives in formal and informal environments involving learners of all ages — early childhood, K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and adult education.
TERC researchers, educators, and scientists work in close collaboration with peers in schools, districts, universities, community colleges, and a host of informal education settings including science centers, museums, industry, after-school programs, libraries, and social service organizations. In 2014, TERC had $12.6M in revenue. Its products and services reached more than 3.5M students throughout the United States and more than 2,000 educators attended TERC professional development seminars and institutes.
TERC’s research and development projects are housed within the Center for School Reform (CSR), the Center for STEM Teaching and Learning (CSTL), the STEM Education Evaluation Center (SEEC), and the Education Research Collaborative (ERC), each with its own set of community practices and governance structures. TERC’s research and development work is supported by a strong infrastructure of administrative professionals.
TERC was founded in 1965 in response to the unprecedented technological and social changes that were affecting the knowledge and skills that people required to successfully participate in a democratic society. With the aim of preparing a new workforce of needed technicians and paraprofessionals, TERC began researching and developing ways to increase access for underserved populations to quality educational programs and materials. This early research emphasized collaboration with teachers and students in actual classrooms and lab settings, and the value of a “hands-on” learning experience.
These hallmarks of TERC’s early work are still the driving force behind all of its development and research endeavors. Through intense collaborations with educators, scientists, mathematicians, and students, TERC works to establish practice-based communities of learners. This force is embodied in the organization’s vision statement:
TERC imagines a future in which learners from diverse communities engage in creative, rigorous, and reflective inquiry as an integral part of their lives — a future where teachers and students alike are members of vibrant communities where questioning, problem solving, and experimentation are commonplace. This vision is grounded in the belief that science and math literacies, particularly for low-income students and students of color, are critical to strengthening and preserving a democratic society.
Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the President will work in close collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, the Board, and TERC’s staff to lead the development and implementation of a full range of strategies designed to expand TERC’s work and impact.
The President will focus on championing TERC’s work externally; foster an environment and community in which ideas and dialogue lead to new lines of work and products that advance TERC’s mission; partner closely with the CEO to ensure ongoing effective management of administration and operations; and ensure that TERC’s culture of collaboration, mutual respect, accountability, and innovation is deepened.
The President will help to engage the TERC community in intellectually and socially meaningful ways to advance our mission and expand educational opportunities for youth, educators, and community members, especially those in and from historically marginalized communities.
Qualifications:
The President will be an inspirational and highly collaborative leader with demonstrated success developing and implementing a strategic vision for an organization by working in close collaboration with a broad community of stakeholders, including staff, the Board, and external stakeholders.
S/He will have a deep understanding of the national STEM education landscape, including connections to STEM funders and a commitment to working in a close partnership with an engaged CEO, staff, and Board.
The ideal candidate will have the following personal competencies and characteristics:
Commitment to TERC Mission and Culture: The President will be deeply committed to and passionate about the advancement of STEM education for students, teachers, and wider communities, particularly traditionally underserved populations. S/He will have a strong desire to be part of a vibrant, collaborative, and intellectually rigorous culture in which teams are producing high quality, innovative products that impact the lives of millions of learners.
Vision and Leadership: The President will be a creative, inspirational leader with the capacity to understand TERC’s potential and implement a strategy for achieving it that is highly inclusive and reflective of the wealth of knowledge and expertise of TERC’s staff. The President will build genuine and productive relationships based on mutual respect and a shared vision. S/He will be driven by intellectual curiosity and the desire to mentor others and support their work to achieve TERC’s mission.
External Relations and Development: As an emerging or nationally recognized leader in STEM education, the President will bring a network of contacts and deep knowledge of current and future educational trends that will enable her/him to be an effective advocate for TERC and identify strategic growth areas aligned with TERC’s work and broader vision. The President will help to ensure sustainable, diverse funding for TERC’s work by identifying potential new supporters and collaborating closely with TERC Principal Investigators to effectively portray TERC’s vision and impact and to explore and cultivate funding streams.
Board Relations: The President will be results-oriented and able to translate TERC’s broader goals into clear objectives for the Board. S/He will leverage the Board’s strengths to further the mission of the organization and actively engage Board members in its work.
Compensation & Benefits:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.
To apply:
Koya Leadership Partners has been exclusively retained for this search, which is being led by Managing Partner Molly Brennan, mbrennan@koyapartners.com. To express your interest in this role, please submit your resume using Koya’s online system:https://koya.refineapp.com/jobPosting/apply/849
TERC is an equal opportunity employer, and is actively seeking to diversify its staff. TERC places a high priority on developing a staff that reflects the diverse communities it serves, and encourages people from all backgrounds to apply.