DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PROJECTS chez undefined

The mission of Children’s Museum Houston (CMH) is to improve the trajectories of children in Greater Houston through innovative, child-centered learning.

For more than four decades, Children's Museum Houston has supported student achievement, empowered parents, and ignited a life-long love of learning. We are consistently rated as one of the top children's museums in the nation. Our programming serves more than 900,000 participants annually at the Museum, at the Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center, and at the 270+ outreach locations across Greater Houston. We welcome families with offerings that include exhibits, a performing arts series, a full slate of cultural programming, science activities led by degreed educators, and weekly Free Family Nights. 

Job Summary:

To function as a learning organization that advances the learning of children, we must test, refine, and bring to scale new innovations that meet the needs and interests of today’s families. In light of this, the Museum requires leaders who are idea generators, intense collaborators toward common goals, and flexible professionals who can exercise the capacities of our organization and our city to their greatest potential. This work requires involvement by leaders across the organization. The Director of Strategic Projects serves as a CMH leader with the specific purpose of shepherding new small and large initiatives from infancy into integration within the Museum’s operation. In addition to new initiatives, at times this work will include examining existing approaches and revising them toward greater efficiency and/or impact or engineering their retirement to enable other initiatives to begin and grow. The Museum’s strategic plan provides a high-level blueprint for these actions as steered by the CEO and Board Subcommittees.  

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advance the impacts of the Museum by leading the development and launch of new education-focused initiatives and related partnerships.  
• Improve the Museum’s offerings by assessing their efficacy and leading staff teams to make successful adaptations. 
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Community Impact and program managers to use data from program evaluation to make decisions for improving small to large aspects of our work.
• Serve as the expert and team leader for the Museum’s literacy integration, literacy leadership, and initiatives for visitors with special needs. This includes close collaboration with the Director of School Services and Training to pursue internal staff and external teacher professional development in literacy learning engagement.
• Work with the Chief Strategy Officer to support the CEO in actions that help stakeholders understand and advance the Museum’s work. This involves using professional writing skills to compel others to become CMH ambassadors, partners, and funders, requiring close collaboration with the Communications and Development departments.
• Help build the credibility and capabilities of the Museum and its partners by attending and supporting local events as a CMH ambassador, leader, and educator.
• Collaborate with others cross-functionally across the Museum staff to understand and advance our collective efforts, especially when these efforts extend, expand, renew, and begin new work.
• Duties also include leadership roles and tasks not specifically mentioned here that are relevant to the overall essence of this position. 

Skills and Qualifications:

• Superb communication skills including professional and technical writing, speaking in front of large audiences, and the communication styles and modes needed for success in today’s multi-generational workplace.
• Facility with all common PC software used in offices including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint in addition to an ability to adopt the use of new technologies as needed such as Monday.com and budgeting software.
• A well-developed perspective of relentless success that also considers the needs of collaborators and audiences as factors deeply influencing approaches.

Education:

• Doctorate (or all but dissertation - ABD) in the field of education or related.
• Specialization in one or more learning domains critical to the Museum’s educational leadership and service.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of senior leadership within organizations focused on improving children’s learning trajectories.
• Proven excellence in partnership generation, maintenance, and nurturing for mutual benefits.
• Serving as a master teacher, teacher of teachers, and coach and model for others who are less experienced professionals. Must include literacy as a domain of expertise.
• Working with diverse audiences for the benefit of children, including age, gender, cultural background, income, and learning differences.

We believe in creating an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion, without bias. We know we are better when we are developed, engaged, and able to bring our whole authentic selves to work. Our people are trusted experts. We invest in the health and well-being of our workforce, train and reward talent, and develop leaders at all levels to bring out the best in each other. 

 We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.