Director and Principal – University Laboratory High School

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for the position of Director and Principal at University Laboratory High School, a five-year, selective admission, public, laboratory school that is a unit of the University. As the leader of University Laboratory High School, the Director will provide strategic and educational leadership towards achieving the laboratory mission and the vision of the school as aligned with the overall mission of the University of Illinois and will have final responsibility for all aspects of the operation of the school. This position is a 100% full-time, benefits- eligible, Academic Professional position. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications, and the start date will be June 2021.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit go.illinois.edu/EEO.

The main responsibilities for the Director will be:

• Promoting and upholding the University Laboratory High School's mission to enhance the lives of young people through innovative learning, discovery, and public engagement, in all aspects of the school's operation.
• Sustaining and building upon the school's current and longstanding success through the fulfillment of its vision of striving towards (a) excellence in student achievement, broadly construed, (b) impact through transformational curriculum, pedagogy, and research, and (c) leadership in public engagement and citizenship in the local community, state, and beyond.
• Strategically guiding and overseeing the administrative, academic, budgetary and fundraising operations ensuring state, federal, and university compliance with all policies, rules, and regulations.
• Financial responsibility includes administering state and federal grant programs; presenting the Annual Budget Review and multi-year projections to the Provost Office; preparing the annual report for the Executive Committee, Uni Advisory Board, and school community; collaborating with the Business Manager in the monitoring of financials and department budgets; and working with the Advancement Office to identify and secure funding support, both annual and capital, for the school.
• Providing instructional leadership including collaborating with the Executive Teachers and Swanlund Human Resources to oversee the successful recruitment, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, retention, and evaluation of faculty and staff; directing the annual review process of programs; overseeing and implementing recommendations in the affected departments and ensuring continued compliance; and supporting ongoing professional development of faculty and staff.
• Championing the needs of the school to campus, the local community, and to the state of Illinois. Working with stakeholders to develop and implement a systematic long-range planning process that is consistent with student and school needs such as facility improvement plans, implementing culturally responsive programs, and ensuring equitable access to services.
• Leading or participating as needed in committees; team or university meetings which include but are not limited to technology, curriculum, labor, advancement, administrative and executive committees; the Uni Advisory Board; and the Uni Alumni Association. The Director also serves as a liaison with the PFO Board, Multicultural Parents Advisory Group, the Uni Faculty Organization, and other community agencies as needed.
• Cultivating an environment that promotes inclusion, equity, respect, positivity, unity, integrity, trust, belonging, and collaboration among the faculty, staff, students, parents, and community partners.

The committee is seeking candidates who demonstrate the following -

Required qualifications:

A Master's degree in an appropriate field of study related to, but not limited to, secondary education or school leadership is required. Candidates will currently hold or will be willing to obtain State of Illinois administrative certification. Candidates will be a proven leader with strategic aptitude; superb management skills; and a commitment to and proven record of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. They must have the ability to facilitate resolution of complex interpersonal issues. Candidates must have a proven record of successful leadership in a secondary educational setting either in administrative roles with substantial oversight responsibility or in teaching roles. Candidates must have demonstrated achievement and experience working with secondary students from a broad range of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, candidates must have notable experience and affinity for developing new educational programs or curricula, particularly for secondary-level students.

Preferred qualifications:

A PhD or EdD degree in an appropriate field of study related to, but not limited to, secondary education or school leadership. Is preferred. Knowledge and a proven record of ability in fiscal management is strongly preferred; as is knowledge of the use of technology for teaching and learning; of college access issues, practices, programs, and resources; and of programs to support student mental health. A demonstrated record of training, experience, and success in engaging in critical conversations is preferred.

Inquires, Nominations, and Applications are invited:

Nominations should be submitted to provostsearches@illinois.edu and include the name and contact information of the individual being nominated.

To ensure full consideration, please complete your candidate profile at jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of interest, resume/CV, and three professional references, including contact information by October 29, 2020.

Interviews may be conducted before the closing date, although no hiring decisions will be made until after the search has closed. The start date for this position is June 2021. For further information about this position, please contact Laura Bleakney at llbarta@illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.