Manager, Educator Certification and Licensure

Title: Manager, Educator Certification & Licensure

Location: Flexible across the U.S

Type: Full-Time

Start Date: As soon as possible

SUMMARY

Relay Graduate School of Education seeks a Manager, Educator Certification & Licensure to support our regulatory and student licensure work. The Manager, Educator Certification & Licensure work will be housed within Relay’s Regulatory & Accreditation team, reporting to the Director, Educator Preparation Compliance and partnering with program leaders, advisors, and the Student Systems team to support all students in certification-seeking programs in obtaining licensure. The Manager, Educator Certification & Licensure independently plans and executes day-to-day tasks and informs the vision and strategy for their work. This individual is integral to the day-to-day and long-term national strategy of Relay, and will ensure the necessary certification tracking and advisement needed by Relay’s teacher candidates. The Manager, Educator Certification & Licensure role is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference at a national, mission-driven institution of higher education and education preparation provider.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

For a portfolio consisting of a subset of 1-4 states (approximately 500 students) in which Relay operates as an in-state Educator Preparation Program provider:

• Serve as a subject matter expert for educator certification regulations, policies and procedures.
• Supports candidate progress towards licensure throughout the student lifecycle (admissions, enrollment, completion and alumni) by communicating requirements, documenting evidence that requirements have been met, collaborating with faculty and staff, and providing guidance for certification/licensure applications
• Serve as part of the admissions committee, reviewing and assessing applicant materials for eligibility for educator preparation program admission.
• Manage digital candidate files and maintain accurate data on certification candidates enrollment, completion and eligibility for licensure.
• Prepare, certify and submit recommendations for provisional-level and initial-level licensure and verification of program completion to appropriate state agencies.
• Create and maintain resources such as transition points guides, handbooks and Support Center articles to support the educator preparation program and licensure candidates.
• Proactively communicate state and program-specific policies and processes to students, graduates, staff, and other stakeholders; communicate policies, processes, and general licensure requirements (e.g., certification exam requirements for licensure areas, timelines, etc.) to advisors so they may effectively advise their students on requirements.
• Maintain systems for monthly communications of progress towards program completion and licensure to candidates in the portfolio,to partners, and to designated faculty and staff.
• Advise candidates on implications of changes to their enrollment or placement on licensure eligibility and timeline for program completion, as needed for candidates in the portfolio.
• Review and assess eligibility for candidates requesting a program transfer, and document educator preparation program requirements resulting from the transfer in the candidate’s support plan.
• Assist candidates with program completion verification of program completion for reciprocity purposes, as needed, for candidates who have completed an educator preparation program in the portfolio.
• Regularly communicate directly with state licensure agencies to resolve issues related to licensure, and appropriately escalate issues as necessary.
• Collaborate with the Research team and Director of Certification Data to compile, submit, and certify certification data and compliance reports, including Title II reports and other EPP reports.
• Participate, as a member of the Regulatory & Accreditation team, in institutional conversations related to educator licensure.
• Review institutional policies, publications and communications to ensure that information about educator preparation program admission and completion and licensure are accurate and up to date.
• Monitor changes to state regulations and requirements for educator preparation programs and educator licensure, synthesizing and communicating updates to appropriate stakeholders as needed.
• Represent Relay’s educator preparation programs at conferences and state stakeholder meetings, reporting updates to appropriate teams.
• Work with Marketing team to ensure that certification data is shared externally (i.e., Relay website) where required by accreditors and state and federal regulators.

QUALIFICATIONS

First and foremost, the Manager, Educator Certification & Licensure must share the Relay community’s commitment to working together to improve student growth and achievement through phenomenal teacher preparation grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This includes providing teacher preparation programs that set novice teachers up to succeed in the classroom from day one; leadership programs that train new and veteran school and district leaders to best serve their school communities; and teacher-facing professional education that provides ongoing learning to educators. Additionally, for this position we’re looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:

• A minimum 3 years of work experience, preferably with 1-2 of those years working for an educator preparation program as a Manager, Educator Certification & Licensure or EPP faculty member
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred
• Strong project management skills paired with the ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources
• The ability to thoughtfully re-prioritize and adjust workstreams when changes arise
• Ability to handle sensitive matters and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to effectively collaborate across several teams
• Acute attention to detail and a focus on efficiency
• Strong critical thinking and analytic skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Alignment with Relay’s mission
• Authorized to work in the U.S.

Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to teach students of all identities and backgrounds in order to push toward a time when this country no longer faces stark educational inequities. We recruit, develop, support, and retain a diverse staff, faculty, and graduate student body because we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution. We know, and the data supports, that diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate an environment in which people of all backgrounds can thrive and this is critical to achieving our mission of educational excellence and equity.

To fulfill that commitment, Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application!

COMPENSATION

Relay is committed to creating and maintaining a compensation and benefits system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about compensation, we will be guided by the following values: clarity, consistency, and internal equity. The salary range for this role is $74,250 to $111,375. New hires can expect their salary to be placed at the beginning of the range to allow for an equitable starting salary process and continual salary growth during an employee’s time at Relay GSE. The salary placement will be dependent on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.

To ensure internal pay equity:

• New hires are not eligible for a salary at the high end of the role’s salary range,
• All staff salaries will be capped at the salary range maximum, and
• Relay does not negotiate salary offers.

Relay offers a comprehensive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes health insurance benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, professional development, gym reimbursement, adoption assistance, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, etc. To learn more about Relay’s benefits, please visit here.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

Relay requires that all staff be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (or approved for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief). Relay abides by each state’s requirements, and acknowledges those may change over time. If moved forward to the phone screen stage, you will have the chance to ask your recruiter more about this requirement

Relay Graduate School of Education provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.