Director, South County Regional Occupational Program
The Position
The Director, South County Regional Occupational Program, reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services and provides leadership in the operation, management and administration of instructional programs designed to meet the pre-vocational needs of high school students; outlines, fosters, and evaluates educational programs achievement of standards; advocates for and models responsible budget management and resource allocation, and identifies alternative funding sources; encourages all levels of staff to participate in the design, implementation and assessment of program goals, procedures, enhancements and areas for growth; selects, develops, and evaluates the performance of County Office instructional staff and other professional support staff; ensures that all facets of the program are in compliance with applicable federal, state and local educational regulations; and cultivates innovation as well as integration and effective implementation of meaningful curricula for all students served.
Professional Skills & Abilities
In addition to an unswerving commitment to public education, the ideal candidate has:
The ability to demonstrate creativity and foster accountability and enthusiasm in operating educational programs;
The ability to coordinate program operations within three school districts, a COE and a community college;
Knowledge of the California Education Code, especially as it applies to ROC/Ps;
Knowledge of current educational trends and research, including standards and career paths into higher education;
The ability to work as a member of highly-energized teams, characterized by honest and open communication, mutual respect, and commitment to the organization as a whole;
Mastery skill in developing cooperative relationships with legislative bodies and advocates and agents of the California educational system and related agencies;
Skill and experience in shared decision-making as a leadership style;
Mastery skill in matters of personnel and staff management, resource allocation, and the application of negotiated agreements;
Proven fiscal management skills as well as strong public relations skills and the ability to project a strong public service image for SCROP; and
The ability to act as an agent of change.
Qualifications
Required Certification, Education and Experience:
Must have a Masters degree from an accredited college or university; must possess a valid California Supervision or Administrative Services credential, and a valid California driver's license.
Candidates must have at least five years of successful, increasingly responsible program management experience involving the provision of superior comprehensive and vocational instructional and student programs; responsibility for the supervision, evaluation and staff development of large numbers of professional and support staff; contract negotiation, administration, and grievance resolution; management consultation, education and problem solving; experience in instructional leadership and curriculum development; and successful experience in developing partnerships with the business community.
Personal Characteristics:
The Office is seeking a candidate who is sensitive to diverse viewpoints and experiences; who has the ability to inspire trust, confidence and enthusiasm, and is willing to take risks to achieve administrative excellence; who has a sense of humor; who has exemplified the highest professional and ethical standards and behavior; and one who is a consensus-builder and team player and who has a great desire for organizational excellence.
Salary & Benefits
The Director, North County Regional Occupational Program is compensated at for a 12-month, $70,175 to $89,563 annually (depending on qualifications); plus an annual stipend of $1,200 for a Master's degree or $2,000 for an earned doctorate. The Office provides 22 vacation days, 14 paid holidays, and 12 days of sick leave per year, as well as income protection, life insurance, and excellent health, dental, and vision care plans.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit a letter of application, a completed application form; a résumé; proof of Master's degree and three recent letters of recommendation (or an up-to-date placement file) a copy of the required credential or affidavit of credential application at the application deadline (or, if not in possession of the required credential, copies of all pertinent college transcripts); to:
Laura Kidwiler, Assistant Superintendent
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Human Resources Branch Mail Code 264
1290 Ridder Park Drive
San Jose, CA 95131-2398
408/453-6820
Applications and all supporting materials must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on December 18, 1998. Postmarks will not be accepted.
Selection Procedure
Application materials will be screened by a committee which will select the best-qualified candidates to be invited to an interview.
Initial interviews will be conducted by a panel of community leaders and educational administrators who will evaluate job-related abilities and recommend candidates for a second interview.
A final selection will be made, following the second interview, by the Superintendent of Schools or her designee. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin employment on or around February 3, 1999.
The Community
Situated between the San Francisco Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountain Range, Santa Clara County extends south to the city of Gilroy and north to Palo Alto. With nearly 1.6 million residents, it is one of the largest counties in California. Prime attractions of the area are its Mediterranean climate, easy access to mountain peaks and ocean beaches, nationally-acclaimed universities, and many cultural, economic and educational resources.
Once agriculturally-based, the county has emerged as the industrial and technological center known as Silicon Valley.
The County Office
The Santa Clara County Office of Education is a champion for public education, serving as an exemplary regional resource to students parents, districts, agencies, and businesses. The Office serves students by working in tandem with the county's 37 public school and community college districts. Furthermore, the COE's Commitment 2000 Long-Range Plan outlines a new direction for the Office that will place it in the forefront of educational reform.
The Santa Clara COE is looking for proven leaders to join us in our effort to define the COE's role in public education, develop the Office's ability to provide high-quality, high-value, mandated and contracted services to schools. and guide the COE team to find better ways to meet the needs of the people we serve.
With a staff of 1,400 people and an annual budget of over $100 million, the Santa Clara COEs provides services that reach more than 250,000 public school students and their families.