| Position Title: |
Associate Director of Charter Schools |
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| Location: |
Big Rapids (Main Campus) |
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| Department: |
31100 - Charter Schools
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| Advertised Salary: |
$85,000 - $95,000. Salary commensurate with education, experiences, and other requirements. |
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Benefits:
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Comprehensive benefits package (health care, vacation. etc.). Please see the following link for a list of benefits offered with this position.
Admin / Admin Temp Benefit Plans
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| FLSA: |
Exempt |
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| Temporary/Continuing: |
Continuing |
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| Part-Time/Full-Time: |
Full-Time |
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| Union Group: |
N/A |
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| Term of Position: |
12 Month |
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| At Will/Just Cause: |
At Will |
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| Summary of Position: |
Under the direction of the Director of Charter Schools, the Associate Director of Charter Schools will provide leadership and administrative support to advance Ferris State University’s goals related to its charter school authorizing responsibilities. This full-time, in-person position, based on the Big Rapids campus, is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the academic and contractual performance of the University’s 23 authorized public-school academies.
The Associate Director will collaborate with Charter Schools Office (CSO) staff to establish academic performance goals, develop assessment and monitoring strategies, and implement data-driven reporting methods to ensure transparency and continuous improvement. This position will be responsible for coordinating reporting processes aligned with state and national accreditation requirements. The role also includes regular in-state travel to meet with academy leadership, support student success initiatives, promote dual enrollment opportunities, and strengthen partnerships that connect charter schools with Ferris to help increase university enrollment.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including school leaders, boards, and community members. This position requires sound critical thinking, the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines, and a high degree of professionalism when navigating complex or sensitive situations. Experience working collaboratively with individuals from varied backgrounds.
The anticipated start date for this position is August 2025. However, this is an estimated date and can be revised if needed. |
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| Position Type: |
Staff |
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| Required Education: |
Master’s degree in educational field. |
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| Required Work Experience: |
Five years in school leadership role; demonstrated successful experience with managerial and organizational responsibilities in K-12 education.
Experience working effectively with diverse students, faculty, staff, and community members. |
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| Required Licenses and Certifications: |
A current valid driver’s license. |
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| Physical Demands: |
- Office Environment
- Reaching
- Sitting
- Twisting
- Driving
- Repetitive movement
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| Additional Education/Experiences to be Considered: |
Ph.D. or Ed.D. in appropriate discipline.
Experience working with charter schools. |
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| Essential Duties/Responsibilities: |
• Represent the University in official charter school functions and provide guidance to the Charter Schools Office (CSO) in the Director’s absence or as assigned.
• Supervise, train, and support assigned CSO staff, ensuring compliance with Ferris State University (FSU) policies and applicable laws.
• Assist in setting and implementing departmental goals aligned with the CSO strategic plan.
• Be familiar with academy performance using CSO School Support protocols and collaborate on strategic interventions for schools in need of support.
• Lead the team responsible for accreditation, including continuous improvement planning and the MDE Assurances Audit process.
• Participate in meetings and updates with school improvement teams and the MDE regarding accountability initiatives.
• Participate in charter application reviews, mid-contract reviews, and reauthorization site visits.
• Coordinate the collection and analysis of data for oversight and reporting, including the Contract Performance Reports, Authorizer Accountability Report, and Annual Portfolio Report.
• Assist in the creation of professional development programs for CSO staff, Academy Boards, and academy personnel.
• Make presentations to academy Boards and local, state, or national organizations as appropriate.
• Travel to FSU-authorized academies and work extended or varied hours as needed to represent the CSO.
• Operates university motor or personal vehicles safely while carrying out job responsibilities.
• Maintain strong partnerships with internal FSU departments and external organizations such as the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers (MCCSA) and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with FSU-authorized academies, including Boards of Directors, administrative staff, and educational service providers, as appropriate.
• Support initiatives that strengthen academy partnerships, promote dual enrollment, and increase Ferris student enrollment and retention, including statewide student success hubs.
• Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
• Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty and staff to thrive authentically.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold University and departmental standards.
• Perform any other duties assigned within the position classification area.
• Reports directly to the Director of Charter Schools. |
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| Marginal Duties/Responsibilities: |
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| Skills and Abilities: |
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively engage a wide range of stakeholders and diverse audiences.
• Sound critical thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to respond quickly and appropriately to complex or sensitive situations.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, manage multiple responsibilities, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated highly effective managerial and organizational skills
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| Required Documents: |
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Unofficial Transcript 1
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| Optional Documents: |
Unofficial Transcript 2 |
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| Special Instructions to Applicants: |
Unofficial Transcript 1 (Required): Applicants must attach a copy of unofficial transcripts of Master’s degree in educational field.
Transcript 2 (Optional): If you have a Ph.D. or Ed.D. in appropriate discipline please attach a copy of unofficial transcripts.
Transcripts must include the following: institution name, applicant name, date degree attained, degree awarded. Finalist will be required to submit official transcript(s) to Human Resources as part of their onboarding process. |
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Initial Application Review Date:
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July 14, 2025 |
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| Open Until Position is Filled?: |
No |
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Posting Close Date:
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July 11, 2025 |
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| EEO Statement: |
Ferris State University, an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, is committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity within its community. Ferris offers employment opportunities to qualified candidates seeking careers in a student-focused environment that values opportunity, collaboration, diversity and educational excellence. Learn more about the Ferris Mission and community at ferris.edu. The University actively seeks applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. For more information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit: Ferris Non-Discrimination Statement. |
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Click here to learn more about working at FSU and KCAD. |
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