Director of Culture and Learning

Description

Full-time employment

Location: Sacramento, California (Periodic Statewide Travel Required)

Reports To: Chief Learning and Programs Officer

Status: Full-Time Exempt Executive Leadership Team

Position Summary

The Director of Culture and Learning is a senior leadership role within the Programs and Learning division responsible for advancing culturally responsive pedagogy and African-centered teaching and learning across the Umoja Community Education Foundation. This role leads the design, development, and cultivation of curriculum, professional development, and organizational culture grounded in African-centered practices, ways of knowing, and ways of being.

Unlike a traditional curriculum and instruction role, this position is designed to cascade across the entire organization-shaping not only the professional development and pedagogical resources delivered to Umoja's 83+ campus communities, but also deepening the cultural grounding, ceremonial practices, and learning practices within UCEF's internal operations. The Director of Culture and Learning serves as a thought leader and practitioner who is steeped in the scholarship of the African diaspora and committed to the integration of that scholarship into every dimension of Umoja's educational mission.

Key Responsibilities

Culture and Organizational Learning
• Lead the development and facilitation of culturally responsive ceremonial practices, openings, and grounding practices for organizational events, convenings, and internal team gatherings.
• Serve as a resource and thought partner across UCEF departments on integrating African-centered principles into organizational culture, communications, and practice.
• Design and deliver professional development for UCEF staff that deepens understanding of African-centered education, culturally responsive pedagogy, and diasporic scholarship.
• Curate and recommend readings, scholarship, and resources that inform the cultural and pedagogical direction of the organization.

Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Lead the development, codification, and continuous improvement of curriculum frameworks for Umoja's signature programs, including the Summer Learning Institute (SLI), Faculty Institute, Annual Conference, regional symposia, and Student Leadership Summit.
• Develop and maintain codified objectives, outcomes, activities, and template agendas for each program component to support institutional continuity and replicability.
• Lead the Umoja curriculum committee and provide recommendations to leadership on innovative teaching and learning approaches, strategies, and technologies.
• Provide expertise on educational theory, research, and data related to serving African American and other students, with particular emphasis on culturally responsive and African-centered pedagogical practices.
• Design and produce instructional and training collateral-including lesson plans, interactive learning activities, facilitation guides, and presentations-grounded in Umoja's pedagogical philosophy.

Practitioner and Community Development
• Administer the full spectrum of strategic and operational activities related to training and development of Umoja practitioners, including strategic planning, learning impact assessment, and training evaluation.
• Lead the development of training frameworks and processes that equip campus coordinators, counselors, and faculty with culturally grounded instructional practices.
• Participate as part of the Umoja support team to provide campuses with resources, training, and technical assistance needed to strengthen their Umoja programs.
• Provide data, recommendations, and reporting related to professional development goals and outcomes to UCEF leadership.

Collaboration and Representation
• Collaborate with the Chief of Programs and Learning, Chief of Development and Communications, and other senior leaders to define and execute programming, event, and content strategies aligned with Umoja's mission.
• Participate and serve on external workgroups, committees, and partnerships on behalf of UCEF as determined by the Chief of Programs and Learning and the CEO.
• Research and identify opportunities to integrate learning technologies that expand access to resources for Umoja students, practitioners, and stakeholders.
• Maintain current knowledge in African-centered education, culturally responsive pedagogy, and related fields through ongoing professional development and scholarship.
• Keep accurate electronic records for all professional development projects and submit records and reports as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Answer the following questions and include them in your application package:

1. Timeline: What is your earliest available start date?

2. Salary: The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $115,000 annually Does this compensation align with your expectations? If not, please briefly explain.

3. Please provide the URL to your LinkedIn profile or other professional online profile that best represents your experience and qualifications.

4. Experience - Pedagogy: Describe a specific experience where you designed or facilitated a learning experience rooted in African-centered or culturally responsive pedagogy. What was the context, who was the audience, and what was the outcome?

5. Experience - Culture: Describe your experience embedding cultural practices into an organizational or institutional setting beyond the classroom. How did you approach it and what impact did it have?

6. Theoretical Framework: Which scholars or theoretical perspectives inform your work, and how does that scholarship align with Umoja's mission of educating the whole student-body, mind, and spirit-through an ethic of love and African-centered practices?

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:
• Master's degree in education, curriculum development, Africana studies, ethnic studies, cultural studies, or a closely related field. Doctorate preferred.
• At least 3 years of demonstrated experience in culturally responsive or African-centered teaching, curriculum design, or professional development, preferably in higher education or community-based educational settings.
• Deep grounding in African-centered educational philosophy, pedagogy, and scholarship, including familiarity with diasporic intellectual traditions and culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and facilitating professional development or training in multiple modalities, including in-person, hybrid, and online formats.
• Knowledge and experience applying adult learning principles and andragogical concepts.
• Experience leading or co-leading curriculum committees, faculty development programs, or similar collaborative academic structures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and comfort with learning management systems and multimedia tools.

Desired Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in African-centered education, curriculum and instruction, cultural studies, or a related discipline.
• Experience with African-centered schools, programs, or initiatives that incorporate ceremonial practices, cultural practices, and diasporic scholarship into their educational model.
• Record of scholarship, publication, or public engagement related to African-centered teaching and learning.
• Experience in the California Community College system or familiarity with Umoja's community college context.
• Ability to communicate effectively through verbal and written means with individuals, small groups, and large audiences.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to produce learning materials including facilitator guides, participant manuals, and curricular documentation.
• Experience with instructional design methodologies, storyboarding, and evaluation frameworks.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with diverse stakeholders while maintaining fidelity to Umoja's mission and values.

Benefits

Benefits

Umoja provides medical, dental and vision benefits paid at 100% for the employee. Paid holidays and a relaxed working environment and a competitive salary based on experience.

Compensation

Salary is commensurate with experience. UCEF offers a competitive benefits package. The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $115,000 annually.