Director of Education
Job Description
Location: San José, California
Reports To: Founder & Executive Director
Classification: Exempt, Full-Time, 100% Onsite
Compensation Range: $105,000 - $115,000 annually
Benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid holidays and sick leave
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Position Overview
The Director of Education is a strategic and mission-driven leader responsible for advancing Amigos' educational vision and overseeing impactful youth- and family-centered educational programming. The Director brings a deep understanding of the strengths, challenges, and systemic inequities facing historically underserved communities - particularly first-generation Latino students and families in East San José - and uses that understanding to shape programs that meet families where they are.
Working in close collaboration with the Founder & Executive Director and senior leadership, the Director establishes, leads, and evaluates all of Amigos' educational initiatives, including after-school programs, summer programs, shelter-based educational services, scholarship programs, enrichment activities, and any future initiatives identified by organizational leadership. Across all of these, the Director's goal is the same: to empower students and families, improve educational outcomes, foster self-efficacy, and build pathways toward long-term academic and personal success.
Programs are built on culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and research-based practices that address systemic inequities and advance educational justice. Program areas may include academic literacy and vocabulary development, subject-matter tutoring and enrichment, social-emotional learning (SEL) support, college readiness and scholarship support, family engagement initiatives, and enrichment activities spanning sports, nutrition, and leadership - all aligned with California Common Core Standards and the evidence-based teaching practices used in local schools and community education settings.
This role requires regular in-person engagement with students, families, staff, volunteers, schools, and community partners, and is therefore 100% onsite in San Jose, California.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Program Development
The Director works closely with senior leadership to design and implement education programs that reflect Amigos' mission, values, and community-centered approach, and to develop new initiatives that respond to real needs in the community and advance educational equity. The Director integrates Amigos' two-generation (2-Gen) philosophy into programming and family engagement strategy, and uses data, assessments, and program outcomes to continuously evaluate effectiveness and drive improvement - ensuring every initiative reflects culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and research-based practice.
Program Operations & Oversight
Day to day, the Director oversees the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all education-related programs and operations, and is responsible for ensuring that students, families, staff, and volunteers experience safe, supportive, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments. This includes maintaining accurate program records, attendance systems, and data-reporting practices; ensuring compliance with organizational policy, grant requirements, mandated reporting obligations, and applicable youth-program safety standards; and managing the program materials, educational resources, equipment, and inventory that programs depend on.
Staff Leadership & Development
The Director builds, mentors, supervises, and develops a high-performing education team - including full-time and part-time staff, tutors, mentors, interns, and volunteers - and fosters a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture rooted in growth, learning, and community impact. This means providing regular coaching, feedback, training, and professional-development opportunities for instructional staff and volunteers, and partnering with the COO to address staffing, employee relations, volunteer management, and performance matters as they arise.
Community Partnerships & Engagement
The Director develops and maintains strong partnerships with schools, districts, nonprofits, funders, volunteers, and other community stakeholders, and fosters meaningful engagement with parents and caregivers through culturally responsive relationship-building and communication. When appropriate, the Director represents Amigos in educational and community-based collaborative spaces.
Financial & Administrative Management
The Director develops, manages, and monitors program budgets and expenditures, including purchase order approvals, and supports grant-related reporting, documentation, and program evaluation activities as needed. The role also includes participating in organizational meetings, trainings, Amigos events, and leadership initiatives - some of which may occasionally occur after hours or on weekends - along with other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in education, youth development, social services, or a related field
• Demonstrated success leading educational, after-school, summer, or youth development programs
• Experience supervising and developing diverse staff teams
• Experience working in historically underserved, racially diverse, and low-income communities
• Strong instructional leadership, program development, and organizational skills
• Knowledge of youth development principles, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and educational best practices
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and collaboration skills
• Valid California Driver's License
Preferred
• California teaching credential
• Spanish bilingual proficiency
• CPR and First Aid certification
• Experience collaborating with schools, government agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations
• Experience with program evaluation, outcomes measurement, and grant-funded programs
Physical Requirements
To perform the essential functions of this role, with or without reasonable accommodation, candidates must be able to communicate effectively with children, youth, families, and staff; use hands and fingers to operate technology and handle materials; sit, stand, walk, bend, and reach throughout the workday; and occasionally lift or move up to 30 pounds.
Additional Information
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all required background clearances including fingerprinting and TB test . Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment is an at-will employer.
