Vice President, Education

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 20,000 Members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM related fields. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in life and physical sciences, the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us online at 

JOB TITLE: Vice President, Education
DEPARTMENT: Education
REPORTS TO: CEO/CBFO

SUMMARY:
The Vice President (VP) of Education is a key member of the Academy’s leadership team and is responsible for overseeing the strategy, development, execution, promotion, and growth of all education programs. The VP leads a portfolio of both local and international in-person and virtual STEM education initiatives, manages a high-performing team, and drives program innovation through the integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and educational and workforce trends. This role is central to expanding the Academy’s impact, ensuring program excellence, and securing the financial sustainability of its education programming. The Education portfolio offers students around the globe the unique opportunity to collaborate directly with scientists in addressing real-world problems and includes:

• STEM City : Local mentoring and teaching programs in the NYC region, both during and after the class day.
• Virtual Programs : Global innovation challenges delivered via a digital platform.
• Professional Learning : Career development, fellowships, internships, and member engagement for STEM professionals

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Mindfully develop and grow a high-impact portfolio of education programs that serve Pre K–12 students, higher education learners, and STEM professionals.
• Work closely with CEO and CBFO, other Academy leadership, internal stakeholders, and the Board to define and execute education strategy, including setting financial and programmatic goals and establishing and tracking key performance metrics related to educational reach, engagement, learning outcomes, and funder satisfaction.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Education team to ensure performance, collaboration, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Ensure all programs are grounded in sound pedagogy; respond to market and funder developments, such as the emergence of AI; and meet rigorous quality standards.
• Collaborate with fundraising and business development teams to develop proposals with the goal of securing funding. Participate in the identification and cultivation of funding sources in close partnership with teams and leaders across the Academy. Ensure funder outcomes as described are met and program goals are accomplished.
• Take ownership of departmental profit and loss statement, aligning resource allocation with strategic priorities.
• Have a thorough understanding of the STEM education landscape, including current trends, and represent the Academy externally, serving as a visible thought leader in the field, particularly in education technology, education policy, and AI.
• Engage with the Board of Governors to support and advance the Education department’s long-term vision and success.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitor trends in education research, technology, and policy to inform program innovation and continuous improvement.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to grow the Academy’s programs, commercialize educational assets, and build strategic partnerships with both funders and other organizations.
• Ensure effective cross-departmental collaboration to integrate education initiatives with other Academy programs, as appropriate.
• Promote and protect the Academy’s brand and reputation through high-quality programming and strong stakeholder engagement.
• Represent the Academy at external events, conferences, and media engagements related to education and adjacent fields such as workforce development.
• Guide the development of scalable digital and AI-enhanced tools to extend the reach and impact of the Academy’s education programs.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
The VP directly supervises staff leading the STEM City, Virtual Programs and Professional Learning teams (approximately 3 direct reports). The VP is responsible for guiding team strategy, managing performance, supporting professional development, and ensuring alignment across all Education programs. The role also provides indirect supervision to staff across the Education department and may oversee consultants and contractors who support program design and delivery.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in education, including 5+ years in a senior management role; experience in pertinent areas such as STEM, nonprofit, ed tech, workforce development, or global education initiatives strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to secure funding for and scale high-impact education programs while maintaining quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Experience working with the New York City Department of Education and Department of Youth and Community Development preferred.
• Strong knowledge of STEM education in New York, nationally, and globally.
• Experience setting strategy, developing educational programs/products, and leading implementation.
• Skill in managing teams, contractors, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated success building partnerships with schools, universities, and community organizations and facilitating cross-sector partnerships (academia, industry, government, philanthropy).
• Excellent project management, communication, personnel management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong desire to grow programs and the ability to both set and realize strategic direction.
• Ability to travel up to 10%, including internationally.

WORK SCHEDULE:
The Academy operates during standard business hours Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm ET. Standard work week is 35 hours, unless otherwise noted.

The Academy offers a flexible hybrid work model, which includes a combination of in-office and remote work. Specific in-office days are determined in coordination with the team and leadership. Flexibility is offered where possible, but regular in-person collaboration is required to support team effectiveness and project goals.

This role requires up to 10% travel , which may include both domestic and international destinations. Travel is typically scheduled in advance and may be required for meetings, conferences, training, or project support .

This position is primarily sedentary and performed in a professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment, including computers, phones, photocopiers, and video conferencing technology. Employees are regularly required to sit or stand for extended periods, communicate effectively, and occasional walking, bending, or lifting of light items (up to 10 pounds) may be required.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
Salary Range: $150,000 – $175,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-exempt position.
The stated salary range reflects the expected compensation for this role based on the Academy’s good-faith estimate at the time of posting. Final salary will be determined at the time of hire and will depend on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and other job-related factors.

In addition to salary, the Academy offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes affordable health insurance, retirement plan with matching employer contribution, personal & career development stipend as well as liberal paid time off policies.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications must include a resume, cover letter and salary requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The New York Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination, on the basis of any legally protected characteristic. This includes, but is not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Academy is also committed to making good faith efforts to recruit applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, including those historically underrepresented in the sciences

Reasonable Accommodations
The Academy is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. If you need assistance or accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]