The Director supervises and directs all activities related to the Office of Educator Excellence and the implementation of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan. Provides overall policy leadership for the activities of the educator pipeline. Directs all activities and provide leadership in support of professional preparation, certification, and statewide educator talent development. Articulates and enacts an overall strategic vision for the MDE’s approach to strengthening Michigan’s educator workforce. Creates and sustains relationships with the field and with all relevant stakeholders, with a focus on providing excellent customer service. Manages the Office of Educator Workforce and all staff, including setting vision, managing expectations, supporting performance evaluations and developing staff. Communicates regularly with MDE Senior Leadership; other MDE offices; OEE staff; and all stakeholders. Collaborates with other offices and initiatives in the MDE, and specially provides time for all staff to collaborate as well. Sets, leads, and implements polices, and state-level activities necessary to develop a highly effective educator talent pipeline that ensures high quality instruction in every classroom and leadership in every building and district, including educator recruitment, selection, preparation, professional learning, evaluation, career pathways, retention, and recognition. Leads educator workforce efforts with management expertise, staff relations expertise, in terms of deep and current understanding of the current literature and development of best practices in professional preparation and certification; state and federal statute, regulation, rules, and policy governing educator preparation, professional learning, and certification; and rule promulgation and pragmatic constraints, to develop policies for approval and to drive intended practices in educator preparation. Plans, coordinates, and implements large-scale cross-office and cross division projects and initiatives in support of achieving the MDE’s vision and mission.

Position Description

Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in any major.

Experience
Two years of experience as a professional manager or program/staff specialist, or equivalent experience.

Education level typically acquired through completion of high school and three years of safety and regulatory or law enforcement experience at the 14 level; or, two years of safety and regulatory or law enforcement supervisory experience at the 15 level, may be substituted for the education and experience requirements.

View job specification at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/StateOfficeAdministrator_13060_7.pdf (Download PDF reader)

State employment also offers rewarding careers where you can help Michiganders enjoy better lives. Many State of Michigan jobs offer alternate work schedules and remote-work options that can help give the flexibility you need. In 2022, Forbes ranked the State of Michigan in the Top 10 of America’s Best Employers For New Grads and as the #1 employer for new grads in government services. More details on benefits for our new hires are below:

Rewarding Work: State of Michigan jobs allow you to serve Michiganders in many different ways depending on your interests and skills. Help preserve and protect our environment and the public health; enforce state laws and regulations; advocate for children, families, and victims of discrimination; support our state’s military and veterans; rebuild our state’s infrastructure; or support other state agencies through our fiscal, IT, and HR systems.

Insurance Benefits: The State of Michigan offers health, mental health, dental, and vision insurance to eligible career employees, their spouses, and their children. The state also covers a life-insurance benefit of two times employees’ annual salary (up to $200,000). The state also offers long-term-disability insurance that can provide continuing benefits if an injury or illness prevents employees from working. More information is available at www.mi.gov/employeebenefits.

Retirement Programs: The State of Michigan offers 401(k) and 457 plans for new hires to save for retirement. The state will automatically contribute an amount equal to 4% of your pay to a 401(k) account. The state will also match up to 5% of your pay if you contribute to your 401(k) account. Your contributions vest immediately, and the state’s contributions fully vest after just 4 years. More information is available at http://www.mi.gov/orsstatedc.

Vacation and Sick Leave: Eligible full-time employees receive between 15 and 35 personal days and 13 sick days per year that may be rolled over to the following year if not used. Eligible employees also receive an additional day each year for community service or school functions.

Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees can take 12 weeks of paid leave immediately after a birth or adoption to allow needed time together at home with a new child.

Paid Holidays: Eligible employees receive 13 or 14 paid holidays each year including New Year’s Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve and Day.

Bonus Programs: Eligible employees with five years of service also receive annual longevity bonuses that grow as seniority increases. Some positions also may qualify for recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses or other special pay premiums.

Military Pay Differential: Employees in the guard or reserves may also qualify for supplemental pay benefits if miliary pay during qualifying duty is less than normal state pay. Prior military service may also allow seniority credits to accelerate eligibility for longevity bonuses and additional personal leave accrual.

Tax-Advantaged Programs: In addition to 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts, the state also offers flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), and qualified transportation fringe benefit (QTFB) programs that can help you save money by reducing your taxable income.

Student Loan Forgiveness: Working for the State of Michigan may allow you to participate in programs that forgive the balance of qualifying student loans. Information to help determine if you could qualify is available from the U.S. Department of Education.

Tuition Reduction: Some colleges and universities offer savings to eligible employees and family members to further their education while working for the State of Michigan.

Professional Development: To help develop your career, programs are available to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 a year for education and training for college course credits and non-degree programs.

Alternative and Remote Work Schedules: Depending on the nature of their duties, many state jobs offer flexible work schedules and remote or hybrid telecommuting options that can help obtain the work-life balance that you seek.

Great Lakes and Great Times: Michigan boasts four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20 million acres of forests, 100 state and national parks and recreation areas, 1,300 miles of bike trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, the second-most ski areas in the nation, 650 public golf courses, 600 campgrounds, and an international dark-sky park—just for starters. Our cities offer concerts and cultural events, storied sports teams, education hubs, vibrant downtowns, one-of-a-kind craft beverages, and renowned restaurants for every appetite. From urban centers to beach towns to the great outdoors, the opportunities are endless. With your state salary and benefits and Michigan’s affordable cost of living, you can explore all that Michigan has to offer.

Updated: 11/14/2022