Director of Professional Learning

ABOUT COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS  

Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CISTN) is a nonprofit that partners with K-12 public schools to surround students with a community of support empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. As part of the CIS national network, CISTN achieves this mission by placing program managers in schools across the state to provide school-wide interventions and case managed services for students in need. With a budget of $13M, in academic year 2026-27 we will support 98 employees in 74 schools and serve  nearly 35,000students and families across Tennessee.  

To best support the students, families, schools, community partners, and our staff members involved in this work, CISTN staff and board members center all decisions, actions, and services on the following core values:  

1. Integrity –We openly share how our work is done, and we hold ourselves accountable  to the commitments we make.  
2. Empathy –  We intentionally build relationships so we can learn about people’s stories,  validate their experiences, and deepen our understanding of situations different from our own.  
3. Equal Opportunity –  We identify and work towards removing barriers, so everyone has the opportunity to achieve.
4. Authenticity –  We create space for the people we work with, and for, to be their truthful, complete selves without judgement.  
5. Collaboration –  We bring people together to plan and take action in our work, understanding we make lasting  change in partnership with one another.  

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES  

The  Director of Professional Learning   leads the design,  implementation,   a nd continuous improvement of Communities  In Schools of Tennessee's (CISTN)  statewide   professional learning strategy for program staff . This role creates coherence and continuity across  professional learning  and development  initiatives , balancing statewide priorities with differentiated regional and local needs.  The Director of Professional Learning strategically  partners   with  the Vice Presidents of Program s and Program Directors to  develop   systems, resources, and learning experiences that strengthen program staff preparedness, effectiveness, program quality, leadership capacity, and fidelity  of implementation  of the Communities  In Schools model across Tennessee.   T his role  also  partners with the Director of  People Operations to ensure complimentary and aligned practices that support high performance.   This role  is responsible for :  

Professional Learning Strategy & Design  

• Develop and implement a comprehensive statewide professional learning strategy for program staff, including Program Directors, Program Managers, and other direct-service team members .
• Establish and  maintain a multi-year professional learning framework aligned with organizational priorities, program quality standards, and staff development needs.
• Create and maintain a coherent scope and sequence of core program-related training content to support consistent implementation of the Communities  In Schools model across all regions.
• Ensure an effective b alance  between  statewide training priorities  and  differentiated regional and local learning needs  by partnering  with VPs  of Programs  and Program Directors to  deeply  understand regional and loc al context s .
• Collaboratively d evelop annual professional learning plans and calendars   with program leadership .  

R esources &  Content  Development  

• Develop relationships with external organizations, networks, and subject matter experts to  identify emerging  research,  practices, resources, and learning opportunities relevant to program implementation and needs of students and families   in consultation with the Chief Program Officer.
• Maintain awareness of  CIS national  training and development resources,  leveraging available tools and adapting strategies and resources to CISTN’s local contexts.
• Develop and manage partnerships with external trainers, consultants, and subject matter experts, overseeing selection , contracting,  logistics , scheduling, and evaluation to deliver high-quality professional learning opportunities.
• Ensure external content aligns with organizational priorities, program standards, and staff development goals .
• Design, curate, and maintain training materials, facilitator guides, toolkits, learning resources, and implementation supports,  leveraging existing internal and external high-quality resources  when and where possible. 
• Manage programmatic professional learning resources, training documentation, and learning platforms as applicable .  

Learning Delivery & Capacity Building  

• Develop systems and processes that enable Program Directors and other leaders to effectively plan , track, and  facilitate monthly professional  learning sessions within their regions.
• Coordinate and f acilitate   regional and  statewide  professional  learning  sessions, workshops,  and  communities of practice .
• Deliver training directly when appropriate and support others in delivering high-quality learning experiences , m odel ing effective adult learning practices and  foster engaging, inclusive learning environments.  
• Build organizational capacity for effective adult learning and facilitation practices among program leaders . 
• P rovid e   consultation, coaching, facilitation support, and implementation guidance to Program Directors responsible for  facilitating professional learning.  
• Convene Program Directors and other leaders to gather feedback, share best practices, and ensure alignment of learning initiatives.  

Leadership Development & Career Pathways  

• Support onboarding through development and implementation of role-specific learning pathways for new program staff.
• Identify or create learning experiences and resources that strengthen program-specific leadership competencies, in collaboration with the  Director of People Operations .
• D evelop leadership readiness and transition supports that enable new program leaders to successfully assume their responsibilities and effectively lead teams.  
• Partner with organizational leaders and the Director of  People Operations   to develop leadership pipelines and career pathways for individual contributors and supervisors.
• Partner with program leaders to identify skill gaps and recommend targeted learning and development strategies.  

Strategic   Partnership & Organizational Learning  

• Partner with the   Chief Program Officer,  VPs  of Programs ,   and Program Directors to  identify training priorities, implementation challenges, emerging needs, and opportunities for staff development.
• Strategically partner with the Director of P eople Operations to ensure alignment and integration of professional learning with individual development planning, back-up and succession planning, and performance management.
• Collaborate   with the Data  Director  to highlight areas of  excellence,  elevat ing and  implement ing best practice sharing in professional learning contexts , as well as  identify areas for continuous improvement and informing training and development efforts.
• Advise the Chief Program Officer on programmatic professional learning for the Vice Presidents of Programs and other senior leaders .  

Program Quality & Continuous Improvement  

• Ensure professional learning initiatives support organizational goals, program quality  goals and  expectations, and continuous improvement.
• Assess training effectiveness through participant feedback, implementation data, performance indicators, and other measures of impact with support from the Director of Data and Director of People Operations. 
• Partner with program leadership   to  identify connections between professional learning investments, program  outcomes , and student outcomes.  

Candidates  residing within CISTN’s service area (all TN counties except  Memphis/ Shelby,  Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington Counties ) may be considered without requiring relocation to Nashville. Occasional statewide travel is  required . The COO and the Director of People Operations will work together to  determine arrangements for both in-person and remote work, considering the season of work and organizational needs.  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

The statements  contained   herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not  be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as  assigned including work in other  areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload .   Other duties may be assigned by the COO .  

CORE COMPETENCIES    

The core competencies for the Training & Development  Director include, but are not limited to:   

• Program Development & Implementation:  Designs, implements, and evaluates programs that align with organizational goals and meet the needs of participants.  Effectively integrates best practices, stakeholder feedback, and data-driven insights to enhance program effectiveness.  Ensures seamless execution through strategic planning, resource coordination, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Relationship Building: Develops and  maintains positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.  Utilizes effective communication strategies to engage stakeholders and advance the organization's mission. 
• Research, Measurement & Analysis : Utilizes evidence and best practices to measure progress towards strategic priorities.   Makes data-driven decisions and continuously improves data collection and analysis strategies.
• Communication Skills:   Clearly and concisely communicates technical information and data results to various audiences.  Tailors communication strategies to different stakeholders and  ensures messages are clear, consistent, and culturally responsive.
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrates a clear understanding of racial and other forms of discrimination, including but not limited to historical discrimination, that may  impact students and families and applies that understanding to work in schools and across the organization .  

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE  

• Bachelor's degree in education, organizational development, human resources, social work, public administration, or  a related field . M aster's degree preferred.
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in training, professional learning, workforce development, organizational development, leadership development, program quality, education, youth development, or a related field.
• Work experience can be substituted for those without formal education, requiring 6+ years of direct experience.  

E QUAL OPPORTUNITY  
We value your lived experience and those that have lived or  live in the communities that we serve. Should you not meet  all of the listed qualifications but feel that this position is the perfect one for you, please apply! You could be what we are looking  for and we would not want to miss the chance to meet you!   

CISTN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate  on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS  

Salary range  for this position  is $65,815-$83,771 

Benefits include:    

• Employee medical, dental, vision, short-and-long-term disability insurance premiums are 100% employer-paid, with some dependent health plans including  an employer contribution.
• Paid parental leave.  
• 15 paid vacation days, 10 sick days, 4 floating holidays, 10 other paid holidays, and an extended winter break. 
• 401(k) match up to 2%.     
• Cell phone stipend.
• Individual professional development budget and up to $1,500/year educational expense reimbursement .  

HOW TO APPLY  

Interested applicants may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter via  . Applications will be accepted star ting   June 19 , through July 1 , 2026.  

A criminal background check is  required for any candidates who are offered a position with CISTN and will be administered after an offer  of employment is made. Criminal background histories will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the position, criminal history, time, etc.