Product Director

What We Do

The Harmony Academy at National University (NU) launched in 2014 with a mission to create positive societal change by centering relationships through our programs for students, training for educators, and supports nonprofit leaders. The center is comprised of three major initiatives:

• Harmony Curriculum: the largest of our three programs, Harmony Curriculum is a social and emotional learning (SEL) program for pre-K-6 grade students designed to foster communication, connection, and community both in and outside the classroom and develop young people into compassionate and caring adults. https://www.harmonysel.org/
• Harmony Professional Learning: our mission is to empower educators with research-based knowledge and classroom-tested tools and practices, so they can inspire students to achieve academic and social success. Harmony Professional Learning offers more than 80 no-cost, on-demand courses to support teacher training in the areas of social and emotional learning and inspirational instruction in the pre-K-12 classroom. https://www.inspireteaching.org/
• Fundraising Academy: we prepare nonprofits and their fundraisers for greater, measurable impact by providing learning opportunities designed to enhance their cause, their communities, and the world. Through peer-to-peer instruction, our participants develop time-tested, relationship-building skills they can apply to their organizations now and in the future. https://www.fundraising-academy.org/

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

NU is breaking barriers in education. We are united in our mission to build a better future for our 45,000 students and more than 5,000 employees. Along with our 190+ career-relevant degree programs and innovative four-week course structure, we also provide meaningful support services designed to help our students succeed in the classroom, at work, at home, and beyond; and prioritize our employees’ well-being and growth.

The Harmony Academy is an extremely unique organization within NU – we see ourselves as an entrepreneurial start-up business thriving within a large academic institution. Since our launch, we have helped over 30,000 schools, serving 18M students across 88 countries, to develop strategies that benefit children socially, emotionally, and educationally. The COVID pandemic has increased our mission’s urgency, accelerating our rate of innovation and transition to a fully digital platform.

The Product Director will report to Dr. Nick Yoder, Associate Vice President of Whole Human Education & Research for the Harmony Academy at NU. Over the past two decades, Dr. Yoder's expertise in integrating social, emotional, and academic development into educational policy and practice has been pivotal. His work is marked by a commitment to equitable whole-child development, underpinned by a strong foundation in research and data to improve educational outcomes. Prior to joining Harmony Academy, Dr. Yoder was the Director of Policy and Practice at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), a principal/senior technical assistant consultant at the American Institutes for Research, a pre-service instructor and field coach at the University of Michigan, and a first-grade teacher in Chicago Public Schools.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary – $100,000 - $108,000
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match
• PTO: 10 paid days off, 96 hours paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, plus winter recess
• Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts
• Emotional and mental health benefits

LOCATION

This is a fully remote position that will require travel 4-5 days per month.

POSITION SUMMARY

We have created the new Product Director position to help Harmony and National University (NU) equip youth and adults with the social and emotional skills required to succeed in education, career, and life. This role embodies innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in education. Specifically, the Director will spearhead product development efforts for the National Center of Whole Human Education & Research, and lead the development of professional learning, coaching, and strategic engagement agenda across the Academy, collaborating closely with senior leadership at Harmony Academy and NU. Responsible for deepening and executing innovative solutions and product development in the K-12, out-of-school time, global and consumer markets, the Director will serve on the business senior leadership team, leading the product and content efforts, driving national-level initiatives, forging impactful partnerships and ensuring all content and products align with evidence-based practices. The Director will play a vital role in strategic planning and building and mentoring a team of up to five direct reports, including the Sr. Manager of User Experience.

Priorities in the first 12 months:

• Deliver the first phase of the consumer product to market and define the second phase of consumer product development.
• Create a robust process for Harmony Academy to adapt its products to the global market after its initial pilot with global partners.
• Create additional pathways for adults to engage with Harmony Academy’s professional learning and services in NU’s other offerings for adult education.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide product strategic direction, content oversite, and conceptual leadership, in collaboration with Academy staff, in new products and professional learning consistent with donor-established/contractual obligations, the strategic direction of the multiple markets, and current research and best practices.
• Create product roadmaps, from conceptualization to execution, in partnership with content, technology, marketing, sales, and implementation teams.
• Develop a system of support, creating coherent professional learning, coaching, and special events that integrate Harmony Curriculum, Professional Learning, and Coaching, including connections and pathways into NU.
• Lead content revision for Harmony Curriculum, Professional Learning, and Coaching, including teacher and leader certificates, and credential-rich pathways into NU.
• Collaborate with the data and infrastructure team on technology and data systems needed for product, professional learning, and coaching.
• Lead the continuous improvement of Harmony Professional Learning and Coaching based on district and educator needs.
• Partner with the Research Director to determine impact measurement tools, track outcomes, and report findings; evaluate the Harmony Curriculum, Coaching, and Professional Learning.
• Collaborate with the sales and professional learning teams to identify needed content, product, professional learning, and coaching needs.
• Provide training and support with the sales and professional learning teams on new and emerging content, product, professional learning, and coaching supports.
• Provide oversight into specific events and projects that provide deeper engagement, including, but not limited to, webinars, advisory groups (national and teacher), and content for conferences.
• Partner with senior leadership team in market analysis of consumer market segments.
• Lead content of products for new market segments (e.g., families).
• Partner with other subject matter experts to help customize, develop, or adapt current and new products and professional learning.
• Engage with NU and other senior leaders to ensure alignment of SEL-related content across programs and NU.
• Develop and implement innovative ideas and creative solutions utilizing data-driven decision insights.
• Ensure products, professional learning, and partnerships reflect a vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
• Review content, products, and materials to ensure they align with evidence-based practices.
• Lead, motivate, and guide the team to ensure alignment with NU’s mission, vision, values, and departmental objectives, while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages innovation and creativity.
• Establish performance standards and expectations for team members and the team while providing regular feedback and coaching to support employee development and improve performance.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• Strategic understanding of product development for consumer markets, ideally in K-12 education; deep experience with agile product development methods, and cross-functional project management.
• Strong project management and continuous improvement skills; expertise in data collection and evaluation in community-based settings.
• Experience working in a technology-driven enterprise is desirable.
• Competent in training and managing teams effectively.
• Excellent communication skills with diverse audiences, emphasizing clarity and precision.
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communication, education, psychology, or related field required.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

All employees and new hires are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 unless otherwise exempted.