Associate Director of Curriculum Design & Management (...

About AscendAscend is Brooklyn's premier K-12 public charter network, committed to graduating high-achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures-not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives.Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and a deep belief in students' brilliance and potential. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long-term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture-building, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization.At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we teach, lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow.Join us in shaping learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, excellence is the norm, and every student is prepared for a lifetime of boundless choice.About the RoleAscend Public Charter Schools seeks an Associate Director of Curriculum Design & Management (K-8 Humanities) to lead the development, refinement, and operational management of Kindergarten through Grade 8 Humanities curriculum systems.Reporting to the Senior Director, K-12 Curriculum - Humanities, this leader is responsible for ensuring that K-8 Humanities curriculum materials are rigorous, intentionally sequenced, and operationally sound across all schools.Ascend's Humanities program builds cumulatively from foundational literacy and knowledge-building in the early grades to analytical reading, argumentative writing, and Regents-aligned mastery in middle school. The Associate Director ensures curriculum design and management systems support this progression with clarity, coherence, and discipline.This role strengthens vertical alignment, oversees curriculum systems across grade bands, and ensures that all K-8 Humanities materials reflect Ascend's standards for intellectual rigor and long-term academic success.Core ResponsibilitiesK- 8 Humanities Curriculum DesignLead the design and refinement of K-8 Humanities units, lesson materials, and scope & sequence documents.Ensure cumulative knowledge-building from early literacy foundations through 8th Grade Regents preparation.Strengthen progression in reading complexity, evidence-based writing, discourse routines, and historical reasoning.Curate and evaluate high-quality literary and historical texts aligned to intellectual depth and diverse representation.Ensure increasing cognitive demand across grade levels.Curriculum Systems & ManagementOversee pacing guides, assessment calendars, curriculum documentation, and artifact libraries across K-8.Lead structured revision cycles to strengthen sequencing, clarity, and academic rigor.Maintain version control and clear documentation systems across schools.Coordinate cross-grade alignment reviews to prevent conceptual gaps or redundancy.Ensure materials are organized and ready for strong classroom implementation.Assessment & Academic ProgressionDesign and manage common K-8 Humanities assessments aligned to NYS standards and network benchmarks.Ensure assessments measure comprehension, analytical writing, and content knowledge.Align assessment design to Regents expectations and long-term AP readiness.Analyze student performance data to inform curriculum refinement and improvement cycles.Coherence from Foundation to Regents ReadinessEnsure K-4 curriculum builds strong reading fluency, comprehension, writing foundations, and knowledge acquisition.Ensure Grades 5-8 intentionally prepare students for 8th Grade Regents mastery and high school Advanced Placement pathways.Partner with high school curriculum leaders to confirm middle school readiness benchmarks are accurate and aligned.Conduct curriculum audits to preserve cumulative literacy and writing progression.Cross-Functional AlignmentPartner closely with the Director, Training & Development - Humanities (K-8) to ensure curriculum intent translates clearly into classroom practice.Provide clarity to instructional leaders around pacing, text selection, writing expectations, and assessment priorities.Support network-wide curriculum launches and updates.Contribute to broader K-12 Humanities planning within the Academic Leadership Team.QualificationsRequired Experience6+ years of professional experience in K-12 education.At least 3+ years of experience in Humanities curriculum design or academic leadership.Demonstrated expertise in literacy progression, writing development, and/or history curriculum.Experience designing standards-aligned curriculum and assessment systems.Strong analytical skills and ability to use student data to inform curriculum decisions.Preferred ExperienceExperience in a high-performing charter network or centralized academic environment.Experience aligning curriculum to Regents standards and advanced coursework preparation.Experience managing curriculum systems across multiple grade levels.Advanced degree in Education, English, History, Curriculum & Instruction, or related field preferred.Leadership ProfileThe successful candidate will demonstrate:Strong literacy and/or historical content fluencyClear understanding of Regents preparation and AP trajectoryPrecision in sequencing and curriculum system managementHigh expectations for intellectual depth and writing rigorStrong project management and organizational disciplineCommitment to equitable access to rigorous Humanities instructionCompensationThe salary for this position begins at $90,000. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience and levels of attained education.Location & Work ArrangementBased in our Brooklyn, NY officeHybrid work schedule requiring in-office presence at least three days per weekIn-person work expectations include network office time, stakeholder meetings, school visits, special events, and other role-specific responsibilities as determined by management.

Created: 2026-04-02