Director of Curriculum & Experiential Learning

About Us:

i.c.stars is a 25-year-old nonprofit workforce development organization dedicated to preparing individuals from underserved communities for rewarding careers in technology. With a passionate team of 35 professionals, we’re committed to bridging the gap between diverse talent and the tech industry. We find talent, train talent and place talent in rewarding careers that end cycles of generational poverty and yield long-term success.  At our core, we believe that innovation thrives when people are empowered, supported, and allowed to grow.

If you’re someone who is energized by people-first leadership and is passionate about making a lasting impact, you may want to be a part of our journey as we continue to shape the future of tech professionals.

About the Role:

The Director of Curriculum & Experiential Learning will refine and enhance program curriculum, strengthen learning in business, leadership, and technology, improve skill-based assessments, and build the program team’s capacity for effective facilitation. This role ensures high-quality learning experiences for interns and residents while equipping program teams with skills in adult learning, trauma-responsive program management, coaching, and fostering a strong feedback culture that drives transformational growth.

This director role joins a small national team charged with leading program strategy and will focus specifically on:

1. Refining Curriculum & Assessment Design: Ensuring learning experiences effectively develop intern and resident skills in Business, Leadership, and Technology.

2. Building Program Team Capacity in Leading Learning: Developing training, coaching, and systems that enable staff to lead transformational learning for adult participants.

Key Responsibilities:

Curriculum & Assessment Design (40%)

• Lead ongoing refinement of program curriculum, ensuring it is skill-based, workforce-aligned, and responsive to adult learner needs.

• Design assessments that capture intern and resident skill development, using formative and summative evaluation methods.

• Ensure curriculum integrates adaptive leadership, workforce development, and trauma-responsive practices.

• Develop and implement systems to evaluate learning effectiveness, using data and feedback to inform improvements.

Program Learning Quality & Site Visits (30%)

• Conduct site visits across Chicago, Milwaukee, and Kansas City to observe learning facilitation, provide coaching, and ensure alignment with curriculum goals.

• Create learning observation tools and rubrics to track the quality of intern and resident learning experiences.

• Lead structured debriefs with program teams, fostering cycles of continuous learning and improvement.

• Establish mechanisms for intern and resident feedback on their learning experience to guide program refinements.

Capacity-Building for Program Teams (30%)

• Develop and lead training programs for program teams on:

  • Facilitation of adult learning & experiential learning methods

  • Trauma-responsive best practices

  • Giving and receiving developmental feedback

• Establish coaching and learning structures to ensure program teams grow as leaders of learning and transformation.

• Building a strong feedback culture among program teams that drives transformational learning for interns and residents.

Skills Qualifications:

🔹 Curriculum/Program Development & Learning Design (required)

• Experience in curriculum/program development, instructional design, or leading learning for adults.

• Strong background in workforce-aligned learning design and competency-based/skills assessments.

• Experience in trauma-responsive program management and/or coaching for adult learners.

🔹 Facilitation & Capacity-Building (required)

• Experience training staff, facilitators, or leaders of learning to improve learning facilitation, coaching, and management skills.

• Strong understanding of adult learning theory, experiential learning, and adaptive leadership.

• Ability to model effective learning facilitation and provide targeted coaching.

🔹 Change Leadership & Team Development (required)

• Proven ability to lead teams through instructional and programmatic shifts. 

• Experience with adaptive leadership, coaching, and managing resistance to change.

• Experience facilitating professional development, reflective practice, and structured feedback loops for adult learners.

🔹 Program Evaluation & Data-Driven Learning Improvement (required)

• Strong background in assessment design, feedback systems, and data-driven program improvement.

• Experience conducting program evaluations, site visits, and assessment-driven learning improvements.

• Ability to translate learning experience data into actionable insights for curriculum and facilitation improvements.

🔹 Communication & Feedback Culture (required)

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate strategy into clear execution steps.

• Strong ability to give and receive developmental feedback, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree or higher in Education, Instructional Design, Organizational Leadership, Learning & Development, Workforce Development, or a related field (strongly preferred).

• OR equivalent experience in curriculum design, adult learning facilitation, workforce-aligned program development, and leadership training (required).

• Extensive professional experience in adult learning, experiential education, program design, and leadership coaching may substitute for a formal degree

Mindsets Approach:

• Growth-Minded Educator: You believe learning is transformational and are passionate about building the skills of adult learners and learning leaders.
  Adaptive Change-Oriented: You are comfortable with change management and have the skills to navigate conflict, coach teams, and create buy-in in a way that builds momentum without negotiating on the learner experience.

• Liberatory Trauma-Responsive Philosophy: You recognize that intern and resident success depends on thoughtful, inclusive, and responsive learning design anchored in liberatory practice.
  Systems Thinker: You understand how learning, program structures, and accountability systems connect to impact and use data to inform improvements.

• Galvanizing :  You know how to support people out of their comfort zone and how to inspire them to get started. You enjoy rallying people around an idea and getting them moving in the right direction.

• Tenacity in Execution :  You are task-oriented and love to take things across the finish line. You ensure a project is going to have the impact it’s supposed to and get joy and energy from checking off boxes on the “to do” list.  You are disciplined in follow-through, ensuring that curriculum, assessments, and training plans are developed and implemented effectively.

Why Join Us?

• Make an Impact: Help us shape the team that develops and prepares individuals for careers in tech. Be a part of an organization that’s making a meaningful difference in the lives of our participants, and the communities and businesses we serve.

• Growth Opportunities: We’re a dynamic, growing organization that’s committed to developing both our staff and the people we serve. You’ll have the chance to shape your role and grow professionally.

• Collaborative Environment: We pride ourselves on being a supportive, team-oriented organization where everyone’s voice is heard.

• Work-Life Balance: We value our people’s well-being, offering flexible work arrangements and a comprehensive benefits package.

• A Culture of Learning: As a team, we believe in continual growth—personally and professionally. There’s always room to learn, share ideas, and try something new.

If  you meet the minimum qualifications described above and are excited about creating a people-centric culture and driving the development of our talented team, we welcome your application. 

Location: Remote with Regular Travel to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Kansas City (travel ~30%)
Reports to: Chief Learning Program Officer, serves on National team