Job Description

Title: Leadership and Curriculum Program Specialist
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: Dean of Education
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The Leadership and Curriculum Program Specialist is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive leadership development curriculum that prepares sophomore Redbird Educator Scholars to serve as peer mentors, campus leaders, and future educators. This position develops innovative, evidence-based leadership experiences that strengthen educator identity, increase student engagement, and support persistence within teacher education.

A major responsibility of this position is developing high-quality online training modules that prepare peer mentors and support the replication of the RESP model by university partners across Illinois. Working closely with College of Education faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and peer mentors, the specialist will translate successful in-person programming into scalable digital learning experiences while ensuring fidelity to the RESP model.

The specialist also contributes to freshman RESP programming by coordinating peer mentoring initiatives, supporting academic success programming, facilitating community-building activities, and promoting student belonging throughout the first year of college.

This position plays a critical role in advancing the College of Education's strategic priorities related to student success, teacher preparation, leadership development, and educator workforce recruitment.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life

- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options

- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents

- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$4,677 monthly

Required Qualifications

1. Master's degree in Higher Education, Education, Instructional Design, Educational Leadership, Student Affairs, or related discipline.
2. Experience designing online learning using an LMS.
3. Knowledge of adult learning theory, student development theory, and Universal Design for Learning.
4. Experience creating accessible online learning.
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
6. Strong organizational, project management, and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience working with first-generation, historically underserved, or teacher education students.
2. Experience facilitating leadership development or peer mentoring programs.

Work Hours

8 am to 4:30 pm, and some evenings/weekends.

Functional Expectations

Functional Expectations: Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis with students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.

Proposed Starting Date

August 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume
Cover Letter

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Dr. Stacey Jones-Bock
sjbock@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.