Director of Education

Company Description

Junior Achievement of Lincoln inspires and prepares young people in Kindergarten through 12th grade to develop essential work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy skills. Through volunteer-driven, experiential learning programs, the organization empowers over 27,000 students annually to realize their potential and succeed in a global economy. Supported by more than 1,000 local volunteers, Junior Achievement partners with schools to deliver impactful education.

The organization emphasizes real-world learning and aims to build thriving communities by shaping the next generation of leaders.

This role provides integrated leadership for daily operations, program delivery, and constituent experience at the JA Experiential Learning Center, including JA Biz Town and JA Finance Park. The position consolidates operational execution, educational quality, simulation management, and partner/volunteer engagement to ensure a best‑in‑class experience for students, educators, volunteers, partners, and guests. The role works cross‑functionally with development, marketing, education, and operations teams to strengthen the JA brand, ensure program fidelity, and maximize site capacity and impact.

• Serve as a key partner to the Development team in advancing fundraising goals for JA Learning Experiences and JA Student Events, including JA Biz Town, JA Finance Park, and other experiential and student-focused programs.
• Actively support cultivation, stewardship, and engagement of corporate, foundation, and individual partners by showcasing program impact, outcomes, and onsite experiences.
• Participate in donor meetings, site tours, student events, and partner engagements to strengthen relationships and drive philanthropic investment.
• Collaborate with the Junior Achievement team to support sponsorship fulfillment, partner recognition, and compelling storytelling tied to student impact.
• Identify and elevate funding opportunities connected to program growth, innovation, and capacity expansion, sharing insights and data to support proposals and asks.

• Execute, and continuously improve high‑quality JA Biz Town and JA Finance Park experiences aligned to curriculum objectives and learning outcomes.
• Ensure program implementation fidelity in alignment with JA national models, school district MOUs, and internal standards.
• Collaborate with education staff to ensure students are adequately prepared through in‑class curriculum prior to onsite visits.
• Ensure the facility remains in a constant state of operational readiness through preventative maintenance, inventory management, and troubleshooting of simulation and storefront technology.
• Track operational expenses and program materials in alignment with approved budgets.

• Steward corporate partner brands within simulations to ensure strong visibility and return on investment.
• Support partner engagement, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with schools, districts, volunteers, board members, and community partners.

• Collect and manage required program documentation, reports, and data to inform planning and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to innovate, enhance simulations, and support future program growth during non‑program days.
• Promote JA programs and mission within the community to support expansion into new markets.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support development initiatives, partner engagement, and strategic priorities.

• Serve as an expert in onsite safety and emergency procedures, prioritizing constituent safety at all times.
• Embody and model JA’s organizational culture and guiding principles.
• Demonstrate adaptability, resourcefulness, and sound decision‑making in a fast‑paced environment.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• 3–7+ years of relevant experience across education, operations, program…