POSITION SUMMARY:
World Relief is seeking a Director of Education, who will provide strategic and operational leadership for World Relief Memphis’ adult learning initiatives, including English as a second language (ESL), integrated course offerings, and other educational programming that equips immigrants and refugees for long-term stability and belonging. Building on the strong foundation of the Connect Language Center (CLC), this role will guide the continued growth and diversification of educational offerings across multiple channels—onsite, offsite, volunteer-led, partner-hosted, and digital.
The Director of Education fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence within the Education Department, ensuring that all programs are learner-centered, outcome-oriented, and integrated with World Relief Memphis’ holistic service model. This position reports to the Associate Director of World Relief Memphis, serves on the Memphis Leadership Team, and supervises departmental staff. The Director also collaborates closely with the Director of National Education Services at World Relief headquarters, contributing to and drawing from the national education community of practice to ensure alignment with proven models and shared learning across the network
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- This role is responsible for supervising others and includes responsibilities consistent with supervising employees, including but not limited to monitoring daily work activities, tracking and approving timesheets including approving time off, monitoring performance including entering goals, progress check-ins, and weekly or bi-weekly check-ins, documenting performance concerns, entering staff promotions, transitions, and separations in HRIS within required time frame. Managers at World Relief are also considered spiritual leaders and are expected to lead staff in a manner consistent with our Christian values, including but not limited to praying with staff, leading devotionals, and fostering a Christian environment in interactions with staff throughout World Relief.
- Leadership and Strategy
- Provide strategic leadership for the Education Department, advancing a vision for adult learning that expands beyond traditional ESL classes to include holistic, multi-channel learning opportunities.
- Translate the organization’s mission and strategic goals into a cohesive educational strategy aligned with World Relief’s national framework and local community needs.
- Serve as a member of the WRM Leadership Team, contributing to office-wide planning, culture, and cross-departmental collaboration.
- Foster a departmental culture characterized by continuous improvement, inclusion, and learner dignity.
- Hire, supervise and support Education Department staff through coaching, accountability, celebration, and professional development.
- Collaborate with the Director of National Education Services and participate in the national education community of practice to enhance WRM’s alignment with national standards, leverage shared curriculum resources, and contribute to network-wide learning initiatives.
- Program Oversight and Development
- Oversee the full portfolio of adult learning programs, including ESL classes, community workshops, and specialized educational offerings that promote stability, self-sufficiency and inclusion.
- Lead the project management and launch strategy of WR Memphis’ ConnecTEFL certificate program re-design, working closely with a hired consultant, and engaging the technical and advisory support of the WR National Director of Education, E-learning and Marketing team, WR General Counsel, and WRM leadership to ensure alignment with learning objectives and market needs alignment, quality control, and instructional efficacy to launch in FY26.
- Ensure high-quality delivery of all programs through evidence-based curriculum, strong instructional practices, and consistent evaluation of learner outcomes.
- Maintain and modify program policies and procedures for departmental operations.
- Guide the transition of WRM’s education model from a single-site ESL center to a distributed network of learning opportunities delivered through multiple channels such as:
- -Onsite offerings led by staff and volunteers at WRM facilities
- -Offsite offerings delivered in partnership with churches, employers, and community organizations
- -Digital and hybrid offerings to increase accessibility and flexibility for learners
- Collaborate with other department directors to co-design adult learning workshops that support key community integration goals such as digital literacy, financial literacy, civic engagement, workforce readiness, parenting, healthcare navigation, and behavioral health.
- Recruit contracted classroom instructors and ensure a high standard for instructional content and classroom management that aligns to organizational goals.
- Work closely with the Marketing & Communications Specialist, Home Office Marketing team, and operations team to promote Connect Language Center products to maximize program revenue.
- Partnerships and Collaboration
- Work closely with external engagement staff to develop and maintain strong partnerships with education institutions, employers, faith communities, nonprofits, and local government agencies to expand educational reach and impact.
- Collaborate with the Church & Community Engagement Department to mobilize, equip and engage volunteer instructors, workshop facilitators, conversational English partners, learning mentors and church partners to build the capacity and impact of Education programs.
- Represent WRM in local coalitions, education networks, and community events to strengthen collective efforts supporting newcomer integration.
- Ensure curricula and methodologies used by WRM align with proven, evidence-based models
- Operational and Financial Management
- Oversee departmental budgeting, forecasting, and fiscal accountability in collaboration with the Finance & Operations team.
- Ensure that all programs meet or exceed funder requirements and internal performance metrics.
- Contribute to the diversification of funding streams through earned revenue, grants, and partnerships that support education initiatives.
- Support grant proposal development, compliance reporting, and data collection related to education programming outcomes.
- Ensure operational excellence in scheduling, student enrollment and retention, data management, and resource allocation across all delivery channels.
- Evaluation and Impact
- Establish clear metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and participant outcomes across ESL and adult learning programs while also providing leadership as a focal point for WRM around the implementation and execution of WR national DMEAL strategies.
- Review program data regularly with staff to identify strengths, gaps, opportunities for improvement, and successes to celebrate.
- Contribute to organizational learning by sharing success stories, evaluation data, and program insights with WRM leadership and the national Economic Empowerment team.
- Ensure departmental participation in internal and external monitoring, audits, and evaluation processes.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Mature and personal Christian faith
- Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
- Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
- Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs , , and
- Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree in education, nonprofit management, TESOL, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of five years of experience in adult education, workforce development, or community-based education leadership.
- Experience working cross-culturally and in partnership with immigrant or refugee communities.
- Strong leadership and team-building skills with experience supervising and developing staff.
- Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and evaluate ESL and adult education programs.
- Proven ability to think strategically while managing operational details effectively.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with cross-cultural competency.
- Experience cultivating partnerships and mobilizing volunteers in diverse community contexts.
- Business acumen and comfort with budget management, forecasting, performance tracking, and desire to lead collaborative marketing conversations that yield results.
- Commitment to learner-centered, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive educational practices.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Familiarity with learning management systems and digital learning tools preferred.
- Bilingual or multilingual ability preferred but not required
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record/Driving preferred.
World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time, Regular, employees.World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.
***Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
