Associate Director of Curriculum Design & Management (STEM)

About Ascend

Ascend 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 Role

Ascend Public Charter Schools seeks an Associate Director of Curriculum Design & Management (K–8 STEM) to lead the development, refinement, and operational management of Kindergarten through Grade 8 STEM curriculum systems.

Reporting to the Managing Director of STEM, this leader is responsible for ensuring that K–8 Science curriculum materials are rigorous, intentionally sequenced, and operationally sound across all schools.

Ascend’s STEM program builds cumulatively from foundational numeracy and scientific literacy in the early grades to long-term Regents and Advanced Placement success in high school. The Associate Director ensures curriculum design and management systems support this progression with clarity, coherence, and discipline.

This role sits at the intersection of academic design and operational execution. The Associate Director strengthens vertical coherence, manages curriculum systems across grade bands, and ensures that all K–8 STEM materials reflect Ascend’s standards for rigor and long-term academic outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

K–8 STEM Curriculum Design

• Lead the design and refinement of K–8 Science curriculum units, lesson materials, and scope & sequence documents.
• Ensure cumulative conceptual development from early numeracy and scientific foundations through collegiate science readiness.
• Strengthen alignment between understanding of scientific phenomena, technical skills in scientific writing, experimental design and research skills, and problem-solving.
• Ensure materials reflect increasing cognitive demand across grade levels.
• Maintain clear progression from K–4 foundations to Grades 5–8 preparation for Regents coursework while also supporting development of skills that support lifelong curiosity.

Curriculum Systems & Management

• Oversee pacing guides, assessment calendars, curriculum documentation, and artifact libraries across K–8.
• Lead structured revision cycles to improve sequencing, clarity, and rigor.
• Establish clear version control and documentation systems to maintain consistency across schools.
• Coordinate cross-grade alignment reviews to prevent conceptual gaps or redundancy.
• Ensure curriculum materials are organized, accessible, and implementation-ready.

Assessment Architecture & Data Integration

• Design and manage common K–8 STEM assessments aligned to NYS standards and network performance benchmarks.
• Ensure assessments measure conceptual mastery, reasoning, and application.
• Align unit assessments to New York State test readiness and long-term Regents expectations.
• Analyze student performance data to identify curriculum strengths, gaps, and necessary refinements.

Ensuring Strong, Aligned Instruction

• Ensure K–4 curriculum builds strong foundational skills in the principles and disciplines of science, as well as foundational scientific reasoning.
• Ensure Grades 5–8 intentionally prepare students for New York State testing and Regents-level coursework.
• Partner with high school curriculum leaders to confirm middle school readiness benchmarks are accurate and aligned.
• Conduct curriculum audits to preserve cumulative progression across grade bands.

Cross-Functional Alignment

• Partner closely with the Director, Training & Development – STEM (K–8) to ensure curriculum intent translates clearly into classroom practice.
• Provide clarity to instructional leaders around pacing, conceptual priorities, and performance expectations.
• Support network-wide curriculum launches and updates.
• Contribute to broader K–12 STEM planning within the Academic Leadership Team.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 6 years of professional experience in K–12 education.
• At least 3 years of experience in STEM curriculum design, academic leadership, or centralized curriculum management.
• Demonstrated expertise in science progression across elementary and middle school.
• Experience designing standards-aligned curriculum and assessment systems.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to use student data to inform curriculum decisions.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in a high-performing charter network or centralized academic environment.
• Experience aligning curriculum across STEM disciplines, New York State test readiness, and Regents preparation.
• Experience managing curriculum systems across multiple grade levels.
• Advanced degree in Mathematics, Science, Education, Curriculum & Instruction, or related field preferred.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong content fluency across K–8 STEM disciplines
• Clear understanding of New York State Science testing and Regents preparation pathways
• Precision in sequencing and curriculum system management
• Strong project management and organizational discipline
• Ability to balance conceptual rigor with practical implementation
• Commitment to equitable access to rigorous STEM instruction

Staff and reporting relationships

The Associate Director of Curriculum Design & Management reports directly to the Senior Director of Curriculum Design & Management.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position begins at $115,000. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience and levels of attained education.

Location & Work Arrangement

• Based in our Brooklyn, NY office
• Hybrid work schedule requiring in-office presence at least three days per week

In-person work expectations include network office time, stakeholder meetings, school visits, special events, and other role-specific responsibilities as determined by management.

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Generous paid time off and additional employee benefits