POSITION TITLE: Director, ACT-SO Competitions and Practices

SUPERVISOR: VP, ACT-SO and Creative Services

DATE EFFECTIVE: February 21, 2024

DATE REVISED: February 21, 2024

LOCATION: Remote

TRAVEL: Moderate

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Competition and Practices plays a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity and excellence of ACT-SO competitions. As the Director of ACT-SO Competitions and Practices, you will oversee all aspects of competition management, standards, and compliance, working closely with the Vice President of ACT-SO and a dedicated team to empower students and uphold ACT-SO's core values.

ABOUT NAACP ACT-SO:

The NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a premier program that cultivates and nurtures the academic and artistic excellence of African American high school students in the United States and abroad. ACT-SO provides a platform for students to showcase their talents in more than 30 competitive categories ranging from STEM, to humanities, to performing arts, culinary arts, visual arts, and business.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

Competition Management:

• Analyze and interpret competition descriptions and requirements, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with ACT-SO's mission, objectives, and current industry practices;
• Implement a data-driven approach to evaluate the local and national program and refine rubrics for overall improvement;
• Facilitate Practitioner Review Panels for competition-specific rules and procedures;
• Collaborate with ACT-SO Program Manager to manage the competition entry/submission process, ensuring fairness and compliance with technical requirements;
• Recruit, train, and support volunteer judges for the National ACT-SO Competition; and
• Address competition-related inquiries and concerns from students, parents, and local unit leaders.

Standards & Compliance:

• Develop and implement policies and procedures to maintain high ethical and academic standards in all aspects of ACT-SO;
• Identify tools to conduct regular audits and reviews to identify and address potential issues of bias, plagiarism, or other non-compliance;
• Collaborate with the Vice President of ACT-SO to update policies and procedures as needed to reflect best practices and evolving standards; and
• Liaise with external stakeholders, including educational institutions, practitioners, and regulatory bodies, on matters of competition integrity and standards.

Communication & Outreach:

• Develop and disseminate clear communication materials about competition rules, timelines, and expectations to students, parents, and local units;
• Conduct workshops and training sessions to educate stakeholders on ACT-SO's standards and expectations;
• Represent ACT-SO at conferences and events aligned with the program’s mission; and
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Vice President, ACT-SO and Creative Services, or other designee.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as education, STEM, humanities, or business, or equivalent experience;
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in program management, competition administration, or educational assessment;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences;
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in education and youth development;
• Experience working with and empowering young people from diverse backgrounds, a plus;
• Proficient in project management tools and online platforms; and
• A working understanding of the NAACP’s structure, policy, procedures, and goals .