Associate Vice President, Innovation

About Sandy Hook Promise  

Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the lifesaving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships.    
 
SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.    

Commitment to Belonging, Community, Engagement, and Respect  

SHP strives to ensure its culture and work environment reflect the values of belonging, community, engagement and respect.  We actively seek to understand and respond to the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of individuals across socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and urban communities, and diversity of thought, in addition to traditional protected categories. We are committed to ensuring that every SHP employee feels heard, valued, and a true sense of belonging.  SHP encourages individuals who share our commitment to these core values and to our mission to apply.   

Location 
We are a U.S. based organization and most of our staff work remotely. This role will require 20% travel on an as-needed basis. Candidates should reside within a reasonable distance of a major airport to ensure efficient, cost-effective travel. Team members are expected to make thoughtful travel decisions that balance cost, convenience, and sustainability, including the use of public transportation or alternative options when appropriate.   

About the Role 

The Associate Vice President,Innovation (AVP,Innovation) is a visionary and strategic leader charged with advancing innovation, continuous improvement, and a culture of learning across SHP’s training and education initiatives. They will be responsible for ensuring that all instructional content is research-based, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with SHP’s mission, pedagogical standards, and commitment to equity. 

This role will lead a dynamic cross-functional team in the design, pilot, and scale of educational programs that are trauma-informed, rooted in social and emotional learning (SEL), equity-centered, and responsive to the diverse needs of students and educators. The AVP, Innovation will report to senior leadership and will manage five staff and relationships with third-party curriculum vendors. 

Job Responsibilities   

Strategic Leadership & Innovation 

• Lead the development and implementation of an innovation strategy that advances inclusive, trauma-informed, and equity-centered training and educational programming. 
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and thoughtful experimentation across teams. 
• Explore and introduce new program models, technologies, and delivery methods to ensure long-term relevance and impact; integrate evaluation findings into ongoing design and quality improvement. 
• Support and influence change efforts that promote adaptability, collaboration, and a mindset of continuous improvement within and across verticals.  

Curriculum & Program Development 

• Guide the design, development, and enhancement of national curriculum, programs, and training offerings that are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with CASEL and UDL frameworks. 
• Ensure all content, whether developed internally or through vendor partnerships, reflects a strong understanding of trauma’s impact on learning and promotes emotional safety and healing. 
• Collaborate with learning designers and subject matter experts to ensure programs meet high standards for inclusivity, accessibility, and relevance. 
• Maintain and strengthen systems that support timely, high-quality curriculum development and implementation. 
• Contribute to the overall structure and design of training and educational programs as needed. 

Team Leadership & Supervision 

• Supervise a multidisciplinary team, offering clear guidance and encouraging a collaborative, supportive work environment. 
• Promote professional growth, shared accountability, and cross-functional learning through mentorship and team development. 
• Support a culture of reflection, continuous learning, and innovation across the team. 

Partnership & Vendor Management 

• Collaborate effectively across departments to drive program development and refinement.  
• Manage relationships and contracts with third-party curriculum vendors and content providers, ensuring alignment with trauma-informed and equity-centered principles. 
• Build partnerships with educators, school districts, and nonprofit collaborators to co-create and expand programming. 
• Integrate educator and student feedback into curriculum enhancement and ongoing learning processes. 

Continuous Improvement 

• Lead efforts for iterative improvement informed by pilot initiatives, stakeholder feedback, and research. 
• Stay current on evolving best practices in trauma-informed instruction, social-emotional learning (SEL), and curriculum design. 

Organizational Alignment & Continuous Support 

• Collaborate across departments, particularly with Implementation and Partner Success teams, to support alignment and consistency. 
• Demonstrate comfort using data to inform decisions and strengthen programming. 
• Performs other duties as assigned, based on evolving organizational needs and priorities. 

Desired Skills and Experience 

• 5 - 7+ years of leadership experience in education innovation, curriculum development, or nonprofit program management. 
• Proven ability to strategize, design, lead, and scale trauma-informed and SEL-aligned educational programs. 
• Demonstrated experience supervising cross-functional teams and managing complex programmatic initiatives that impact multiple departments or units. 
• Strong background in instructional design, pedagogy, and andragogy. 
• Deep understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and trauma-informed frameworks, with the ability to effectively apply them to curriculum and strategy. 
• Excellent project management, communication, and strategic thinking skills. PMP or similar preferred.  
• Familiarity with digital learning strategies and platforms. 
• Background in K-12 or school based SEL required.  
• Knowledge of national education standards and trends. 
• Experience with impact measurement, data literacy, and continuous improvement methodologies. 
• A commitment to SHP’s mission and values.     

Benefits and Salary Range  

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $130,000.  
SHP uses a structured internal rubric to guide salary placement and ensure equitable pay. Typically, new hires are placed at the start of the salary range to ensure equity with current employees, and as a practice, we do not negotiate salaries.  

• SHP offers a competitive benefits package, including: 
  • Unlimited PTO 
  • Flexible schedules 
  • Paid holidays and 10 days sick leave 
  • Paid parental leave 
  • Health, dental, and vision 
  • Employer paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability 
  • 401k match 
  • Professional development stipend 
  • Wellness & mental health support 
  • Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program. 

Our organization operates within a distributed workforce, allowing for location flexibility across the country for most positions. We provide remote office support for all staff, which includes a laptop, home office reimbursement, monthly Wi-Fi reimbursement up to $40, and monthly cell phone reimbursement up to $50.   

Additional Instructions  

• Internal applicants and SHP Volunteers have until Thursday, March 5, 2026, to submit their application. Please email HR + TA once you have applied.   
• All other applicants have until Monday, March 9,2026 to apply.  

Equal Opportunity Employment  

SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to be an employer of choice: where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. SHP does not make employment-related decisions based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are focused on promoting multiculturalism and inclusion so that all SHP employees feel valued and respected. We believe deeply that a diverse workforce comprised of people of all beliefs, backgrounds, and life experiences who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life will make SHP a stronger, more effective organization.