Innovation Educator (Philidelphia PA, Chicago IL)

Company: HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT, INC.
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description JOB IDENTIFICATION:Job Title: Innovation Educator Department: InnovationSupervisor Title: Curriculum Director POSITION PURPOSE AND SUMMARY:The Innovation Educator within The Hidden Genius Project is the fundamental driver of student programming activities with a core focus on the Intensive Immersion Program inside the classroom. Hence, they are primarily responsible for implementing the technical curriculum, including problem-solving, computer science, programming, and software design. Additionally, they co-coordinate and oversee a team of Youth Educators to teach the entrepreneurship and leadership components. The Hidden Genius Project seeks to effect a radical transformation in the pedagogy of computer science, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and the Innovation Educator will serve as a fundamental strategist toward this end. Accordingly, it is vital that they continually exercise ingenuity, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to continual learning within an exciting expanding environment. Finally, the Innovation Educator works as part of a dynamic, communicative, and supportive team of staff, Youth Educators, and Board members committed to their success. This is the consummate role for the educator with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Essential Functions: - Curriculum Design: Work with the Senior Innovation Educator and Curriculum Lead/Specialist to continually re/develop and innovate an existing in/external facing curriculum that is broadly accessible, and aligned with The Hidden Genius Project Immersion Curriculum goals and values. - Curriculum Adaptation: Partner with The Hidden Genius Project instructional leadership to adapt and refine core curricula to meet the needs of the local site. - Core Instruction: Teach core curricular concepts (i.e. technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership) to the Immersion cohort during summer and school-year sessions. Coordinate Youth Educators and lead educational activities within Catalyst programming. - Training, Technical Assistance, & Facilitation: Facilitate training and/or convenings for Genius alumni interested in becoming Youth Educators. Train the current Youth Educators on advanced programming skills, enhanced content, and methods. Train and supervise Youth Educators to support classroom and Catalyst activities, and manage them within those settings. - Serve as an exceptional role model and mentor to The Hidden Genius Project participants. - Communicate effectively (via email, phone, and/or postal mail) and promptly with all relevant constituencies, including participants and their parents/guardians. - Act as a dynamic ambassador to The Hidden Genius Project within the community. Non-Essential Functions: - Support additional organizational initiatives, community engagement efforts, and national programming as needed. - Assist with event planning, logistics, and facilitation. General All-Staff Responsibilities: - Engage and mentor youth participants and colleagues through hands-on learning experiences. - Foster a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment for all program participants. - Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to optimize program delivery. - Participate in professional development and continuous learning opportunities. - Support a broad range of operational tasks outside of the standard job scope to ensure youth success, including logistical support, crisis response, and creative problem-solving. - Other responsibilities as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:Required: - Excellent leadership abilities - High comfort level with technology - Experience working and communicating effectively with Black youth, underrepresented youth, and/or low-income youth - Intense commitment to the life success of Black males and boys and men of color - Experience mentoring and working closely with Black male youth - “Can do” attitude and ability to work as part of a team - Experience in project management. Willingness to develop differentiated learning experiences - Ability to prioritize, organize, and delegate effectively - Ability to receive feedback and engage in continuous self-improvement - Ability to adapt to a dynamic, rapidly-changing work environment - Ability to build positive relationships with all important constituencies - Strong knowledge of youth development field and models - Firm belief in personal accountability, producing measurable outcomes, and sustaining high expectations - Commitment to The Hidden Genius Project’s mission, youth development model, and the success of those around you. - Experience working in nonprofit, youth development, education, or technology sectors. - Strong interpersonal, communication, and mentorship skills. - Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as required by the program schedule. - Adaptability to perform both essential, non-essential, and general functions to meet program demands. - Understanding of the nonprofit sector’s dynamic nature, where responsibilities may extend beyond the defined job description to address real-time organizational and youth needs. Desired: - Bachelor’s Degree - Experience teaching problem-solving and/or math skills - Experience teaching or studying computer science, and/or programming languages, i.e. Python, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Swift, Flutter, etc. - Experience working in the technology industry - Experience in curriculum development, facilitation, or instructional design. - Familiarity with culturally responsive teaching practices. - Previous experience mentoring youth from underrepresented communities. - Commitment to achieving The Hidden Genius Project’s mission and vision - Ability to work more than 40 hours per week, and during the evenings and weekends, as needed ROLE OVERVIEW:Role Location: Open roles in Philadelphia, PA and Chicago, ILSchedule: 40 hours per week, starting April 2025, including evenings and weekends as needed. Manages: Employees, Interns, and volunteers (including attraction and coordination tasks) Years of experience: 3 Benefit Eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k (up to 4% match), annual professional development Working relationships: At each location, site team members work closely with their immediate team, supervisor, and key leadership to support daily operations and program success. They also connect with colleagues in similar roles across different locations to share best practices and strengthen our collective impact. Central team members provide organization-wide support, collaborating across departments and locations to ensure seamless operations and strategic growth. Together, every team member plays a vital role in advancing our mission. Our organization operates within a dynamic structure that supports both site-based and central team roles. Site-based team members play a key role in our 15-month youth program, with an immersive summer schedule (Monday-Friday, between 7 AM - 6 PM for seven weeks) and a structured fall schedule that includes full-time hours, one evening per week, and one Saturday per month. Meanwhile, central team members maintain a Monday-Friday schedule (typically between 7 AM - 6 PM), supporting organizational needs through strategic initiatives, cross-functional collaboration, and efforts beyond core job duties. Regardless of role, every team member contributes to our shared mission and the success of our Geniuses.WORK ENVIRONMENT:The Hidden Genius Project operates in a dynamic and flexible work setting to best support our mission and the needs of our youth. We are flexible but require an onsite commitment for the first year of employment. Site-Based Roles: Staff in these roles work from programming locations within local communities. These locations have traditionally included school sites, faith-based institutions, and other commercial or community spaces designated for youth development programs. Site-based roles require adaptability to varying facilities and settings, ensuring a safe and engaging environment for program delivery. Site-based roles have the flexibility to work remotely as approved by supervisors and within our workplace policy and program needs. Central Team: Primarily based between our headquarters in Oakland and our Los Angeles site in CA, both feature a modern office setting. While many responsibilities are managed from a central location, team members have the flexibility to work remotely as needed and within our workplace policy. Remote work arrangements require supervisor approval, proactive communication, self-discipline, and the ability to collaborate effectively across time zones and locations. General Work Conditions: - Requires occasional travel for site visits, events, and meetings. - Collaboration with staff, partners, and youth may extend beyond traditional work hours to meet programmatic and organizational demands. - Flexibility is key in this role, as responsibilities may shift based on programmatic needs and youth engagement. BENEFITS OF THE ROLE: - Dynamic, collaborative, and purpose-driven work environment. - Meaningful opportunity to impact the lives of Black male youth and other youth of color. - Entrepreneurial organization with opportunities for innovation and leadership. - Direct connection to industry professionals and networking opportunities. - Competitive compensation and benefits package. - Opportunity to contribute to the growth of a national nonprofit. COMPENSATION:Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.PHYSICAL DEMANDS: - Employees may occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. - Frequent standing, walking, and sitting are required. - Regularly grasp objects, talk, and/or hear. - Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds; regularly lift up to 10 pounds. - Vision abilities required for maintaining safety in programming spaces. - Ability to travel and supervise youth transportation as needed. - National (and possibly international) travel is required. - Non-traditional work demands: The nonprofit sector and our commitment to youth development require flexibility beyond a standard work structure, often necessitating engagement in unexpected situations and responsibilities.

Keywords: HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT, INC., Joliet , Innovation Educator (Philidelphia PA, Chicago IL), Education / Teaching , Chicago, Illinois