Director Of Special Education (00060)

This first review of applications will be April 16, 2026. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor's name/phone number for each position.

For a complete job description, please email opi.careers@mt.gov

To be considered for this position, you must reside in Montana.

Why you would enjoy working here; Office of Public Instruction employees are a passionate group of professionals dedicated to leading and supporting our education system. We house a diverse collection of experiences with the 200 unique individuals we employ. Our specialists further OPI's purpose with applicable knowledge in education, health, research and analysis, nutrition, finance, administration, human resources, licensing and regulation, information technology, and many others. We are proud to serve 149,000 students pre-K to grade 12, their parents and guardians, 400 school districts, 16,000 educational professionals, and 3,000 adult learners.

Benefits of working for OPI:

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public service loan forgiveness-Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.

Job Overview: In the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and under the administrative direction of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Deputy Superintendent, Chief Program Officer, and the Senior Manager for Safety and Student Supports, the Director of Special Education is responsible for ensuring that children age three through twenty-two with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) as mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Director administers OPI's Special Education Unit and provides leadership to local education agencies (LEAs), special education cooperatives, and state facilities, which provide special education programs and services to children with disabilities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Knowledge of special education, early childhood, and gifted and talented education laws.
• Skilled in strategic, tactical, and analytical evaluation.
• Skilled in understanding the interrelationship of legislation, rulemaking, local operation issues, large-scale assessment, statistics, and public relations.
• Skilled in oral and written communication.
• Ability to build strong interpersonal and professional relationships with high-ranking officials.
• Ability to prioritize and manage budgets.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• Special education teaching endorsement.
• Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience.
• Master's degree in special education, educational leadership/program administration.
• Minimum of 3 years supervision/management experience.
• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered case-by-case.

Does this sound like you?

Please tell us how and why by submitting your resume online, including any veterans or disability preference documentation. When submitting the required documents, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process.

OPI is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

This position is in the TRS retirement system.