Careers at Educators Rising

Program Manager, Strategic Implementation

PROGRAM MANAGER, STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION

We are seeking a highly organized, systems-minded leader who thrives on turning strategy into execution. Program Manager, Strategic Implementation will lead the implementation of high-priority, cross-functional strategic initiatives by building the structures, tools, and coordination needed to move complex work forward.

Some initiatives will remain under this role’s leadership throughout their lifecycle, while others will transition to operational teams once a strong implementation foundation has been established. In addition to leading and managing strategic initiatives, this role will help build consistent program and project management practices across the organization, strengthening our ability to plan, coordinate, and deliver complex work effectively.

This is a highly collaborative role that works across teams and levels of the organization. The ideal candidate is someone who can zoom out to understand the strategic goal, zoom in to manage the details, and bring people together to ensure work keeps moving. This role reports to the Chief of Staff.

This is a 100% remote position. A laptop will be provided to you during onboarding. You are expected to be online during our business hours that align with the Eastern Time Zone.

Core Responsibilities and Measures of Success
Lead Strategic Initiative Implementation
Own the planning and execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives from kickoff through completion or transition to an operational owner.

• Core Responsibilities:
  • Translate strategic priorities into clear, executable plans
  • Establish timelines, milestones, owners, governance structures, and success measures
  • Coordinate work across departments and ensure teams understand roles, responsibilities, and dependencies
  • Monitor progress, identify and manage risks, and remove obstacles to keep work moving
  • Facilitate decision-making and ensure key decisions and next steps are documented and followed through
  • Lead implementation through completion or facilitate a thoughtful, seamless handoff to an operational owner
    Provide clear, consistent communication and reporting to organizational leaders
• Examples of initiatives:
  • Federal grants and foundation-funded initiatives
  • New organizational priorities
  • Cross-functional operational programs and projects
  • Strategic launches and pilots
• Measures of success:
  • Strategic programs and projects start well, with clear plans, owners, timelines, governance, and success measures from day one
  • Complex initiatives move forward with strong coordination, clear accountability, and fewer surprises
  • Leaders have greater visibility into progress, risks, dependencies, and decisions
  • Strategic initiatives are successfully completed or transitioned to operational owners with the structures and knowledge needed for continued success

Build Organizational Program Management Capability
Create the systems, tools, and practices that help teams across the organization execute work more consistently and effectively.

• Core Responsibilities:
  • Develop shared program and project management standards, templates, tools, and expectations
  • Create scalable processes for project kickoff, planning, progress tracking, and reporting
  • Improve visibility into organizational priorities, major initiatives, and cross-functional work
  • Build and maintain dashboards and tracking systems that support effective decision-making
  • Identify opportunities to improve organizational workflows and ways of working
  • Capture lessons learned and continuously refine program and project management practices
• Measures of success:
  • Teams have shared tools, templates, language, and expectations for managing programs and projects
  • Teams spend less time reinventing project management processes and more time executing the work itself
  • Leaders have greater visibility into organizational priorities and the status of major initiatives
  • Program and project management practices become increasingly consistent, scalable, and effective across the organization

Partner with Teams to Enable Successful Execution
Serve as an internal program and project management partner to leaders and teams across the organization, providing hands-on support and coaching to help important work succeed

• Core Responsibilities:
  • Support teams in launching and structuring new initiatives
  • Facilitate planning, kickoff, and working sessions
  • Coach program and project leads on implementation and project management best practices
  • Help teams establish clear governance, roles, communication plans, and decision-making structures
  • Provide additional implementation support during critical phases of programs and projects
  • Build strong relationships across departments and serve as a trusted partner who helps teams navigate complexity and keep work moving
• Measures of success:
  • Leaders and teams feel better equipped to plan and execute complex work
  • Teams have greater clarity about roles, responsibilities, decisions, and next steps
  • Leaders spend less time managing the mechanics of programs and projects and more time focused on strategy, content, and decisions
  • The organization has greater confidence in its ability to deliver complex work effectively

Who You Are
You are a strong program manager who brings structure to complexity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. You are naturally organized, highly collaborative, and comfortable working across teams and levels of an organization. You know how to take a big-picture goal and turn it into a practical plan—and you have the persistence and judgment to keep that plan moving when priorities shift or obstacles arise.

You are equally comfortable building systems and rolling up your sleeves to manage the details. You can facilitate a meeting, build a project plan, identify a risk, ask a hard question, and communicate a concise status update to senior leaders. You bring a calm, solutions-oriented approach to complex work and are energized by helping others execute well.

Experience and Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience managing cross-functional programs and projects, ideally in a complex, mission-driven, education, nonprofit, or similarly collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex or ambiguous priorities into clear plans, timelines, roles, deliverables, and measures of success—and drive work through completion.
• Strong project management, facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills, with experience coordinating across teams and managing competing priorities, dependencies, and risks.
• Experience building or improving systems, processes, tools, or templates that help teams work more effectively and execute more consistently.
• Experience working with education, grants, or federally or foundation-funded initiatives is a plus; experience with creative agencies, designers, or other external partners is also a plus.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, or similar approaches is a plus.

Compensation
Salary range will be between $80,000- $100,000, commensurate with experience, plus competitive benefits.

How to Apply
Your resume and cover letter will serve as your application. To be considered for this role, submit your resume and cover letter to HR@educatorsrising.org with the subject line Program Manager Strategic Implementation.

Deviation from this subject line will cause a delay in the processing of your application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About Educators Rising

Educators Rising is transforming how America develops aspiring teachers. Starting with high school students, we provide passionate young people with hands-on teaching experience, sustain their interest in the profession, and help them cultivate the skills they need to be successful educators. Every teacher should enter the profession with the necessary skills. Educators Rising is a powerful way to help communities grow the next generation of well-prepared teachers.

About PDK International

Established in 1906, PDK International supports P-20 educators, researchers, and policy makers by strengthening their commitment to the profession throughout the entire arc of their careers. We are committed to elevating the profession through the intersection of research and practice. Through our core values of community, leadership, service, optimism, and excellence, we encourage educators and stakeholders to elevate the discourse and change the narrative around teaching and learning to ensure that every student has a high-quality education.

About Pi Lambda Theta

Pi Lambda Theta is one of the nation’s most prestigious education honor societies. Established in 1910, Pi Lambda Theta serves to recognize outstanding students who intended to pursue careers in education. With more than 185,000 individuals who have been inducted across the nation, membership signifies a commitment to academic excellence and the teaching profession.

DISCLAIMER

PDK International is an affirmative-action equal opportunity employer for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, PDK International complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

PDK International expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of PDK International’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.