Regional Coordinator, START Center Initiative

The Regional Coordinator plays a key role in advancing BPL’s mission by leading the implementation of the New Jersey Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training (START) Center Initiative across assigned sites and regions. In partnership with schools, students, families, and employer, union, and workforce partners, this role builds relationships and coordinates career-connected learning experiences—such as internships, job shadowing, and out-of-school-time programming—to support students’ progression into apprenticeship pathways. The Regional Coordinator also ensures effective program implementation and maintains high-quality student data and records in ImBlaze to support strong START Center outcomes.. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment and is energized by building systems, relationships, and solutions that help leaders, educators and youth flourish.

At BPL, roles are not silos — they are contributions to a shared vision. You will work alongside passionate colleagues across the country who believe deeply in reimagining education and the power of young people.

Role Overview

• Location: Remote, U.S.-based - Must live in Northern or Central New Jersey
• Reports To: Director of New Forms
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Travel: Willingness to travel up to 70% of the time

What You’ll Do

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Pipeline Design & Management

• Build and sustain a cradle-to-career apprenticeship pathway (grades 8–12 → apprenticeship).
• Ensure developmental coherence across stages: exposure → exploration → preparation → placement.
• Monitor student progression, persistence, and transition points.

Student Recruitment & Access

• Lead regional recruitment strategy with a focus on equity and inclusion.
• Partner with middle schools, high schools, and community-based organizations to identify and support students.
• Engage families in understanding apprenticeship as a high-quality postsecondary pathway.

Partnership Leadership

Serve as the primary regional connector among:

• Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs)
• School district administrators and superintendents
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) teachers, students, and program leaders
• Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC) Industry Representatives
• Convene cross-sector partners to ensure alignment between education, workforce demand, and apprenticeship opportunities.

Program Implementation

• Oversee delivery of:
  • Apprenticeship readiness training
  • Work-based learning experiences
  • Career exposure and industry engagement
• Ensure program quality across sites and partners.
• Adapt programming to Southern New Jersey’s economic and workforce context.

Data, Documentation & Measurement

• Partner with the B-Unbound team to:
  • Track student competencies, performance, and growth
  • Document learning using innovative measures aligned with BPL frameworks
  • Use data for continuous improvement and storytelling
• Maintain strong reporting systems for internal and external stakeholders.

Regional Leadership & Strategy

• Represent the initiative in regional coalitions and statewide conversations.
• Contribute to scaling strategy and system-building efforts.
• Advance Big Picture Learning’s vision for new ways, forms, and measures of success.
• Support efforts to foster fairness, belonging, and equal opportunity while actively advocating for justice at the personal, organizational, and systemic levels.
• Support, participate in, and attend annual BPL conferences and other org-wide events as needed.
• Other responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational need and individual skills and interests.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience in education, youth development, workforce development, career-connected learning, or program coordination will be considered.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience working with schools, youth programs, workforce development initiatives, internships, or community partnerships.
• 2+ years of relevant experience collaborating with teachers, school leaders, community-based organizations, and employer or union partners.
• Experience supporting young people in internships, career exploration, or out-of-school-time programs strongly preferred.
• Comfort using data systems and digital platforms; experience with ImBlaze/B-Unbound or similar student information/work-based learning platforms preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple school sites, partnerships, deadlines, and priorities.
• Knowledge of career and technical education, apprenticeship pathways, and/or the skilled trades is preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 70% of the time.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly throughout New Jersey required, in particular to the START Center in Edison.

Core Values & Professional Qualities

• Steadfast belief that students should be at the center of their own learning and that education (in particular public education) is due for a reorientation that allows students to be confident in the pursuit of their own passions and interests
• Strong internal accountability (especially important due to the geographic spread of BPL’s work and our virtual teams), comfort juggling multiple projects and prioritizing tasks, and the ability to work remotely in distributed teams across multiple time zones
• Ability to exhibit entrepreneurial behaviors, take ownership, and see tasks and ideas through from conception to implementation
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills both in person and virtually
• Commitment to continuous improvement, a relentless approach to growth and learning, and an openness to constructive critical feedback
• Collegial and empathetic approach to working with others, while bringing a creative, flexible and thoughtful approach to your work
• Ability to use - or quickly learn - multiple tech platforms (i.e., Google Suite, Salesforce, Asana)

Mission & Mindset

Big Picture Learning team members are united by a deep belief that students belong at the center of their own learning and that education must evolve to empower young people to pursue lives of passion, purpose, and possibility. A commitment to advancing this work with urgency and care is essential.

As a fully virtual organization operating across time zones, we value colleagues who are self-directed, internally accountable, and comfortable navigating complexity. Those who thrive at BPL move work forward in the face of uncertainty, take thoughtful risks, and carry ideas from conception through implementation.

Culture matters here. We prioritize connection and mutual support, ensuring every staff member feels valued and equipped to grow — anchored by strong supervision, collaborative peers, and clear agreements about how we work together. The work is demanding and mission-driven, and we approach it with creativity, empathy, and joy.

Compensation

The starting annual salary for this position is $82,350.

Big Picture Learning uses a transparent and consistent compensation model grounded in fairness and objectivity. Each role is benchmarked based on its scope, responsibilities, and required experience using industry data and cost-of-labor analysis. To promote consistency and reduce bias in compensation decisions, starting salaries are predetermined within our structured framework and are not subject to negotiation.

Our approach is designed to provide clarity and ensure fair compensation practices across the organization.

Benefits & Investment in People

At BPL, we believe our staff should feel supported, valued, and able to thrive — personally and professionally. Our benefits reflect that commitment.

Health & Financial Security

• Fully paid medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Fully paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
• Pension plan with a 5% employer contribution, 100% vested after six months

Time to Rest & Recharge

• 8 weeks of paid parental leave and 4 weeks of paid medical leave (after 12 months)
• 13 paid holidays, + 2 religious floater holidays
• Organization-wide holiday break (Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day)
• 11 personal/sick days, plus a paid birthday
• 18 days of paid vacation, accrued at 1.5 days per month beginning the first full month
• 3 annual “Chill & Recharge Days” dedicated to supporting work-life balance and intentional focus on health and wellness

Tools & Remote Work Support

• Company-issued laptop
• Home office equipment (printer/scanner/copier and supplies)
• Cell phone coverage (company plan or up to $400 toward a new device)
• Coverage of TSA Pre-Check, CLEAR, or Global Entry enrollment fees
• Reimbursement for approved organizational travel