Program Manager, Middle School Career Exploration

ExpandED is dedicated to ensuring that all young people have access to enriching learning opportunities that affirm their identities, teach them valuable skills, and spark new possibilities. Through program development, capacity-building, research and advocacy, we work toward our vision of a vibrant and stable publicly-funded system of school-community partnership so that all New York City children thrive.

Established in 1998, the organization today works with more than 119,000 children and 900 programs throughout New York City to ensure that students in under-served communities have access to innovative, engaging ways of learning to enable them to reach their full potential. Over the last two decades, ExpandED Schools’ program, research and policy efforts have led to increased recognition of the academic, social, and emotional benefits of afterschool, increased funding, and new models for school-community partnership.

Purpose of Position

Reporting to the Program Director of MS Career Exploration, the Program Manager of Middle School Career Exploration will design the career connected learning experiences for students in 6th through 8th grade in collaboration with NYC Public Schools.

Middle School Career Exploration supports students in grades 6 through 8 link their personal interests to career goals and professional identities. Using a career exploration curriculum, this model combines classroom learning with engaging career exposure opportunities. The model supports middle schools to develop a research-based program for robust career exploration through teacher training, coaching, and connecting to employers. Linking this work throughout the school day allows for:

• Diverse career learning experiences, ranging from foundation building to experiential deep dives into specific industries
• Expanded opportunities for authentic, real-world career exposure events aligned to students’ interests
• Continued and varied connections between career learning and educational choices

The right candidate for the role has strong familiarity with at least two of the three areas: middle school curriculum development and instruction, coaching, or New York City schools.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Curriculum Development

• Develop and refine a Middle School Career Exploration curriculum for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade using feedback from schools and NYC Public Schools.

School Support and Technical Assistance

• Develop and lead professional learning opportunities for schools on integrating MS Career Exploration model into their school day.
• Coordinate and conduct support and coaching visits to implementation schools to provide on-site support, observe program quality, and offer feedback.
• Create and update tools and materials that operationalize best practices for all partners.
• Recruit employers and coordinate field trips and panels for pilot school partners

Research and Continuous Learning

• Support program evaluation by sharing and tracking survey completion, coordinating student and staff participation in focus groups, and facilitating end of year reflection and fidelity conversations.
• Support program design by providing feedback to program stakeholders and evaluators on program strengths and challenges based on implementation.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least four years of experience related to formal or informal education.
• Computer skills in Google Drive, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Experience working in NYC public schools and middle school curriculum development strongly preferred.
• Passion for career-connected learning; previous knowledge and experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of the NYSED learning standards, all subjects, a plus
• Commitment to educational equity.
• Experience building and supporting partnerships between schools, community organizations, and cultural institutions, particularly in a coaching capacity.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex programs to program partners, to share our work during conferences, and to lead high-quality professional learning for educators.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with a proven ability to execute tasks efficiently and with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and execute projects independently.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and comfort with complexity and change.

Our organization follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed. Leaders of teams may call team members together for in-person meetings in the office when they reasonably believe that the work will be more productive and/or efficient if completed through in-person collaboration, and all full-time employees are expected to attend monthly all-staff meetings at the office.

This position requires regular use of public transportation and regular work in school buildings that may require climbing stairs.

ExpandED Schools offers a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Full-time and eligible part-time employees receive medical, dental and vision plans for employees and dependents, largely subsidized by ExpandED Schools
• Health, dependent care and transit pre-tax accounts
• Employer-paid life insurance and supplemental disability coverage
• A generous paid time off package which includes 24 personal days, 8 sick days, and 13 paid holidays (prorated for part-time staff)
• 403b retirement plan with eligibility for employer contribution of 5% of annual compensation after one year of employment (no match requirement)
• Commitment to work-life balance
• Partial tuition reimbursement offered to employees after six months of service
• Professional development opportunities, including funds to participate in external training and coaching opportunities

ExpandED Schools believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. ExpandED Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.