Education Program Manager

Title: Education Program Manager

Reports to: Executive Director (may transfer supervision as program is built out)

Position Overview.

The Adaptive Design Association seeks a disability educator and program manager to build out the Made-to-Learn program, which is a transition-skill-building program designed to support the unique needs of students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This position offers the opportunity to work directly with students, educators, school communities, and the fabrication team at Adaptive Design Association to impact the lives of young people with disabilities on many levels.

The Education Program Manager will facilitate sessions in which students with disabilities build adaptive equipment to be used in schools serving students with disabilities. The vision for the program includes training teachers to implement a new version of ADA’s established classroom workshop model in their schools. The Education Program Manager will also engage an increasing number of students and classrooms in the program, as well as continue to work directly with students on-site at the ADA workshop.

Mission-aligned applicants who have experience working with students with IDD and providing curriculum-based professional development to educators are preferred. In addition, candidates who have exposure to fabrication and use of tools in a workshop environment are preferred.

The position is PT and will begin asap and include approximately one day each week of instruction in the workshop, one day each week meeting with staff in schools and doing outreach, and one day each week working on program development and collaborating with the ADA team. The ADA office, located in mid-town Manhattan, is an open plan layout to promote teamwork and transparency. The position will also require travel around NYC. We anticipate a T, W, Th schedule will work best. There is the potential that this position could expand to a full time role in the future. This position currently reports to the Executive Director.

Organization Description.

The Adaptive Design Association Inc, established in 1998, is a nonprofit that uses an innovative approach to disability services. The organization designs and builds custom assistive equipment (adaptations) using easily-accessible materials like cardboard and wood and teaches community partners how to do so. Through its services and program areas, the organization provides education and fabrication services to ensure everyone has access to all life experiences they wish to participate in, regardless of their abilities. Annually, the organization serves 80-100 clients through its custom equipment fabrication, 50 through training programs, and 200+ through various educational outreach opportunities.

At ADA, we ask: Why, how, and for whom did this design come to be? By centering lived experience, we move beyond one-size-fits-most solutions and engage in design as a holistic, intentional act. One that expresses care in both process and outcome.

Our work is guided by the following values:

Flexibility and Adaptability: We approach every challenge with openness and a willingness to shift based on evolving needs.

Collaboration and Community: We value shared knowledge, co-creation, and the power of working together across disciplines and lived experiences.

Integrity: We commit to transparency, honesty, and ethical decision-making in all aspects of our work.

Inspiration and Passion: We believe design fueled by joy, curiosity, and care leads to powerful transformation.

Inclusivity and Belonging: We strive to create spaces where everyone feels respected, welcomed, and represented.

Centering and Being Accountable to Our Clients: We place the needs, voices, and experiences of the individuals we serve at the heart of our decisions and designs.

These values shape everything we do, from the way we collaborate to the tools we build, and remind us that thoughtful, inclusive design has the power to change lives.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Instruction and Training

• Instruct students (ages 14-22) with IDD in the fabrication of adaptive equipment, in collaboration with the ADA fabrication team.
• Understand a range of student profiles, needs, and communication styles in order to ensure differentiated instruction.
• Assess student strengths, needs, and skills on an ongoing basis to adjust activities as needed.
• Provide professional development and coaching/modeling to train teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school staff in using the Adaptive Design program and materials in their classrooms.

Program Development

• Document program activities to support development of curricular and instructional materials, including:
  • Lesson plans and adaptations for different scenarios
  • Professional development for participating educators and support staff.
• Facilitate instruction of curriculum with school communities, including students and educators.
• Observe program in action for the purpose of quality assurance and continued improvement of services.
• Ensure that program activities align with the culture and constraints of partner school environments.
• Serve as a mentor and thought leader on the team, representing the work of ADA in the community.

Outreach and Partnership

• Maintain and build strong relationships with school leaders and school staff
• Meet regularly with school leadership and staff to fine tune program implementation and reflect on program development. Have a regular presence on site in partner schools.
• Identify constituent groups and partnership opportunities, including local schools, that can benefit from adopting the program and communities that are underrepresented or overlooked
• Secure and manage school partnerships
• Create outreach strategies and materials, in collaboration with ADA staff

Coordination and Collaboration

• Communicate with a range of stakeholders to ensure program implementation, including school leaders, teachers, paraprofessionals, other school staff, students, and the ADA team, being mindful of the constraints and challenges of each role
• Meet regularly with the ADA team to ensure staff are prepared for Made to Learn program activities, collaborating on both instructional design and student profiles
• Ensure workshop and activities are set up for incoming instructional groups
• Ensure classrooms have the materials needed to implement programs effectively
• Schedule activities to best meet the needs of all stakeholders
• Adapt program activities, as needed, to meet needs of new stakeholders
• Work with school staff to identify needs for adaptations (both basic and custom) to secure and track “orders” of fabrications to be made by Made to Learn students
• Ensure delivery of completed adaptations to school partners
• Prepare the ADA team to support the program needs
• Problem solve any logistical challenges and creatively address barriers to program implementation

Administrative

• Document all program activities to enable easy replication and expansion.
• Attend staff meetings weekly to represent the work of the program and be an active, collaborative member of the ADA team.
• Manage grant reporting and evaluation tools for measuring impact.
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Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 2-5 years of relevant experience; a graduate degree is a plus. Demonstrated experience in education or youth service serving students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
• Previous work experience in a school setting preferred, with experience providing coaching or professional development for educators.
• Experience with program development and/or developing and documenting curricula.
• Comfortable working with tools and materials in a workshop environment. Eager to learn new fabrication skills..
• Strong relationship building skills, including excellent verbal and written communication with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Superior attention to detail and excellent organizational, time-management and project management skills with the ability to prioritize, multi-task and work independently as well as collaboratively as a member of a team.
• Strong judgment, analytic reasoning, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work well with diverse colleagues with varied personalities and work styles.
• Ability to interact effectively and maintain positive working relationships with students, school staff at all levels, volunteers, vendors, board, and ADA staff.
• Flexibility in approach and willingness to adapt when necessary.

This description should not be construed to contain every function or responsibility that may be required to be performed in this job; others may be assigned.

The Adaptive Design Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse workplace.