Manager, Policy and Programs (Massachusetts)

What We Do

Teach Plus is a national nonprofit whose mission is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student success. At the heart of our work is developing teacher leadership and voice in pursuit of student outcomes. We believe that investing in our most talented teachers—developing them into well-informed, persuasive leaders—gives them deep leverage in elevating the most pressing education issues facing students, teachers, and communities while advancing opportunities for students. Learn more at teachplus.org.

What You’ll Do

Teach Plus Massachusetts envisions a future where every student graduates high school meeting or exceeding grade-level literacy expectations. We are committed to closing racial, socioeconomic, and linguistic opportunity gaps, ensuring all students have equitable access to postsecondary success. To achieve these outcomes, we strategically engage teacher leaders, policymakers, and coalition partners to drive measurable improvements in student learning. We equip educators to advocate for evidence-based literacy instruction, deliver inclusive, high-quality curricular materials, and facilitate instruction grounded in research and data. Our work strengthens implementation so that literacy skills transfer across content areas, preparing students with the critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills they need to succeed beyond high school.

Reporting to the Massachusetts Executive Director, you will work alongside Fellows, teacher leaders, alumni, and key local coalition members to equip teachers with the skills and competencies necessary to advance systems change and expand Teach Plus’s regional impact. In addition, you will support the ED in the potential engagement of educators in proximate New England states, where Teach Plus can play a unique role to support teacher leadership. Success will be measured by the growth of impactful teacher leadership programs, strong alumni engagement, and measurable influence on district and state policies that improve student outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Management

• Lead and manage the Massachusetts Policy Fellowship (MPF) and other teacher leadership programs, customizing and facilitating high-quality learning experiences and programming —including monthly trainings, retreats, and other program activities—where fellows demonstrate measurable growth in leadership and policy competencies and produce tangible outcomes, such as policy recommendations and evidence of influence or adoption at the district or state level.
• Ensure rigorous and equitable fellow recruitment and selection to build a diverse, high-quality cohort aligned with Teach Plus MA goals.
• Drive continuous program improvement by collecting and analyzing data on teacher experience and efficacy, and delivering actionable recommendations to the Executive Director that strengthen program effectiveness and impact year over year.
• Ensure fellows’ projects achieve intended impact by setting and managing clear progress milestones, monitoring outcomes against goals, and partnering with the MA Executive Director and Teach Plus staff to drive accountability and successful completion.
• Identify high-leverage policy issues and opportunities aligned with Teach Plus MA’s strategic goals.

Teacher Leadership Development

• Equip teacher leaders to strengthen their skills, deepen expertise on their issue, and use research and data effectively to advance solutions and drive impact in their schools and communities.
• Coach and support teachers to influence education policy and advocacy by providing guidance, research, and training that enables them to publish compelling op-eds, engage policymakers, deliver impactful testimony, and lead community organizing efforts at local, state, and national levels.
• Train and support teacher leaders in developing and advocating for research-informed policy recommendations, ensuring that 100% of fellows in their working groups execute an advocacy plan centered on 1–2 high-impact policy priorities.
• Build and maintain meaningful alumni engagement by providing leadership and advocacy opportunities, strengthening long-term relationships, and amplifying alumni impact through targeted events, communications, and programming.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage day-to-day interactions with partners to ensure strong, productive relationships.
• Cultivate and sustain strategic relationships with policymakers, district leaders, coalitions, and education organizations to advance Teach Plus MA’s policy agenda and expand the organization’s influence.
• Represent Teach Plus MA at hearings, meetings, panels, and public events to advance the organization’s mission and policy priorities, with measurable outcomes including the number of engagements attended, quality of stakeholder interactions, and documented follow-up or results.
• Strengthen fundraising outcomes by capturing insights around programmatic success, identifying connections between Teach Plus, local stakeholders, and funder priorities, and co-representing TP with the MA ED, as needed, in funder engagements.

What You’ll Need to be Successful

• A minimum of 5–7 years of experience in education, policy, advocacy, or a related field; Classroom teaching experience is highly preferred.
• Experience in education policy, legislative advocacy, and systems change work strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of evidence-based literacy instruction and practices across the birth–to–12th–grade continuum.
• Proven track record of designing, managing, and scaling programs or initiatives to achieve measurable impact.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating and sustaining relationships with teachers, policymakers, and coalition partners.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, lead cross-functional projects, and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to represent Teach Plus persuasively with external audiences, including educators, policymakers, and funders.
• Skilled in adult learning, professional development design, facilitation, and/or coaching.
• Deep commitment to improving outcomes for students, particularly those from historically marginalized communities.

Location, Travel, and Commitment

Although this remote position will be conducted virtually (primarily from a home office), candidates must reside in Massachusetts. A residency in or near Boston (within a drivable distance) is preferred; candidates must be willing to travel up to 25% of the time to Boston, with periodic travel to other parts of Massachusetts and potentially to bordering New England states. This role requires flexible work hours, as it demands nights and weekends (approximately 4-8 evenings per month and 2-3 weekends per year) to support policy sessions and meet with teachers and policymakers. The ideal start date is mid-January 2026.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is between $85,000 and $95,000. The salary offered will be determined based on the selected candidate’s specific qualifications, years of relevant experience, specialized knowledge, and internal equity. Teach Plus offers a comprehensive benefits package and time-off, including 15 vacation days, 3 personal days, 5 sick days, 13 holidays, July break, Winter break, paid parental leave, and a 4-week paid sabbatical after every 5 years of service.

The salary range for this position is between $85,000 and $95,000. The salary offered will be determined based on the selected candidate’s specific qualifications, years of relevant experience, specialized knowledge, and internal equity. Teach Plus offers a comprehensive benefits package and time-off, including 15 vacation days, 3 personal days, 5 sick days, 13 holidays, July break, Winter break, paid parental leave, and a 4-week paid sabbatical after every 5 years of service.