Interim Program Manager - Tulsa

Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. We are a leader in working to solve the literacy crisis in our country by leveraging community volunteers in under-resourced schools. Our diverse and expansive volunteer base provides one-on-one tutoring to students twice weekly, and our program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals they need to unlock their potential as successful, happy and confident readers in school and in life. Our people are our heartbeat and our greatest resource; we are all passionately rallied around our mission to help children become lifelong learners by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that works. Join our stellar team leading the charge to deepen our impact and expand our service. Watch this video to learn more about Reading Partners.

The High Level

The  Interim Program Manager (PM) is part of a growing team of leaders rallied together to eradicate the early literacy crisis. The Interim Program Manager’s main role is to lead, develop and mobilize a team of AmeriCorps members and volunteers to deliver high quality, effective one-on-one instruction to our students. Reporting directly to the Deputy Director of Program, the Interim Program Manager manages all aspects of program quality, delivery and implementation in up to six reading centers. The Interim Program Manager directs the day-to-day operations of our reading centers, manages internal and external relationships, leads and supports a team of up to 9 emerging professionals, coaches and supports volunteers, drives processes and strategies to maximize literacy development in our students, and uses data to drive decision-making and progress. The  Interim Program Manager is an inspiring team leader, is savvy at the art of managing people and projects, is goal-oriented and is excited by both strategic and on-the-ground work. 

What you’ll do:

Coach manager and train a team of up to nine Reading Partners Americorps members toward highly successful program implementation across a portfolio of up to six schools.

• Meet monthly student enrollment and students served goals at each reading center
• Achieve and maintain 80% attendance for all students in the program
• Support students in reaching all stated academic performance metrics
• Achieve at least 90% satisfaction from tutors, teachers, and principal partners
• Support Site Coordinators in tutor management and retention

Manage all aspects of program implementation October through January in your reading centers.

• Serve as a literacy expert and resource to your portfolio
• Conduct student data analysis and action planning with your team
• Develop strong school partnerships through:
• Distribution of monthly newsletters for teachers and principals
• Attend one school faculty meeting at each school site at least once per quarter
• Attend grade level PLCs at each school site at least once per quarter
• Attend at least one after school event at each school site

Build, manage, and retain a highly successful and productive team.

• Retain 87% of Americorps members through their term of service
• Directly manage AmeriCorps members
• Build strong portfolio culture aligned to Tulsa regional culture through:
• Setting a clear vision of the culture with your team
• monthly team check-ins 
• Provide targeted coaching and development to Americorps members in your portfolio through weekly check-ins

Other duties as needed.

How you’ll do it:

Leadership & Management: 

• Demonstrate a genuine interest in coaching, inspiring, and developing emerging professionals toward goals. Demonstrate an ability to provide clear guidance and goals, delegate, and provide growth opportunities while supporting progress along the way. Be able to recruit, hire, onboard, and deliver high-quality training to AmeriCorps members. Provide on-site support to AmeriCorps members and tutors at school sites weekly. Support our national network of Reading Partners Program Managers through calls, best practice sharing, etc.

Relationship Development & Communication: 

• Cultivate strong internal relationships with peers, direct reports, and managers. Possess a strong aptitude for effective communication, remotely and in person, with direct reports, school stakeholders, and other Reading Partners staff. Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively as an ambassador of Reading Partners externally, specifically with school leaders and staff. Be able to set up strong systems for communication and messaging, tailor communication to audiences, and contextualize messaging. Demonstrate an ability to break down complex topics for a variety of audiences.  Employ excellent written communication skills.

Educational expertise: 

• Lead implementation of our organization’s assessment and curriculum and serve as a local subject matter expert on Reading Partners’ curriculum. Ensure high fidelity of the Reading Partners model at all school sites. Possess a high level of knowledge and competency in literacy strategies and behavior management. Demonstrate an ability to assess student performance using observations, to analyze data, and to create subsequent strategies aimed at increasing student achievement.  Analyze data and create action plans to improve student results.

Project Management: 

• Demonstrate an ability to effectively manage time, balance multiple competing priorities at once, and, above all, and remain adaptable, flexible, and positive while navigating challenges. Anticipate challenges and/or questions, and proactively act to address them. Understand larger strategic priorities and make measurable progress against these larger goals. Show an ability to make quick, sound, and on-the-fly decisions that consider all stakeholders. See the bigger picture and be able to drill down to smaller details and connect the dots. 

About you!

You’ll be successful in this role if you:

• Have 3+ years working with elementary-aged students in an educational setting. Teaching experience is strongly preferred. 
• Have direct management experience of volunteers, interns, and/or emerging professionals
• Have experience with literacy assessments, teaching strategies, and student data analysis
• Have access to reliable transportation to travel within a defined geographic region on a daily basis
• Have some flexibility and adaptability in your work schedule, including some night and weekend time
• Have excellent computer skills, including MS Office and database management
• Can prove eligibility to work in the U.S. legally
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Boast a deep belief in our mission
• Root your work in our core values

Bonus Points if you:

• Hold a master’s degree in education or a related field
• Have experience working in the launch phase of projects or programs
• Have knowledge of and a connection to the Tulsa elementary education community
• Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or other national service alum/alumna 

What we offer:

Reading Partners offers the full package – great benefits, a great place to work, and the opportunity to have a glowing and growing career. 

• We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time,  exempt, salaried position. 
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, generous paid time off, commuter benefits, 403(b) option, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 
• We offer an exciting and dynamic culture, and we commit to investing in and supporting our amazing people to grow their careers with us.

The other things you need to know:

• Travel: This position travels regularly throughout Tulsa. This position may also involve occasional travel to Reading Partners’ National Headquarters in Oakland, CA. 
• Typical Physical & Mental Demands: Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching, and eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator, and other office equipment.  Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with volunteers and staff. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.

What’s Next?

If you’re interested in joining our Reading Partners team, please submit the following application materials to our online job posting:

• A cover letter describing your interest in Reading Partners and how your past experience has prepared you for this role. Please include your salary needs. 
• Resume