Program Manager - Washington, DC

Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. We are a leader in solving 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. 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 life. Our people are our heartbeat and our most incredible 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 Program Manager (PM) is part of a growing team of program staff working together to eradicate the early literacy crisis. The Program Manager’s primary 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 Program Director (PD), the Program Manager manages all aspects of program quality, delivery, and implementation in up to five schools. The Program Manager directs the day-to-day operations of a portfolio of reading centers, manages internal and external relationships, leads and supports a team of up to 8 AmeriCorps members, 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 Program Manager is an emerging leader, is savvy at the art of mobilizing people and projects, is goal-oriented, and is excited by both strategic and on-the-ground work.

What You’ll Do

Coach, manage and train a team of AmeriCorps Members toward successful program implementation across up to six schools.

• Achieve a rating of at least 90% satisfaction from tutors, teachers, and principal partners.
• Retain at least 95% of AmeriCorps members through a term of service.
• Have 90% of volunteering reading partners in your school portfolio report satisfaction with their experience, as measured by volunteer surveys.
• Have 90% of teachers and 100% of principals in your portfolio of schools identify Reading Partners as a valuable asset to their school, as measured by surveys
• Collaborate with the entire program team to create and facilitate monthly AmeriCorps member and volunteer training workshops

Manage all aspects of program implementation, including serving as a local literacy program expert, conducting student data analysis and action planning, fostering school relationships, and directly managing AmeriCorps members.

• Achieve and maintain above 90% attendance for all students enrolled in the program.
• Provide support to 80% of students in K-2nd grade who will master grade-appropriate foundational literacy skills, as measured by a research-based, elementary literacy assessment.
• Provide support, so at least 80% of 3rd-5th grade students accelerate their learning rate compared to their rate of learning before enrolling in the program.

Support program operations in the region as needed.

• Each Program Team member leads a region-wide leadership initiative; some examples are managing the AmeriCorps training, leading our anti-racism work, or leading region-wide data reporting.

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 staff through biweekly calls, best practice sharing, etc.

Relationship Development & Communication: 

• Cultivate solid 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 solid 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, analyze data, and create subsequent plans to increase student achievement. Analyze data and create action plans to improve student results.

Project Management: 

• Demonstrate an ability to manage time effectively, balance multiple competing priorities at once, and, above all, and remain adaptable, flexible, and positive while navigating challenges. Anticipate challenges and questions and proactively act to address them. Understand more significant 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 more minor details and connect the dots.

About You!

You’ll be successful in this role if you:

• Have 1+ years working with elementary-aged students in an educational setting. Teaching experience is preferred.
• Have direct management experience of volunteers, interns, and 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 daily
• 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
• COVID-19 vaccination is required unless a medical or religious accommodation is requested and approved. Please review our Vaccination Policy.

Bonus points if you:

• Have experience working in the launch phase of projects or programs
• Have knowledge of and a connection to the DC elementary education community
• Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or other national service alum/alumna

What We Offer

Reading Partners offers the complete 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, salaried position. Pay range is 58k - 61k annually.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, generous paid time off, commuter benefits, 403(b) match 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 requires daily travel throughout Washington DC.

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 experience has prepared you for this role. Please include your salary needs.
• Resume