Leading Men Fellowship Program Manager

POSITION: The Literacy Lab is seeking a dynamic, organized, full-time Program Manager to lead its Leading Men Fellowship program in the Greater Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona region (the “Program Manager”). The Fellowship puts young men of color at the center of change in our education system by training them to be early literacy tutors for a school year through a residency-style fellowship program. The Program Manager is primarily responsible for leading a team of Leading Men Fellows, in coordination with a Program Associate and Early Literacy Coaching Specialists and in partnership with school staff, to implement a nationally recognized early literacy intervention program. The Program Manager is also responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships with principals, school district leaders, higher education institutions, and other community partners and stakeholders, leading to the long-term sustainability and success of the program. This leadership position is an excellent opportunity to join a dedicated and collaborative team in a high-performing nonprofit committed to closing the literacy achievement gap and bringing educational equity and empowerment to communities in need throughout the country.

ABOUT THE LITERACY LAB: The Literacy Lab is a fast-paced, national non-profit organization, whose mission is to provide low-income children with individualized reading instruction to improve their literacy skills, leading to greater success in school and increased opportunities in life. We partner with school districts to add capacity in schools that have been historically under-resourced to close the literacy achievement gap for children before third grade.  

The Literacy Lab’s Leading Men Fellowship, creates college and career opportunities for young men of color, while increasing representation in the field of education. Leading Men Fellows are young men of color who have recently graduated from high school who participate in a year-long, residency-style experience in which they receive robust coaching, as well as personal and professional development, in order to provide evidence-based literacy support to pre-kindergarten students. The Leading Men Fellowship was established in 2016 in Washington DC, and is currently operating in Baltimore, Maryland, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Central Virginia. The Leading Men Fellowship will be expanding to Atlanta, Georgia and Phoenix, Arizona for the 2022-2023 school year.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: The Program Manager reports to the National Director of the Leading Men Fellowship. The Program Manager will be responsible for the following: 

• Leading the implementation of The Literacy Lab’s Leading Men Fellowship in the Greater Phoenix-Mesa region and ensuring fidelity to the research-based model in collaboration with other team members.
• Managing, supporting, and building relationships with Coaching Specialists and at least 15 Leading Men Fellows while creating an affirming, motivating environment for all team members.
• Building and managing relationships with school sites, principals, and school district officials.
• Helping with the annual recruitment and placement of a diverse team of high-performing Leading Men Fellows, in partnership with the Recruitment Team. 
• Collaborating with Literacy Lab staff to ensure that Fellows have an affirming, meaningful experience by planning and organizing a summer training institute and creating professional and personal development opportunities for Fellows throughout the school year.
• Working closely with Literacy Lab staff and other members of the Leading Men team in other parts of the country to implement the Leading Men Fellowship’s personal and professional development curriculum through a series of Professional Learning Group sessions.
• Supporting and coaching Leading Men Fellows in the selection of appropriate post-Fellowship college and career options.
• Collaborating with local partners to identify, select, and train mentors to support Leading Men Fellows throughout the Fellowship.
• Analyzing Fellow and student impact and outcomes to drive success and make programmatic improvements; working closely with Coaching Specialists and the Data Team to use data to monitor the growth and success of Fellows and students.
• Serving as an ambassador to build support for The Literacy Lab with prospective funders, schools, and community partners through site visits and events.
• Building a sense of community and bank of resources to support the Leading Men Fellowship Alumni network.
• Performing other duties to promote the success of the program, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: We are seeking candidates with: 

• A deep commitment to closing equity, achievement, and opportunity gaps within under-resourced communities.
• Interest in expanding and improving professional opportunities in education for young men of color.
• A track record of leadership, taking initiative, going above and beyond, and relentlessly pursuing results. 
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced and quickly changing environment. 
• Strong problem-solving skills, the ability to manage projects with minimal direction, an entrepreneurial growth mindset, and a can-do attitude. 
• Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail and deadlines.
• The ability to connect with, inspire, and coach young adults in a professional setting. 
• A focus on continuous improvement; open to feedback and guidance.
• The capacity to manage multiple demands and shifting priorities. 
• The ability to face challenging situations calmly and competently.
• Strong professional communication skills; comfort engaging with a variety of audiences; personable and engaging personality.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office 2010 (or later) software, especially Word, Outlook, and Excel.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Significant experience working in education, a related field, or with under-resourced communities, a plus.
• Significant experience with Mesa Public Schools or other Metro Phoenix school districts or systems, a plus.
• Spanish fluency, a plus.

WORK LOCATION: This position will be based in The Literacy Lab Greater Phoenix office. 

TRAVEL: This position may require out-of-town travel with notice for training, staff events, and conferences. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: The salary range for this position is $60,000 to $65,000. Benefits include a flexible work environment, employer-paid health and dental insurance (employee only), employer-paid short and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance, a 403b retirement plan, and paid vacation.

APPLICATION DETAILS: Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references with contact information via email (with the subject ATTN: Phoenix-Mesa Leading Men Fellowship Program Manager) to jobs@theliteracylab.org. 

The Literacy Lab is an equal opportunity employer. The Literacy Lab’s policy is to provide equal opportunity at all times without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, family responsibility, physical or mental disability, medication, or status as a veteran.