Senior Program Manager (ARLA)

What is the Alabama Rural Learning Accelerator (ARLA)?

ARLA is an Alabama-based unique partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative aimed at establishing a national and cutting-edge model to deliver the highest-quality math and science instruction to rural schools that face the most acute shortages of math and science teachers. Hiring and retaining fully certified math and science teachers is a consistent challenge for rural schools. The Learning Accelerator provides a solution to fill those gaps and connect more students to potential careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. It is an exciting pilot demonstrating a shared commitment to innovation across all facets of education and economic development.

This position is project-based and 100% contingent on continued funding of ARLA project opportunities.

What do you do all day?

National Math + Science Initiative seeks a highly skilled project and relationship manager to join our team as a Senior Program Manager (ARLA). This role specifically supports NMSI's collaboration with UABTeach in Alabama via the Alabama Rural Learning Accelerator (ARLA). The Senior Program Manager ensures the quality implementation and sustainment of programming in the schools we serve and the project holistically by managing high-level relationships with critical stakeholders across the state of Alabama, ensuring effective Program Management of schools served and managing the ARLA advisory council, comprised of district and university partners and state legislators. The Senior Program Manager also leads ARLA cultivation efforts, including expanding and scaling the ARLA model, developing district-level strategies, and supporting team members in the execution of these strategies.

This role supervises one team member, reports to the Sr. Director, Programmatic Partnerships and can be performed anywhere in the southwest region, although Alabama is preferred.

What are the details?

The Senior Program Manager will demonstrate a commitment to NMSI's mission, leadership and influencing skills, ability to manage others to outcomes, project management, and the cultivation of new programmatic partners; data analysis and exceptional communication and organizational skills are also critical for success in this role. The ability to speak compellingly about our work and develop content knowledge in key organizational initiatives is also required. While work will vary from day to day, the typical job responsibilities in this role are as follows:

External Relationship Management

• Meet cultivation and revenue goals
• Partner with Cultivation Team members on the development and execution of a cultivation strategy with a focus on expanding NMSI's programmatic footprint via the ARLA model
• Serve as primary Program Team contact for all ARLA stakeholders, including but not limited to new district and donor cultivation, district-level leaders within the existing ARLA model, state-level legislators, and UABTeach partners
• Strengthen and grow external networks that lead to new partnerships and opportunities for the ARLA model and NMSI

Active Program Team Management

• Manage and coach the team to ensure high-quality district and school support and stakeholder relationship management is provided to NMSI partners across the ARLA ecosystem
  • Develop project goals and priorities that align with broader organizational goals, core competencies, and strategic priorities identified in collaboration with the ARLA advisory council
  • Meet regularly with team members to provide coaching and support, and discuss successes/challenges
  • Facilitate monthly snapshot discussions that lead to actionable, two-way feedback
  • Build the capacity of team members to develop strong ARLA programs in their schools and develop sustainable partnerships
• Develop ARLA strategic plan and priorities as they relate to program implementation at district and school levels
• Develop an aligned comprehensive and multi-year ARLA workplan
• Lead the planning, execution, and progress monitoring of partnership initiatives. Initiatives may include but are not limited to new school onboarding, team coaching and support, sustainment planning and continuing services strategy, etc.
• Lead and manage the cultivation of new district partners
• Collaborate with Sr. Director, Programmatic Partnerships to set goals around ARLA scale and contract renewals and manage teams to execute plans and meet designated targets
• Analyze ARLA project performance data to track quarterly benchmark and yearly goal progress and completion
• Create systems and protocols to manage the implementation of and support the scale of the ARLA program

Internal Collaboration

• Partner with Senior Director and the Program Team to successfully implement NMSI strategic priorities as they relate to the implementation at regional, district, and school levels
• Participate and contribute in cross-functional discussions, working groups and strategic meetings that directly impact the work of the Program Team and NMSI as a whole
• Represent NMSI as the leader in providing STEM education and increased opportunity for student success for every school and every region we partner
• Other duties as assigned

What are we looking for?

• Experience & Education – Bachelor's Degree required; minimum three years of experience working with school districts to coach teachers and leaders, develop strategy, provide support services, and implement programming.

• Managing Complexity – As NMSI transitions our programming to focus more on district engagement, your ability to navigate uncertainty and help transition the Program Manager role from current to future state.
• Skilled Communicator – You have excellent interpersonal skills, including oral and written communication, and the ability to authentically listen to and connect with diverse constituencies and present effectively to groups of varying sizes.
• Strategic Mindset – You're a critical-thinking person who analyzes data effectively, sees future possibilities, translates them into breakthrough strategies, and makes good data-driven decisions.
• Collaboration – You build trust, communicate openly, and develop partnerships inside and outside the organization to maximize our shared knowledge and bring greater value to our mission.
• Entrepreneurial – You live for the hustle required to meet ambitious goals with an appetite for collaboration.
• Organized & Productive – You're a master at project planning and managing multiple priorities, and you do not let distractions or complexity prevent you from meeting goals. You are highly organized with extreme attention to detail, accuracy, and problem-solving abilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Reliable Transportation – You have access to reliable transportation to visit schools, a valid driver's license, and proof of insurance.

What do we offer?

The starting salary range for this position is $107,396 - $123,391 and commensurate with related experience. We take pay equity seriously and work hard to ensure our team members are paid fairly, regardless of their gender, race, or other demographic backgrounds. In addition to a competitive salary with the potential for an annual pay increase, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including paying roughly 78% of employee-only medical, dental, and vision benefits plus a large portion for dependents. Staff is eligible to participate in 401(k) after 90 days of employment, with up to a 6% employee match, fully vested on day one of participation in the plan. Other benefits for full-time employees include referral and performance-based annual bonuses, telecommunications stipends for eligible remote employees, 25 paid holidays annually (including a two-week-long winter break), and a generous PTO policy starting at 12 days per year. We strive to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff members can show up as their authentic selves, participating in DEI-focused learning opportunities and employee-led affinity groups.

Want to learn more?

The National Math and Science Initiative is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming math and science education in today's classrooms and ensuring that all students have the knowledge and skills to thrive in the global economy of the 21^st century. Founded in 2007, NMSI began by dramatically improving student participation and success in rigorous Advanced Placement math, science and English courses in 85 courses across seven states. Today, NMSI has scaled its proven program to serve more than 1.5 million students, 50,000 teachers, 1,000 high schools and 45 universities across 40 states and is having a demonstrable and lasting impact on student outcomes. Go to www.nms.org to learn more.

Offered candidates must pass county, state, and federal-level criminal background checks as a condition of employment. Positions with fiduciary responsibilities, including roles that involve handling money or contracts, executive officers, and those with access to sensitive material such as payroll information must also pass a personal credit report as permissible under the FCRA and applicable state laws.

All NMSI employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or secure an approved exemption no later than 45 days from their start date. New hires must also submit their vaccination status within five days of employment. Exemption requests will not be accepted or reviewed before an employee's start date.

The organization has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

National Math + Science Initiative (NMSI) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. NMSI complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which we have employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.