Charter School Program Lead & Education Policy Strategist

State of Iowa; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Education is seeking an Education Program Consultant to lead the Iowa Charter School Program. You will provide statewide leadership, coordination, and oversight to support high-quality charter authorization, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities span grant management, budgeting, evaluation, reporting, professional learning, and collaboration with charter schools, districts, and partners.

Qualifications

• Experience in grant administration, budgeting, and federal reporting.
• Knowledge of charter school authorization, monitoring, and accountability systems.
• Strong project management, facilitation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze data and guide program improvement.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including state agencies, school leaders, families, and community partners.
• Knowledge of education policy, compliance, and continuous improvement frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Grant Coordination and Leadership: Facilitate communication and collaboration across grant‑related teams to ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and timelines.
• Administrative and Fiscal Management: Manage grant operations, including budgeting, expenditures, procurement, and compliance with federal and state requirements.
• Evaluation and Reporting: Oversee project evaluation processes and ensure timely, accurate reporting to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Charter Authorization and Monitoring: Establish, refine, and implement charter authorization and monitoring practices aligned with Iowa Code.
• Professional Development and Technical Assistance: Design and deliver professional learning and technical assistance for charter school quality and compliance.

Skills

Grant management

Budgeting

Federal reporting

Stakeholder collaboration

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

The Iowa Department of Education is seeking an Education Program Consultant to lead the Iowa Charter School Program. You will provide statewide leadership, coordination, and oversight to support high-quality charter authorization, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities span grant management, budgeting, evaluation, reporting, professional learning, and collaboration with charter schools, districts, and partners.