Head of Partnerships

Lever, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical health plans

Dental and vision plans

Parental leave

Employer matching retirement plan

Professional development fund

Referral bonuses

Annual leave and holidays

Job summary

DREAM is seeking a Head of Partnerships in the Innovation Team to lead our school partnerships and scale our AI-focused program model. This leadership role requires strategic vision, strong relationship skills, and the ability to manage cross-functional initiatives across education partners and DOE venues.

You will recruit partner schools, provide embedded coaching, plan cohort learning experiences, and oversee the logistics, data, and communications needed to deliver high-quality cohorts that

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years in education, ed-tech, or nonprofits; 4+ years in people leadership.
• Existing NYC Department of Education relationships or curriculum partnerships preferred.
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional and multi-partner initiatives.
• Ability to use data to inform decisions and improvements.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead recruitment, selection, and onboarding of partner schools into DREAM’s programmatic cohort model.
• Coordinate internal and external cross-functional coordination of all partnership operations and logistics.
• Plan and manage cohort learning events, site visits, and convenings, including NYC DOE audiences.
• Lead, coach, and develop 2+ staff members with clear vision, priorities, and accountability.
• Collaborate with DREAM leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Other responsibilities related to the role as assigned.

Skills

Team leadership

Relationship building

Change management

Project management

Communication

AI literacy

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree in Education, Business, or related field

Job description

Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools—growing our organization’s impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.

DREAM will develop and scale AI-enabled teaching and learning models designed to expand opportunity for students across the Bronx. Over the next three years, we will partner with 15 schools in the Bronx to help them implement an AI literacy curriculum, use AI tools to accelerate learning, and pursue new school models that prioritize real-world learning and future-ready skills. We will recruit partner schools, provide training and embedded coaching to leaders and teachers, and help educators implement and adapt these practices, curriculum, and tools in their own classrooms. Through rigorous evaluation and continuous improvement, this new initiative aims to improve academic outcomes while creating more time for collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and other future-ready skills.

About this Work

The Head of Partnerships, Innovation Team will lead DREAM’s partnerships with schools, participating in DREAM’s AI-focused programmatic cohort model. This leader will manage the Innovation Partnerships Team, building the systems, relationships, and operational infrastructure required to recruit and support partner schools, deliver high-quality cohort experiences, and organize the legal, data, technology, communications, and convening needs of the work.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and highly operational leader with a strong background in education, expertise in managing complex partnerships and cross-functional initiatives, a record of building programs across systems, genuine excitement about AI-enabled learning, and the ability to navigate complexity while maintaining strong relationships.

Responsibilities

Partnership Strategy and Operations

• Design and lead processes for recruitment, selection, and onboarding of partner schools into DREAM’s programmatic cohort model;
• Manage internal and external cross-functional coordination of all partnership operations and logistics;

Cohort Learning, Site Visits, and Convenings

• Lead the planning, operations, and logistics for cohort-based learning including: 2-day Convenings, monthly cohort meetings, and ongoing site visits and intervisitations, that support partner schools;
• Manage the logistics and operations for convenings and learning experiences serving NYC Department of Education audiences.

Team Leadership

• Manage, coach, and support 2 (or more) staff members including the Lead: Partnership and Learning and the Lead: Convening Operations, ensuring clarity of vision, priorities, roles, and accountability;
• Collaborate with DREAM leadership and cross-functional teams;

Other responsibilities related to the role as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education, Business, or a related field preferred;
• Minimum 8 years of experience in education, ed-tech, or nonprofits, including at least 4 years of experience directly managing a team, required;
• Existing relationships with the NYC Department of Education and/or experience developing curriculum partnerships or products with the DOE, preferred;
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional and large-scale initiatives involving multiple partnerships, disseminating programs across systems, and/or leading organizational business strategy;
• Deep knowledge of relational influence, change management, and adult learning theory;
• Ability to stay up-to-date on AI as it evolves and to use data to inform decisions and improvements;
• Strong operational, organizational, and project-management skills, with exceptional attention to detail, superb follow-through, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines;
• Ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity;
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trusting relationships in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Start-up mindset: demonstrated resourcefulness, flexibility, creativity, and a solutions-oriented approach, ready to build something from the ground up;
• Deep commitment to DREAM’s mission, values, and graduate vision, with a strong belief in the power of families as partners and leaders.

Benefits and Paid Time Off

We offer comprehensive benefits including:

• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment;
• Access to a professional development fund;
• Referral bonuses;
• All full-time Network Support employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays;
• Benefits are subject to change.

Compensation

• DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $170,000 to $190,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At DREAM, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a matter of mission.

From our schools to our playing fields, DREAM is committed to building a team where each individual can bring their full identity and experience to work because representation matters—it enriches our team culture, enhances our ability to innovate, and strengthens our impact in and out of the classroom. DREAM engages staff that represent and appreciate the diversity of our majority Black and Hispanic student body, while working to ensure that our practices are equitable, welcoming, and productive. We are dedicated to creating a world where youth, especially youth of color, have permission to dream—along with the tools and opportunities to make their dreams reality.

DREAM Maxims

All Kids Can. This Kid Can.

DREAM is Family.

Fun is a Serious Value.

Teamwork Makes the DREAM Work.

Fail. Persist. Exceed.

DREAM Big.