Head of Program Design

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Parental leave (up to 12 weeks)

Professional development fund

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

DREAM is seeking a Head of Program Design on the Innovation Team to lead the design and continuous improvement of DREAM’s disseminated AI and future-ready skills curriculum. You will manage the Innovation Program Design team, set vision, and ensure materials are rigorous, branded, and ready for external partners.

The role requires a strong background in teaching and school leadership, curriculum development, and experience leading cross-functional initiatives, with a passion for AI in education

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in education, including experience as a teacher.
• Minimum 4 years of leadership in curriculum publishing, senior school leadership, education technology, and/or education consulting with charter schools.
• Experience in research (e.g., evidence-based curriculum; RCTs) preferred.
• Content expertise in AI literacy, project-based learning, experiential learning, use of tech to accelerate learning, and high-impact tutoring.
• Clear vision for excellence in curriculum products; ability to polish and package curriculum for dissemination to partners.
• Proven track record in managing or developing teams.
• Ability to stay up-to-date on AI and translate data into curriculum decisions.
• Exceptional attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong collaboration, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Deep commitment to DREAM’s mission and values.

Responsibilities

• AI Curriculum and Team Leadership: design and develop DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills curriculum; oversee branding and turnkey-readiness for partners; write curriculum to reflect high standards; establish metrics and drive data-informed improvement.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: work with technology developers during product design; integrate curricula into playbooks and learning experiences for AI partners; coordinate with researchers to study effectiveness and apply findings.

Skills

Education leadership

Curriculum development

AI literacy

Project-based learning

Experiential learning

Team management

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree in Education or related field

Tools

Education technology

Educational research

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 Program Design, Innovation Team will lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of DREAM’s disseminated innovation curriculum and related curricular products. This leader will manage the Innovation Program Design team, setting a clear vision for the use of DREAM’s innovation curriculum, and ensuring that materials are rigorous, polished, branded, and ready for implementation by external partners. The curricular products will include AI fluency, project-based and experiential learning, AI edtech design, and durable skill-building.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced curriculum leader with a strong background in teaching and school leadership, expertise in curriculum development, a record of leading complex cross-functional initiatives, excitement about the evolving field of AI in education, and the ability to translate research and data into strong learning experiences.

Responsibilities

AI Curriculum and Team Leadership

• Manage and develop the team responsible for designing DREAM’s disseminated AI and future-ready skills curriculum;
• Provide high-level oversight and feedback on standards, branding, packaging of curricular products to the team, for turnkey-readiness to external partners;
• Write AI and future-ready skills curriculum, modeling the highest standards of execution for the team;
• Establish metrics, monitor outcomes, and use data to assess impact, drive continuous improvement, and inform strategic decision-making.
• Teach and model how to use DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills curriculum in the classroom;
• Communicate a clear vision for the use of our AI and future-ready skills curriculum;
• Stay up-to-the-minute on AI and future-ready skills in education, including peer-reviewed research, identified best practices, and relevant political influences, translating that knowledge into curriculum design and strategy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with technology developers throughout the product design and development process;
• Collaborate with the Implementation Team to integrate curricular content into Convening playbooks and learning experiences for our AI partners;
• Coordinate with external academic researchers to study the effectiveness of DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills implementation and apply findings to curriculum and program improvement.

Other responsibilities related to the role as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education or a related field preferred;
• Minimum 8 years of experience in education, required, including experience as a teacher;
• Minimum 4 years of experience in leadership in the areas of curriculum publishing, senior school leadership (such as Principal, Network Director of Curriculum, or Managing Director of Academics), education technology, and/or education consulting working closely with charter schools, required;
• Experience in research (such as evidence-based curriculum and randomized control trials), preferred;
• Content expertise in AI literacy, project-based learning, experiential learning, the use of tech to accelerate learning, and high impact tutoring;
• Clear vision for a high standard of excellence in curriculum products, with the ability to polish and package curriculum for dissemination to partners;
• Demonstrated success managing or developing teams;
• Ability to stay up-to-date on AI as it evolves and to use data to inform decisions and improve curriculum;
• 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, interpersonal, and communication skills;
• 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.

Come dream with us.

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.