Head of Program Implementation

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 (up to 12 weeks)

403(b) retirement plan

Professional development fund

Employee assistance program

Job summary

DREAM is seeking a Head of Program Implementation to lead the Innovation Team, guiding training and support for partner schools in AI-enabled education. This role requires expertise in adult professional learning, school leadership, and data-informed improvement across multiple districts.

The candidate will build guides and playbooks, oversee PD design, and establish metrics to measure impact while collaborating with researchers and school leaders to implement DREAM’s future-ready curriculum at

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 8 years in education including teaching and leadership.
• 4+ years as senior school or network leader; charter experience preferred.
• Expert facilitator of adult learning with strong coaching vision.
• Ability to coach leaders without formal authority.
• Data-driven with strong collaboration and communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI and future-ready skills program implementation and training.
• Manage the Innovation Program Implementation Team, coaching leaders and teachers.
• Set quality standards for AI leadership and teaching excellence.
• Develop guides, playbooks, and implementation systems at scale.
• Design professional development experiences for school leaders and teachers.
• Provide feedback to PD developers and facilitators to ensure quality.
• Establish metrics, monitor outcomes, and drive continuous improvement.
• Stay current on AI in education and translate into practice.

Skills

Adult learning

Data fluency

Team leadership

Education leadership

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree in Education

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 Implementation, Innovation Team, will lead the training, development, coaching, and implementation support required to bring DREAM’s Innovation programming to partner schools and school systems. This leader will manage the Innovation Program Implementation Team, supporting school and system leaders and teachers, leading high-quality professional development, setting the quality bar for AI and future-ready leadership and teaching, and building the guides, playbooks, and systems that enable strong implementation at scale.

This is an exciting opportunity for an education and school-system leader with a background in teaching and school leadership, expertise in adult professional learning and coaching, a record of supporting model dissemination or consulting across schools, and excitement about AI and future-ready skills in education.

Responsibilities

AI Program Implementation and Team Leadership

• Manage and develop the team responsible for facilitating training, development, and coaching partner school teachers and leaders implementing DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills programming (a two-person team for now, with the potential for growth);
• Set and maintain the quality bar for excellence in AI and future-ready skills leadership and teaching;
• Oversee the creation of guides and playbooks for how to implement DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills model at the school and school-system level;
• Design and facilitate excellent professional development experiences for leaders and teachers who are implementing DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills curriculum and programming, modeling the highest standards of execution for the team;
• Provide high-quality feedback to PD developers and facilitators, ensuring learning experiences meet a high standard of quality;
• Establish metrics, monitor outcomes, and use data to assess impact, drive continuous improvement, and inform strategic decision-making;
• 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 implementation design and strategy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coach and support Principals and other leaders at our partner schools to build the systems and conditions required to implement DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills work effectively;
• Collaborate with the AI and future-ready skills Program Design team to ensure all professional development and learning experiences clearly communicate DREAM’s vision for teaching and learning;
• Interface with external academic researchers to study the effectiveness of DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills work and apply findings to strengthen implementation and learning;

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, including experience as a teacher and school leader, required.
• Minimum 4 years of experience as a senior school or network leader (such as Principal, Network Director, Managing Director; charter school experience highly preferred), education consulting working closely with charter schools, and/or coaching through model dissemination, required;
• Expert facilitator of adult professional learning, with strong knowledge of adult learning theory and a clear vision for a high standard of excellence;
• Ability to model and coach other leaders quickly and effectively, without relying on established managerial authority or established relationships;
• Demonstrated success managing or developing teams;
• Ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity;
• Strong collaborative, interpersonal, and communication skills;
• Data fluency and a data-systems orientation, with the ability to use data to assess and improve implementation;
• Ability to stay up-to-date on AI as it evolves and to use data to inform decisions and improve outcomes;
• Exceptional attention to detail, superb follow-through, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines;
• 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.

Applying to DREAM

We know applying for a new job can be a daunting process. In addition, studies have shown that historically underrepresented individuals often only apply to roles if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage all applications! You may be just the person we need. If you have any questions about your application or interview process, do not hesitate to ask your recruiter; we are here to help!

DREAM provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact your recruiter.

If you are a current DREAM employee, please click here to review our Internal Selection Process before applying.