Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

Job Description

General Summary

A cornerstone of the Uncommon High School experience is to provide co-curricular programming, referred to as “Projects,” to all students in grades 10-12. The goals of Projects are to provide students with an opportunity to explore an area of passion, learn about areas of study that could become a passion, participate in a rigorous task that requires sustained energy over the course of a year and to have the opportunity to potentially complete on a national level. In addition to serving as the instructional and operational leader of Projects, the Program Manager is a unique role in our high schools that will establish and shape the vision of summer programs, internships, community partnerships, career-connected learning, and out-of-school learning opportunities.  The Program Manager will report to the Head of Lower School or Academy Leader and will also check in with the Director of Experiential Learning.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Program Manager should expect to spend 75% of their time as an instructional and operational leader of “Projects.”  The other 25% of time is spent on supporting students to learn about and apply to summer programs, internships, and out of school experiences.  Essential responsibilities include:

• Securing, advertising, and enrolling students in Projects aligned with their interests and passions
• Regularly observing and providing feedback to project leaders based on the network-wide instructional rubric for Projects
• Manage the budget and financial operations of the overall program
• Plan and lead school-wide events to showcase student talent and Projects
• Act as the school-based champion for summer programs; ensure students are aware of opportunities available to them and submit high-quality applications
• Thoughtfully recruit students to attend outside-of-school programs and sector-specific career workshops sponsored by Uncommon

Qualifications

• Must exhibit excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must have superior interpersonal skills
• Ability to research and quickly develop knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, occupational, career and personal growth.
• Must be a self-starter and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and work independently as a leader and as part of a team.
• Strong relationship builder who will form bonds with students, school leaders, internship providers, funders and an internal team

Education & Experience Required

• Requires a bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in a high school environment (in instruction or operations) to understand the academic culture and must have the ability to effectively interact with faculty, staff, students, parents, and administrators highly preferred.
• Familiarity with corporate and nonprofit human resource management. Understanding of experiential education and career advising. Experience in presentation of workshops or public speaking.

Additional Information

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: The starting compensation for this role based in Boston is between $57,000 to $86,000. The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.  Because we value staff tenure in a role, we do not currently cap salary ranges for current staff members. 

Other Benefits:

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time and school breaks (spring, winter, and summer) + additional sustainability half days throughout the school year
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • Pension through Mass. Teachers Retirement System  
  • 403(b) retirement savings program 
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org.