Director, Program Strategic Initiatives & Ops (Full-Time)
About the role
TeachForAmerica Detroit seeks a Director of Program Strategic Initiatives & Operations to drive operational excellence and strategic initiatives across the organization.
Responsibilities
Lead operational planning and execution for TeachMichigan's strategic initiatives, ensuring educator, alumni, school leader, district, and partner experiences are delivered with excellence and aligned to organizational priorities, annual goals, and long-term impact.
Design and manage project plans, implementation strategies, timelines, operational workflows, and communication plans that translate organizational priorities into coordinated action.
Develop and continuously improve operational systems, tools, dashboards, and processes that strengthen execution, increase efficiency, reduce organizational friction, and support scalable implementation across Michigan.
Leverage operational, participant, and stakeholder data to monitor implementation, evaluate progress, identify opportunities for improvement, and support data-informed decision-making.
Anticipate operational risks, proactively solve challenges, and ensure complex initiatives are executed on time, within scope, and with a consistently high-quality stakeholder experience.
Own end-to-end operations for TeachMichigan's core learning experiences, leadership development opportunities, site visits, learning walks, district engagements, alumni activations, and statewide convenings.
Coordinate logistics, communications, vendor relationships, budgets, materials, and stakeholder engagement to deliver seamless, high-quality participant experiences.
Develop repeatable operational playbooks, planning tools, and scalable processes that improve consistency, quality, and execution across programs and experiences.
Continuously improve participant experiences by leveraging educator, stakeholder, and partner feedback to strengthen operations and increase overall impact.
Partner closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure experiences are coordinated, aligned, and reflective of TeachMichigan's commitment to excellence.
Advance TeachMichigan's 2030 goal by leading and contributing to cross-functional initiatives that strengthen educator development, organizational effectiveness, and statewide impact.
Identify opportunities to strengthen systems, improve collaboration, and increase organizational effectiveness through innovation and continuous improvement.
Lead or contribute to strategic planning, organizational priorities, and enterprise-wide initiatives that extend beyond the primary scope of the role.
Contribute leadership and operational capacity to regional priorities, including EmpowerEd Weekends, leadership retreats, strategic planning, fellow selection, and other organization-wide initiatives as organizational needs evolve.
Requirements
Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in operations, program management, project management, strategic initiatives, or a related field.
Demonstrated success leading complex projects or initiatives from planning through execution.
Experience designing and improving systems, processes, and operational workflows that increase efficiency and quality.
Prominent ability to coordinate cross-functional work and build alignment across diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to lead with ownership, adaptability, and initiative by proactively solving problems, improving systems, and contributing beyond defined responsibilities to strengthen collective impact.
Experience managing multiple priorities, navigating ambiguity, and delivering high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.
Experience using data and insights to monitor progress, inform decisions, and drive continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
Strong systems thinker with a continuous improvement mindset.
Ability to translate strategy into clear plans and successful execution.
Excellent relationship-building, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to analyze data and use insights to improve operations and participant experiences.
High degree of ownership, adaptability, and sound judgment.
Ability to balance strategic thinking with exceptional attention to detail.
Skills
Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
Strong systems thinker with a continuous improvement mindset.
Ability to translate strategy into clear plans and successful execution.
Excellent relationship-building, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to analyze data and use insights to improve operations and participant experiences.
High degree of ownership, adaptability, and sound judgment.
Ability to balance strategic thinking with exceptional attention to detail.
Benefits
TeachForAmerica Detroit offers competitive benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement savings options, and paid time off.
Pay
The applicable salary range for each U.S.-based role is based on where the employee works and is aligned to one of 3 tiers according to a cost-of-labor index in that geographic area. Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. The expected salary ranges for this role are set forth below. These ranges may be modified in the future. Tier A Salary: $67,500-$88,600
Schedule
The Michigan team’s office is in Detroit. The role will require on-site work with educators in communities across Michigan 3-4 times per month, on average.