Program Manager, Special Projects

About EmpowerK12

At EmpowerK12, we envision a world where students of all backgrounds can thrive in the life path of their choice. Our mission is to empower education systems with rigorous data analytics and tools to drive collaborative improvement and equitable student outcomes. By education systems, we mean all the components that are critical to ensuring student success including students, parents/families, teachers, school leaders, district leaders, policymakers, support organizations and businesses, researchers, and innovators.

To that end, we empower schools with data analytics tools along with professional development and coaching to turn data into action. Our data analytics tools focus on putting real-time, actionable data in the hands of teachers and administrators so that they can most effectively support students. Our team supports over 100 schools across 39 school networks, and we strive to support DC’s broader cross-sector community through citywide research projects such as honoring Bold Schools and understanding math bright spots.

Our Team Culture

We are a tight-knit team that prides ourselves on figuring out how to overcome problems in pursuit of solutions for our partners. Our personal interests vary from musicals, embroidery, astronomy, and March Madness to running and probability modeling. We check in as a team frequently and participate in team-building activities that include trying new restaurants, playing board games, and exploring the District. We prioritize our team’s professional growth by ensuring that each team member has both the challenging projects and the support they need to take their skills to new heights. When you join our team, you become part of a dynamic community that encourages everyone to learn new skills and share our learning to grow as individuals and as an organization.

You may fit in well with our culture if your approach to work aligns with ours:

• We are collaborative team players who are excited about building strong relationships among diverse communities
• We are tenacious and willing to ask for help; we understand that challenges are a signal to work smarter, collaboratively involve others, and creatively problem solve
• We desire feedback as part of our commitment to self-development and to improving skills
• We are excited to work in a startup environment where challenges arise daily and where each individual’s ideas make an important impact and take EmpowerK12’s services to the next level

Position Overview

EmpowerK12 seeks an exceptional Program Manager to support strategic initiatives and execution of high-priority initiatives. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, self-starter, proactive problem-solver, skilled communicator, and has exceptional project management skills who will thrive in a fast-paced, active work environment. This position demands someone who combines educational experience with exceptional project management skills, a passion for being data-driven, and an unwavering commitment to educational equity. This position is based in DC and will require being based in the DC area.

Key Responsibilities

• Anything it takes to serve our partners’ needs
• Lead and manage special projects planning and execution
• Ensure that special projects align to organization goals, mission, and strategic plan
• Develop detailed project plans and timelines, track progress in Asana, and follow up with individuals as needed
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including DCPS, DC public charter schools, OSSE, community organizations, education partners, and funders
• Monitor program outcomes and work with stakeholders to adjust strategies and maximize impact on student achievement
• Prepare presentations, reports, and materials related to projects and organization services
• Support with communications and social media (i.e., website, monthly newsletter, social media, and event communications)
• Support with planning and execution of organizational events
• Support with strategic plans for organizational growth and consulting projects
• Oversee the implementation and ongoing management of apps and data submission tools

Qualifications

• Commitment to educational equity and EmpowerK12’s mission; direct experience in education is preferred, but we will consider candidates who demonstrate commitment to our mission in other ways as well
• Demonstrated ability to fulfill the responsibilities listed above
• Demonstrated reliability and accuracy with a systematic approach to problem solving
• Proven experience managing and executing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with tight deadlines and meticulous attention to detail
• Self-directed, self-starter with a willingness to own high-priority tasks and projects with minimal guidance and support
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, including public speaking, presentation skills, and the presence necessary to effectively interact with senior level stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to build trust and collaborate with diverse stakeholders and the ability to succinctly communicate sophisticated ideas to important stakeholders with diverse views and priorities
• Strong communicator who can listen to the needs of teammates and school teams to collaborate and explain your vision
• Genuine passion for improving education and closing achievement gaps
• Deep understanding of educational equity issues and experience working with students from priority populations, including economically disadvantaged students
• We value a diversity of backgrounds; we will consider candidates that do not meet the listed experience requirements if they can demonstrate the qualifications listed above through alternative career paths

Compensation

• At EmpowerK12 we value our team members and offer a robust benefits package and hybrid work environment to encourage balance and support well-being
• Our generous benefits include paid time off, transportation, 401(K), short term-disability, long-term disability, life, health, dental, and vision insurance
• We believe in fair pay—equal pay for equal work; for each role, we apply competitive salary bands based on an annual review of market data and benchmarks
• The salary range for this position is $80,000-90,000. Placement within this range is determined by a variety of factors, including knowledge, skills, years & depth of experience, certifications, and equity with internal team members.

Equal Opportunity Statement

EmpowerK12 is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building an inclusive, high-performing team. EmpowerK12 does not discriminate based on disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Our application priority deadline is January, 9, 2026.