Director of Programs and Services

About Teaching Matters

Teaching Matters is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child, no matter zip code, has equitable access to great teaching. Our mission is to close the opportunity gap of a radically unequal education system for underserved and historically marginalized children. For 30 years we have supported over 1,500 schools to advance academic achievement; deepened the teaching practice of 35,000-plus teachers, and affected the learning of over 600,000 students. We bring deep knowledge, experience and a commitment to effective, research-based school and district support. We have a team of over 80 coaches which, together, have a successful history of providing professional development to thousands of educators with the overall goal of strengthening teacher effectiveness and leadership to improve student achievement.

Position summary:

The Director of Programs & Services is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a portfolio of programs that support schools and districts in improving teaching and learning. The Director translates organizational strategy into multi-program initiatives, oversees implementation across teams, and ensures high-quality program delivery aligned to Teaching Matters’ mission and theory of action.

Reporting to the Vice President of Programs & Services, the Director leads and develops managers, and ensures programs are effective, scalable, and responsive to the evolving needs of schools and districts. The Director plays a critical role in shaping program direction, strengthening organizational learning, and building strong partnerships that advance educational equity. They would have 6 - 8 direct reports.

Roles and Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Work with VP of Program to operationalize organizational priorities across program teams

• Shape program direction alongside the VP of Program and AD of Evaluation by identifying emerging trends, research, and policy developments in key topics of instruction.

• Lead the design and evolution of program models that drive measurable improvements in student outcomes.

• Responsible for ensuring coherence, consistency, and quality across implementation efforts within a portfolio of programs.

• Establish clear program goals, quality standards, and performance metrics across teams.

• Monitor program outcomes and ensure implementation meets agreed-upon timelines, budgets, and impact targets.

• Lead continuous improvement cycles informed by data, evaluation findings, and stakeholder feedback.

• Collaborate with Associate Directors to strategically partner with district teams to build sustainable practices.

• Ensure all programs are grounded in best practices and aligned with CRSE, SPED, and ELL frameworks, meeting the diverse needs of students and stakeholders while effectively communicating program vision, scope, and impact to partners and funders.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and develop managers (associate directors) across the division.

• Establish clear expectations, accountability structures, and growth pathways for team members.

• Lead hiring processes for key program roles and support workforce planning to ensure strong program capacity.

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture aligned with Teaching Matters’ values.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Communicate program impact and progress through presentations, reports and case studies developed alongside AD of Evaluation

• Develop and implement scalable, automated systems for monitoring and reporting to different stakeholders - internal and external - alongside the AD of Eval and AD of Operations.

• Lead cross-departmental initiatives that support program innovation and delivery.

• Collaborate with teams across curriculum, coaching, data, and operations to align program design and implementation.

• Ensure effective communication and coordination across teams working toward shared organizational goals.

Key Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in education, including leadership roles in instructional programs or school system initiatives.

• Demonstrated success designing and implementing programs that improve teaching practice and student outcomes.

• Experience managing teams and developing leaders in complex organizational environments.

• Strong track record managing partnerships with schools, districts, or educational organizations.

• Deep knowledge of research-based instructional practices in literacy and/or mathematics.

• Experience using data and evaluation to inform program strategy and decision-making.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Strong commitment to Teaching Matters’ mission and to advancing equitable outcomes for students.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree strongly preferred.

Perks and Compensation

• This position works 12 months and is a full-time position, funding dependent and permitting.

• Salary range: $141,723 - $165,344 per year, based on experience. Starting salaries are based on metrics that are non negotiable to ensure equitable practices. See our compensation philosophy here.

• 403b options, with 6% match after one year of employment.

• Full benefits available, including generous PTO and sick time.

• Biannual social gatherings with the team

• Hiring Window: 5/29/26 end 7/10/26

Reports to the VP of Programs and Services

***Teaching Matters is unable to hire any employees of the New York City Department of Education within one year of the end of their employment.

Teaching Matters is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.