Associate Director of Programs (ELA)

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:

Teaching Matters is seeking to advance equitable outcomes in literacy nationally and in NYC. This position is responsible to design, implement, and lead several key programs and initiatives. As an Associate Director of Programs (ADP), this position will work closely with and report to the VP of Programs and Services, acting as a key leadership role in the design, pitch, and execution of programs that truly move the needle for students. This position is for a strategic literacy leader who will help Teaching Matters grow deeper in NYC, broader in offerings, stronger in voice, and be ready to scale.

Roles and Responsibilities

Program Design & Improvement

• Support in the development of program offerings, including workshops, coaching models, and instructional materials, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and stakeholder needs.

• Collaborate with and manage consultants and cross-functional teams to support the creation, and dissemination high-quality content for educators and school leaders.

• Lead data-informed improvement cycles by, analyzing, and reporting on program outcomes, and suggesting revision processes based on implementation learnings.

Client Management and Implementation

• In direction and coordination with the Director of Program Services, manage a portfolio of user clients, ensuring strong implementation and meeting of goals.

• Manage a team of consultants

• Directly manage the key stakeholder relationships of associated user-client portfolios at the classroom, school, and district level, ensuring implementation reaches associated goals and objectives.

• Manage, implement and develop direct assignments supporting ~$2.2 million.

• Manage a lead-coach and their work supporting projections, coaches and content.

Team Development & Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of consultants by setting clear expectations, providing ongoing feedback, and supporting professional growth aligned to organizational goals.

• Build and sustain a high-performing, collaborative team culture that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and strong communication.

• Manage team structures, workflows, and staffing to ensure effective execution of programmatic work and alignment with priorities and timelines.

• Identify talent needs and contribute to hiring, onboarding, and performance management processes to strengthen team capacity and leadership pipelines.

Travel Expectations

This role includes regular travel to schools and partner sites to support coaching, professional development, and program implementation. Travel frequency will vary based on project needs and may include local and regional travel.

Key Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7-10 years instructional and leadership experience in literacy education. Specific evidence of success in grade K-12 ELA is a plus.

• Successful track record leading system-level change in schools resulting in better educational decision making related to ELA proficiency.

• Proven success in designing and/or implementing response to intervention systems in schools.

• Deep knowledge and understanding of the current research base in ELA instruction

• High level of professionalism and ability to work effectively with a variety of team members within Teaching Matters, outside stakeholders, and across schools.

• Deep commitment to Teaching Matters’ mission, vision, and core values, including a commitment to equitably improving outcomes for all students.

• Success in this role will include measurable gains in ELA instruction quality, strong implementation of HQIM, and expanded ELA partnerships aligned to Teaching Matters’ growth strategy.

• Bachelor and Master’s Degrees required.

Perks and Compensation

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

• Salary range: $111,489 - $130,070 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 6/12/26

***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.