Education Programs Manager - Special Education Strategic Partnerships

State of Vermont•Calais, VT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Manager of Special Education Strategic Partnerships serves as a strategic conduit between the Agency’s Special Education Division, external organizations, and Local Education Agencies (LEAs). This role ensures that the Division’s work is not done in a vacuum. By aligning state-level policy with external innovation and local reality, the Director ensures a unified approach to improving student outcomes across the state.

Requirements

7+ years in Special Education leadership; experience in district-level administration (LEA)
Mastery of IDEA (Part B and C) and evidence-based literacy/special education practices
Expert-level ability to lead large-scale meetings and foster collaborative environments among diverse stakeholders
Ability to take high-level policy and "translate" it into actionable steps for school-based leaders
Master's degree in education, public administration, or related field AND five (5) years or more of experience in education or human services, INCLUDING one (1) year or more with planning, policy, program administration or a program evaluation role AND two (2) years or more of supervisory experience.
Bachelor's degree in education, public administration, or related field AND seven (7) years or more of experience in education or human services, INCLUDING one (1) year or more with planning, policy, program administration or a program evaluation role AND two (2) years or more of supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Lead and facilitate monthly statewide calls with LEA Special Education Directors to maintain a consistent, high-level feedback loop.
Curate agendas that translate state directives into practical implementation strategies while identifying local "bright spots" to share across the state.
Ensure that the operational realities and concerns of LEA Directors are directly represented in Agency decision-making.
Provide regular communication to the Directors’ listserv and monitor the special education general email inbox to ensure outreach is being routed appropriately.
Translate technical state and federal regulations into "field-friendly" guidance for both community partners and LEA leadership.
Maintain a clear map of available external resources and expertise to ensure they are accessible to the districts that need them most.
Act as the primary interface for external organizations (non-profits, advocacy groups, and research institutions) to align their shared work with the Division’s strategic priorities.
Serve as the primary Agency liaison to the Special Education Advisory Panel, ensuring the group is informed of Agency activities and has the data necessary to provide meaningful advice.
Synthesize external research and stakeholder feedback into actionable insights for the Agency’s leadership team.
Map the landscape of external initiatives to identify overlaps, gaps, or redundancies with Agency-led work.
Ensure that collaborative projects with external partners directly support the State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR) indicators.

Benefits

80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
11 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
A State defined benefit pension plan
A deferred compensation 457(b) plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
Low cost group life insurance
Incentive-based Wellness Program
Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program