Manager, Rural School Leadership Academy (RSLA) Operations

Teach For America • Bentonville, AR

6d • $59,000 - $89,700 • Remote

About The Position

The Rural School Leadership Academy (RSLA) is a national leadership development program housed within Teach For America’s Career Center that supports rural educators and school leaders across the United States. RSLA brings together emerging and current rural leaders through virtual learning experiences, coaching, in-person school visits, and a national peer network designed to strengthen leadership capacity in rural schools and communities. The program supports educators at multiple stages of leadership development, from teacher leaders aspiring to leadership roles to current principals and systems leaders. The goal of this role is to design and manage operational systems that allow RSLA participants, staff, and partners to focus on leadership development and learning experiences rather than logistics. We are looking for a candidate who is highly organized, systems-oriented, and passionate about creating seamless experiences for educators and partners across the country. This person thrives in fast-paced environments, can manage many moving pieces at once, and approaches operational challenges with flexibility, professionalism, and strong attention to detail. The ideal candidate will be passionate about operational excellence with the ability to coordinate complex logistics, manage vendor relationships, communicate proactively, and build systems that support a growing national leadership program. You will oversee travel, contracts, participant communication, financial tracking, and program systems that ensure the Rural School Leadership Academy (RSLA) runs smoothly and participants feel deeply supported throughout their experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• At least 2 years of related experience in operations, logistics, event coordination, project management, or program management
• Strong organizational and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in fast-paced environments
• Experience coordinating travel, events, or logistics across multiple stakeholders or locations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience managing budgets, invoices, expense reconciliation, or financial tracking systems
• Ability to build systems and improve operational processes proactively
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, spreadsheets, project management tools, and database systems
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends to support convenings or participant travel
• Ability to travel domestically as needed for program events and site visits

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting leadership development programs, fellowships, or educator-facing initiatives
• Experience working with vendor contracts, hotel negotiations, or procurement systems
• Familiarity with platforms such as salesforce, microsoft dynamics, workday, and canva
• Experience supporting national or multi-state programming
• Experience working in nonprofit, education, or mission-driven organizations
• Graduate degree or additional training in operations, project management, or event management (optional)

Responsibilities

• Coordinate participant travel across multiple states, including flights, ground transportation, reimbursements, and itinerary management.
• Create and maintain participant travel profiles, lodging lists, accessibility accommodations, and contingency plans for travel disruptions.
• Manage travel communication and ensure participants receive timely logistics updates and support.
• Lead contracting and coordination with hotels, universities, conference venues, transportation providers, caterers, and AV vendors.
• Track room blocks, reservation lists, catering orders, AV requests, deadlines, and vendor deliverables.
• Collaborate with Teach For America procurement and finance teams to ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Maintain operational systems including RSVP forms, attendance trackers, participant databases, onboarding systems, and program timelines.
• Develop and refine templates, checklists, run-of-show documents, and operational processes for virtual and in-person programming.
• Coordinate onboarding processes, pre-work distribution, and participant documentation collection.
• Manage weekly or biweekly participant newsletters with updates, reminders, travel details, and required actions.
• Build and maintain centralized information hubs with program materials, logistics documents, schedules, and resources.
• Ensure participants receive clear and timely communication ahead of all program milestones and convenings.
• Track and reconcile program expenses including travel bookings, vendor payments, participant reimbursements, and event costs.
• Prepare and submit monthly expense reports aligned to organizational budget codes and procedures.
• Maintain accurate financial documentation and ensure compliance with Teach For America financial policies and audit requirements.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.
• Teach For America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree