Network Director of Learning Strategy and Operations

DREAM • New York, NY

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools—growing our organization’s impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief of Learning, the Network Director of Learning Strategy and Operations will manage the strategic direction and overall operations of DREAM’s K-12 Learning Team (LT). The Network Director is charged with supporting the strategic and coherent development of a unified whole child program for all of DREAM’s students. This leadership role will align strategic vision with day-to-day operations through designing and implementing long-term and annual strategic plans, creating and overseeing operationally excellent processes, and managing dynamic internal and external partnerships. The Network Director will manage and coach the Associate Director of Learning Operations by overseeing all operational aspects of academics, special education, social-emotional learning and mental health services, extended learning and enrichment (after-school, summer, and day-of enrichment), and AI strategy and implementation.
This is an exciting opportunity for a mission-driven leader who combines a strong background in school operations and project management with the strategic acumen to shape and scale instructional systems across a growing birth-24 network.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education, Business, or related field strongly preferred;
• 5+ years of relevant experience working in schools, school systems, or a comparable organizational leadership capacity is required;
• At least 2+ years in a leadership position with at least 1 direct report is required;
• Capacity to rapidly learn new contexts and frameworks; deep familiarity and fluency with generative artificial intelligence is required;
• Proven track record in strategic planning and project management, required; certification in project management (e.g., PMP) is preferred;
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives, including budget oversight and vendor management;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage diverse stakeholders at all levels;
• Fluency with Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and aptitude for data analysis; familiarity with Asana or other project management tools highly preferred;
• Ability to keep the big picture at the forefront, while bringing a high degree of organization and attention to detail, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines;
• Strong collaborative spirit and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships in a fast-paced environment;
• Impeccable integrity, discretion, and the ability to handle confidential information sensitively;
• Demonstrated resourcefulness, flexibility, and a positive, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Passion for DREAM’s mission and a deep commitment to supporting the academic success and overall well-being of students in historically underserved communities.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership
• Develop, execute and oversee cross-functional project plans for K-12 strategic initiatives, collaborating with Curriculum and Instruction (CIT), Education, Operations, Data and Assessment, Student Supports, After School and Summer Programming, SEL and Mental Health, Talent, Equity, IT, Advancement, Communications and Brand, Finance, AI Task Force, and K-12 School Leadership Teams.
• Plan and oversee the implementation of network-wide event logistics, including leader and teacher professional development, summer institutes, data days, PBL programming, and other special events.
• Create, manage and continuously improve excellent Learning Team systems and processes, including scheduling, staffing processes, ordering and inventory management, organization of materials, assessment and survey administration and response to data, and customer service.
• Oversee budget planning and management for both the LT and individual school budgets, ensuring efficient resource allocation to support organizational goals.
• Strategic Leadership
• Support the Learning Team’s multi-year strategic planning, ensuring alignment with DREAM’s broader organizational goals.
• Design and manage LT’s annual and monthly planning processes, setting clear timelines, milestones, and deliverables for development and implementation.
• Drive new initiatives independently and support the Deputy Chief in translating initiative vision to reality. Examples of initiatives include: the use of AI across teacher development and curriculum; project-based learning; capstone research frameworks; high impact tutoring; special education fellowship; implementation of SEL curriculum programming; Dean-level development programming; among others.
• Establish and track the team’s performance metrics for evaluating the progress and impact of LT initiatives and student achievement data in partnership with the Deputy Chief
• Understand, cultivate and navigate organizational relationships to drive LT’s priorities to successful implementation.
• Team and Stakeholder Management
• Manage and coach the Associate Director of Learning Operations, modeling operational excellence and building operational capacity within the Learning Team.
• Serve as a conduit between LT and internal stakeholders, proactively communicating timelines, project statuses, and implementation plans across departments.
• Represent DREAM with LT’s external stakeholders, such as vendors, contractors and partners.

Benefits

• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match starting at 4% after one year, with increases tied to DREAM tenure;
• Referral, performance, and tenure milestones bonuses;
• Discounted school meals through our in-house Scratch Food Program;
• Tuition reimbursement support;
• Access to a professional development fund;
• All full-time Network Support Team employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays.
• Benefits are subject to change.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees