Project & Strategic Initiatives Manager

Shine Early Learning • Philadelphia, PA

2d • $80,000 - $85,000

About The Position

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for growth, innovation, and transforming the landscape of early childhood education? Acelero, Inc. is looking for a dynamic Project & Strategic Initiatives Manager to drive our mission to eliminate the gaps between young children’s potential and their success in school and life. Why Acelero? Our mission is bold: To design and deliver research and evidence-based approaches to eliminate the gaps between young childrenʼs inherent potential and their achievement in school and life. With our partners, we accelerate child and family outcomes that honor all of the aspirations and cultures of the communities we serve. Our values: Data-Informed Learning; Transparent & Open Communication; Growth Mindset; Championing Equality; Caring Teams & Communities. Your Role: As the Project & Strategic Initiatives Manager , you are critical to ensuring the successful implementation, coordination, and strategic alignment of initiatives within the SPARK Quality Support Center. The Manager is the connective tissue between strategy and execution for the SPARK Quality Support Center. This role ensures projects are aligned, integrated, and implemented with excellence, strengthening day- to-day operations and cross-team cohesion.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in education, business administration, public administration or related field.
• Minimum of three years of experience working in educational administration, education or project management
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
• Travel required locally within the City of Philadelphia up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in early childhood education administration a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead project management for strategic initiatives
• Manage a portfolio of cross-departmental projects identified by the QSC leadership team, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and timelines are met with precision and accountability.
• Facilitate strategic alignment and cohesion through ensuring initiatives executed by the Coaching and Content teams align with the overarching goals of the SPARK Quality Center, contributing to cohesive and integrated service delivery.
• Strengthen cross-functional processes by developing, refining, and implementing operational workflows and collaborative structures that enable seamless interaction.
• Track project milestones and performance indicators; prepare progress updates, reports, and presentations for internal stakeholders and external partners as needed.
• Analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data from multiple systems and stakeholder inputs to generate clear, actionable insights that guide decision-making and continuous quality improvement across the SPARK Quality Support Center.
• Contribute to feedback loops by collecting and synthesizing input from various teams and partners; support data integration into ongoing quality improvement practices.
• Collaborate with systems-oriented managers to ensure project tracking tools, shared resources, and digital systems are effectively utilized across teams.
• Support efficient allocation of personnel and resources for coaching, training, and content deployment projects; assist in coordinating calendars and collaborative timelines.
• Facilitate interdepartmental working groups, collaborative planning sessions, and co-working opportunities that deepen integration and peer learning. This includes workgroups, communities of practice, and peer learning circles.
• Act as a strategic thought partner in designing and launching special initiatives or partnerships identified by leadership.
• Serve as a communication bridge among project teams, ensuring clear documentation of processes, responsibilities, and decisions.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with multiple plan options to fit your needs
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions up to $400/individuals & $800/family annually
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care expenses
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with up to 3% company match
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance
• Up to $500 per year in Professional Development Reimbursements
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counseling and mental wellness support
• Wellness Programs , including virtual fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
• Pet Insurance , Legal Assistance , ID Theft Protection , and Employee Discount Perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager