Academics Special Projects Manager

Company Description

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public charter schools preparing students with the skills and confidence needed to create the futures they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 279 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and 210,000 students and alumni. KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools (KPPS) is part of the national KIPP Public Schools network and currently leads eight schools serving 3,400 students in North and West Philadelphia. By 2030, KPPS will be serving approximately 4,000 students.

KPPS Mission

Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Life at KPPS

At KPPS, we believe that talented, committed, and culturally competent educators and staff are the foundation of our students' success. We work to create a professional community grounded in joy, candor, care, and connection – where every team member can bring their authentic self, grow in their craft, and contribute to meaningful work. Here is what you can expect:

• Commitment to Anti-Racism & Equity: Join a team dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers and creating inclusive, culturally responsive schools where all students and staff can thrive.
• Joyful, Inclusive Community: Work in a collaborative, identity-affirming environment that values relationships, celebrates individuality, and supports the well-being of adults and children alike.
• Competitive & Equitable Compensation: Benefit from transparent compensation structures, including performance-based bonuses that recognize meaningful contributions.
• Professional Growth & Leadership Pathways: Access high-quality development – including coaching, workshops, and tailored leadership opportunities – designed to support your long-term career trajectory.
• Authenticity & Belonging: Be part of a culture that encourages you to show up as your full self and contribute to a community rooted in trust and respect.
• People-Centered Excellence: Join colleagues who believe strong relationships and thoughtful preparation drive excellent outcomes—for students and for staff.
• Comprehensive Well-Being Support: Receive whole-person support through coaching, mental health resources, wellness initiatives, and team-building experiences that prioritize your professional and personal growth.

Job Description

Role Overview:
Are you a highly organized, detail-oriented educator ready to make an impact beyond the classroom? Do you thrive on developing systems that drive success and enjoy being the backbone of high-impact operations? If so, the Academics Special Projects Manager role might be your perfect fit! Reporting to the Managing Director of Teaching & Learning, the Academics Special Projects Manager will manage a portfolio of projects that includes professional development, annual planning, resource management, contract procurement, budgeting & compliance reporting, and other Academic Team activities. Additionally, the Manager will ensure the maintenance of important student support documents and contract procurement. The Manager leads the planning and logistics work that ensures professional development sessions (in person and virtual) run smoothly, serves as the team’s designated archivist by effectively organizing and storing learning materials, ensures that next steps and coordinating actions are effectively shared and followed through on, and performs a variety of other academic operations tasks and process that allow team members to focus their time on design and direct school support work. If you’re excited to support our mission, build effective systems, and help bring professional development and academic operations to life, we’d love to meet you!

Key Responsibilities: 

Project Management 

• Ensure learning materials and internally-facing team materials are effectively collected, organized, stored, shared, and archived 
• Work with team members and vendors to create and publish the team’s booklist (curricular materials, texts, and supplies) annually 
• Support data management by uploading assessments and producing reports as needed 
• Create and manage communication among and between the academic team, greater regional office and members of school teams 
• Update and maintain internal communication structure such as google websites, information hubs, shared outlook calendars and the regional landing page

Academic Operations

• Generate academic assessments using online platform 
• Maintain student support legal files & the academic shared drive by creating an organization system with accessibility for appropriate leaders and effective archiving methods 
• Tracks student support documentation and communicates with a variety of stakeholders to get any needed student support documentation 
• Support compliance reporting tasks associated with charter renewal, annual plan submission, and other academic team submissions in collaboration with the Operations team 
• Track and monitor Student Support budget-to-actuals 

Contract Procurement and Management 

• Effectively liaise with external vendors to ensure contracts have the best terms, pricing, and delivery options 
• Prepares and administers contracts and purchase orders with specific vendors 
• Review vendor proposals to ensure that all requirements are met and make recommendations to appropriate stakeholders 
• Maintain a database regarding vendor performance and quality of products. 
• Track vendor contracts and compare available goods with industry trends to determine appropriate pricing or opportunities to save

Logistics & Coordination 

• Lead the logistical planning and execution of in-person and virtual professional development sessions for teachers, leaders, and team members across KPPS (ranging from ~20 to ~300 participants), ensuring that communication to participants is timely and clearly, accurately outlines all key information (timing, location, agenda, pre-work, parking details, etc.) 
• Purchase any necessary food, supplies, facilitator materials are ordered/prepped in advance and ready day-of and complete documentation including submission of receipts in a timely manner 
• Create systems to ensure that participants and facilitators have a smooth, pleasant, inclusive experience (including details such as the provision of lactation spaces, gender neutral restrooms, clear signage, sending reminders for deadlines and deliverables etc.) 
• Coordinate with stakeholders and vendors to ensure spaces are effectively vetted and reserved in advance including soliciting volunteer support for large scale events 
• Lead day-of support and execution, ensuring materials and spaces are set up and that spaces are cleared out after the close of sessions 
• Ensure surveys on the quality of professional development are administered to participants, and that survey data is shared with facilitators in clear, timely fashion 
• All other projects/duties as assigned

Who You Are:

• You love and see the high potential of all children 
• You have experience driving student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment 
• You have passion for facilitating professional learning, including a desire to continuously grow and learn as a leader
• You operate with cultural competence and a commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and the eradication of anti-Blackness 
• You believe that teachers are the primary drivers of student growth, learning and achievement 
• You have high expectations for students and teachers; and the ability to motivate, inspire and hold others accountable 
• You are solutions-orientated and have an eagerness to adapt in order to solve problems

Qualifications

• Strong relational skills combined with strong systems thinking 
• 2+ years of experience serving under-resourced children and families in an urban setting required 
• 1+ years of experience in a central or district office in a role focused on curriculum, assessment, professional development, or similar area required 
• Bachelor’s degree required 
• Complete all required criminal and child abuse background checks: 
  • PA State Police Clearance 
  • PA Child Abuse Clearance 
  • Cogent Federal Fingerprinting 

Additional Information

Compensation:

• Salary range for this position is $70,000-$75,000 commensurate with experience. 
• All full-time team members at KPPS enjoy a comprehensive health benefits package (including vision and dental, a telehealth option, and flexible spending accounts) for themselves and their families as well as a 403B matching program for retirement savings.

Note To Applicants:

• KIPP Philadelphia Schools is an equal opportunity employer. Employees are selected on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.