Director, Special Projects

Position: Director, Special Projects

Location: Flexible within the US

Type: Full-time

Team: Professional Education

Summary

Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is an accredited not-for-profit institution of higher education serving thousands of educators from across the country, from pre-service teachers to system-level leaders. Our mission is to ensure that all students are taught by excellent educators, in order to build a more just world where every student has a clear path to a fulfilling life.

The Professional Education (PE) team designs and delivers transformative learning experiences for PK–12 educators and leaders, contributing directly to Relay’s mission of ensuring all students are taught by excellent educators. The Director, Special Projects plays a critical role in supporting the team’s executive leader, the Chief Professional Learning Officer (CPLO) and other members of the PE executive team by providing team-specific and cross-functional project management and communications support. The Director, Special Projects is a strategic leader responsible for managing complex, cross-functional initiatives that advance organizational priorities. This role partners closely with team senior leaders to implement high-impact projects that drive innovation, efficiency, and long-term success.

Role’s Contributions (Duties and Responsibilities)

The essential responsibilities of this position, while not limited to the following, will include: 

Project Management (60%)

• Lead cross-functional projects assigned by the CPLO, managing planning, execution, and monitoring progress to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Partnerships, Research, Finance) to ensure projects and initiatives are executed efficiently and align with organizational priorities.
• Provide project and administrative support to the PE Executive Team, including data analysis, progress monitoring, and coordination across teams.
• Manage and support the Manager, PE Executive Support, ensuring operational excellence and effective project execution.
• Collaborate with others on the PE team to synthesize and communicate data and insights to support equitable outcomes, measure program effectiveness, and inform continuous improvement across initiatives.
• Design and implement project plans, tracking systems, and surveys to assess program impact, monitor progress, and inform improvements.

Internal Communications (25%)

• Manage the scope, sequence, and design of executive team and senior leader meetings, including monthly all-team meetings, retreats, and sub-team check-ins, ensuring meetings are efficient, purposeful, and drive alignment.
• Maintain consistent, timely, and clear communication with staff and team leaders to facilitate informed decision-making and ensure alignment with Relay’s values.
• Maintain and refine systems for streamlined communication, resource sharing, and progress tracking across the PE team

Collaboration with PE Executive Team (15%)

• Serve as a thought partner to the PE Executive Team, providing insights, recommendations, and data-informed analysis to support decision-making.
• Ensure successful adoption of new protocols, frameworks, and processes within the PE team, providing guidance and support to staff as needed.
• Prepare findings, presentations, and recommendations for the CPLO on strategic projects and operational needs.
• Analyze employee satisfaction data and other team metrics, collaborating with the PE Executive Team to develop actionable plans to address staff needs and enhance team effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS

First and foremost, the Director of Special Projects must share the Relay community’s commitment to working together to improve student growth and achievement through phenomenal teacher preparation grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This includes providing teacher preparation programs that set novice teachers up to succeed in the classroom from day one; leadership programs that train new and veteran school and district leaders to best serve their school communities; and teacher-facing professional education that provides ongoing learning to educators. Additionally, for this position we’re looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of relevant experience, including at least 2 years supporting or collaborating with senior leadership.
• Experience planning, executing, and monitoring cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders under tight deadlines; Ability to lead through influence and establish shared accountability with collaborators.
• Experience communicating clearly in writing and orally, including preparing presentations and materials for diverse audiences.
• Experience with data analysis and visualization (preferred)
• Experience working collaboratively across teams, functions, and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Experience with or knowledge of K12 education institutions and professional learning for educators (preferred)
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and maintain accuracy and follow-through.
• Experience handling confidential information appropriately.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to teach students of all identities and backgrounds in order to push toward a time when this country no longer faces stark educational inequities. We recruit, develop, support, and retain a diverse staff, faculty, and graduate student body because we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution. We know, and the data supports, that diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate an environment in which people of all backgrounds can thrive and this is critical to achieving our mission of educational excellence and equity.

To fulfill that commitment, Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application!

COMPENSATION

Relay is committed to creating and maintaining a compensation and benefits system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about compensation, we will be guided by the following values: clarity, consistency, and internal equity. The salary range for this role is $96,525 - $135,135. New hires will be offered a salary at the starting point of the range, $96,525 to allow for an equitable starting salary process and continual salary growth during an employee’s time at Relay GSE.

To ensure internal pay equity:

• Relay does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience,
• All staff salaries will be capped at the salary range maximum, and
• Relay does not negotiate salary offers.

Relay offers a comprehensive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes health insurance benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, professional development, gym reimbursement, adoption assistance, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, etc. To learn more about Relay’s benefits, please visit here.   

WORK LOCATION POLICY

Employees must have a primary work location within the U.S., where they are legally authorized to work. Relay is a registered employer in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington State and Washington DC. Please note that Relay Graduate School of Education's headquarters are in New York City. Employees who choose to perform work from states not listed here will be subject to NYC state withholdings.

Relay Graduate School of Education provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.