Senior Manager, Middle Grades Initiatives, Philadelphia Education Fund

Posted by Philadelphia Education Fund on November 7, 2023

The Philadelphia Education Fund (PEF) seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead its middle grades strategy. The role includes the entrepreneurial development of PEF’s growing number of middle-grades focused corporate and government engagements, as well as oversight and leadership of its signature middle grades program, Spark Philadelphia.

The right leader will be key in the refinement and integration of PEF’s holistic model of college and career advising, from middle grades through college. This will include identifying new opportunities to partner with others in awakening in 7th and 8th graders the potential for their college and career ambitions. A signature program in the fulfillment of this aim is PEF’s Spark Philadelphia.

Spark provides seventh and eighth grade students with (1) a structured skill-building curriculum, (2) social and emotional development programming, and (3) real-world career exposure so students can begin to understand, experience, and pursue what is possible for their unique future. Spark provides this impactful programming to students, who may not already have access to those opportunities, by partnering with under resourced schools and school districts.

Spark has a unique approach to fostering student development through engaging middle school students at a pivotal time of growth and transition. This program model was designed based on research showing the importance of social and emotional skills, the value of mentorship, and the supports students need navigating critical academic transitions. Our objective is to build students’ individual skills and social capital through a hands-on career project in the context of a positive relationship. Through career exploration workshops, workplace-based mentorship, and high school transition resources, students develop skills and build relationships to help them succeed.

Learn more and apply here.