Managing Director of Experiential Learning & Civic Engagement

Managing Director of Experiential Learning & Civic Engagement

About Democracy Prep Public Schools

Democracy Prep Public Schools is a college prep institution and it is our mission to ensure all Democracy Prep Public Schools is a college prep institution and it is our mission to educate all scholars to be successful in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. We also acknowledge and celebrate multiple post-secondary pathways. We prioritize civic engagement, global citizenship/student travel, arts, and athletics, in addition to excellent academics.

The Opportunity

As the Managing Director of Experiential Learning & Civic Engagement, you will play a critical role in helping us realize our vision of education that prepares students to succeed in college, work, and their communities. This position will focus on creating meaningful learning experiences that develop both technical skills AND civic responsibility.

You will work closely with the Chief Program Officer, members of the programs team, and school-based staff to refine, coordinate, and execute experiential learning opportunities that connect students with real-world issues, empower them as citizens, and build their voices in democracy.

Who You Are

• An educator with an unwavering commitment to the Democracy Prep mission of college success and authentic civic engagement for our scholars
• An experienced program manager, ideally in the fields of experiential learning, civics education, or educational programming
• A strong collaborator with experience developing and managing educational programs or projects
• A relationship builder with demonstrated experience building partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders
• A planner with exceptional organizational skills and a keen eye for detail
• A school professional with experience working directly with students and families
• A social justice advocate with an understanding of the unique experiences of traditionally underrepresented scholars in experiential learning and civic engagement
• Someone with experience in either civics education, voter registration campaigns, or community service programming (preferred)

What You Will Do

Program Development & Coordination

• Plan and coordinate immersive international and domestic educational trips and simulations that connect students with real-world issues
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of DP Empowered curriculum to develop and implement experiential learning opportunities through the DP Empowered class
• With school leaders and operations teams, support middle schools in the planning and implementation of end-of-year civic service projects and learning experiences
• Refine and lead Experiential Learning & Civic Engagement Initiatives to ensure high quality learning opportunities, from service learning to civic action projects, for all Democracy Prep schools
• Guide and partner with school leaders to create and maintain robust systems related to all scholar application, selection, preparation, departure, and incident processes
• Develop content for and facilitate professional development sessions related to experiential learning for school-based teammates including trip leaders, chaperones, and educators

Operations & Management

• Oversee the planning, booking, and coordination of multiple experiential learning programs, civic engagement initiatives, and voter education campaigns while coordinating with school leaders, operations teammates, and faculty
• Manage experiential learning budgets in partnership with the Chief Program Officer and Finance team
• Ensure accurate data and information in program itineraries, budgets, and learner records is exceptionally maintained and regularly updated
• Coordinate and monitor program timelines and ensure relevant deadlines are met
• With legal, ensure compliance with relevant state and federal requirements pertaining to student participation in civic programs and experiential learning opportunities

Student Engagement & Family Support

• Refine the Experiential Learning & Civic Engagement Curriculum to engage students in pre-departure content development, including reimagining and keeping educational materials updated
• Partner with school based teammates on all aspects of scholar and family preparation, including but not limited to: booking logistics, ensuring accuracy of learner information and itinerary details, preparing staff facilitators, and supporting with clear family communications
• Serve as a 24-hour on-call point of contact during major experiential learning events or voter registration campaigns
• Provide guidance to families and campuses on civic engagement opportunities, documentation requirements, and voter registration procedures

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor's degree with 3+ years of program management experience
• Strong understanding of experiential learning pedagogy
• Proven success delivering educational programming
• Excellent organizational and detail-oriented skills
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and educational management systems
• Experience in civics education, community service, or voter registration - strongly preferred

Preferred:

• Teaching certification or extensive classroom experience
• Background in both experiential learning AND civic engagement
• Knowledge of educational technology tools
• Familiarity with election law and voting rights

Salary range is $170,000 - $190,000 and is commensurate with equivalent experience leading development in the education or another nonprofit space. Democracy Prep staff members are provided with comprehensive benefits  and a working environment that includes the necessary technology and resources to succeed. Democracy Prep employees work on a hybrid schedule with three days based in our New York City office and two days at home a week. Some evenings and weekends will be required, including for attendance to board meetings, fundraising events, or other network events.

Democracy Prep is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Our mission is to educate responsible citizen-scholars who will change the world. We strongly believe that by building a DREAM team that represents numerous perspectives, backgrounds, and areas of expertise, we can achieve this goal together. This is a value we highly support and strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.