Managing Director of Programs

About Black Men Teach:

The Black Men Teach Mission is to recruit prepare place and retain Black male teachers in elementary schools.

The Black Men Teach Vision is a community in which all students have the opportunity to attend schools staffed with racially and culturally diverse teachers and leaders reflecting the students race ethnicity and cultures creating an environment that affirms students for who they are.

Minnesotas education system is a paradox. Minnesota is considered to have one of the best public education systems in the country but at the same time it is one of the most inequitable. The graduation rate for Black high school students in Minnesota ranks 50th among 50 states. Minnesota has the second largest Black-White education achievement gap in the nation and Black students are suspended or expelled at eight times the rate of their White counterparts.

Research and experience reveal that a diverse teacher corps improves student outcomes for all children especially children of color. For example Black boys in elementary school who have just one Black male teacher are 29% less likely to drop out of school. Those who have two Black male teachers are 32% more likely to enroll in post-secondary education. Black Men Teach focuses on closing the teacher gap and is seeking to do this by building a robust pipeline that recruits develops supports and helps retain Black men in elementary classrooms. Within six years the organization is committed to seeing 20% of the teacher pool in its partner schools as Black men.

Position Purpose:

The Managing Director of Programs (MDP) serves as a key member of BMTs leadership team and is responsible for the vision strategy and execution of all programmatic initiatives. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer the MDP ensures that all programs are high-impact measurable and fully aligned with the organizations mission and strategic priorities.

This leader brings a balance of visionary thinking and disciplined implementationsomeone who can connect the why to the how ensuring that programs are grounded in excellence equity and sustainability. The MDP directly supervises four high-performing program leaders and works cross-functionally to strengthen systems collaboration and alignment across the program portfolio.

Principal Responsibilities:

This role is approximately:

• 80% Internal Leadership & Integration: Program leadership system building aligning teams to execute the vision.
• 20% External Partnerships & Strategic Collaboration: Representing BMT with partners funders and community organizations as needed.

How Youll Spend Your Time (not limited to the following):

1. Strategic Leadership & Execution
   1. Translate BMTs organizational vision for the program into actionable program goals milestones and performance metrics.
   2. Align all programmatic work with the organizations mission ensuring that efforts advance the recruitment preparation placement and retention of Black male educators.
   3. Collaborate closely with the executive team to maintain cross-departmental coordination and strong communication channels.
2. Program Development & Impact
   1. Be accountable for improving BMTs core program outcomes including:
      1. Retention of teachers and college participants
      2. Placement of student teachers and full-time teachers
      3. Teacher effectiveness and college participants readiness to teach
   2. Use data participant feedback and partner insights to continuously refine and strengthen program design.
   3. Lead program innovation aligned with BMTs strategic plan and growth trajectory.
3. Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
   1. Cultivate maintain and advance relationships with school districts universities community organizations and funders.
   2. Represent BMT externally at conferences coalitions and partnership meetings to advance thought leadership and visibility.
   3. Partner with the Chief Advancement & Marketing Officer to align program outcomes with funding priorities and reporting requirements.
4. Team Leadership & Development
   1. Lead direct reports providing clarity accountability and coaching for success.
   2. Build a culture of belonging feedback and professional growth across the program team.
   3. Lead with empathy equity and cultural awareness to foster collaboration and inclusion.
   4. Support professional development and equitable growth pathways for program staff.
5. Systems Building & Organizational Infrastructure
   1. Strengthen systems that support program planning implementation and data-informed decision-making.
   2. Partner with HR and People & Culture to align job descriptions performance reviews and professional growth structures.
   3. Collaborate with cross-functional leaders on initiatives related to program innovation evaluation and scaling.

You should apply for this role if you see yourself as:

1. Entrepreneurial Builder: You are comfortable stepping into a newly created role and navigating ambiguity. You take initiative solve problems creatively and move work forward without needing perfect conditions.
2. Program Designer & Innovator: You can identify unmet needs within a program ecosystem and design responsive high-quality programs that meet participant and organizational goals.
3. Continuous Improvement Mindset: You are not satisfied with good enough. You use feedback data and reflection to continuously improve programs and can systematize the program development and refinement process.
4. Operational Excellence: You design and implement systems structures and workflows that increase efficiency consistency and performance across teams and programs.
5. Data-Informed Leader: You translate data into actionable insights that drive decision-making learning and measurable improvement.
6. Execution-Oriented Strategist: You can take a clear vision and turn it into actionable plans timelines and accountability structures that lead to results.
7. Equity-Centered Leader: You lead with a deep commitment to equity belonging and cultural authenticity ensuring programs and systems reflect the communities they serve.
8. Collaborative & Accountable Partner: You build trust navigate tension productively and hold yourself and others accountable in ways that are clear human and effective.

What skills and experience do you NEED

• Program Strategy & Portfolio Leadership: Demonstrated ability to translate organizational vision and strategy into executable program plans milestones and outcomes.
• Comfort in Ambiguity: Experience working without all the information and being able to drive clarity with partners or resources to move work forward; proven experience navigating in the gray
• Communication: Ability to build internal and/or external partnerships. Ability to drive awareness or change with a diverse audience through various communication vehicles. Ability to present ideas to all levels of the organization.
• Deep Understanding of Black Male Culture: Demonstrated understanding of the cultural historical and contemporary experiences of Black men and boys particularly as they navigate education systems and professional spaces.
• Strong Understanding of K12 Education & Teacher Preparation Pathways: Strong understanding of K12 education systems with particular attention to elementary education and the conditions that support teacher effectiveness and retention.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple priorities tight deadlines and special projects with minimal direction. Ability to interact with and manage stakeholders in varying roles and levels.

What skills and experience will you GAIN

• Systems-Building & Scaling Expertise: Design and refine systems that support growth sustainability and measurable outcomes across multiple programs and partners.
• Deep Exposure to Education Change Work: Work at the intersection of K12 education higher education workforce development philanthropy and community organizing.
• Partnership & Influence Skills: Build and steward high-level relationships with district leaders funders policymakers and national partners.
• Equity-Centered Leadership Practice: Strengthen your ability to lead with cultural clarity empathy and accountability in a mission-driven values-aligned organization.
• National Visibility & Thought Leadership: Contribute to a model that will be looked to as a blueprint for diversifying the educator workforce.
• An opportunity to work on highly impactful and fulfilling work!

Physical Requirements:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside different facilities (e.g. schools) or offices throughout the workday.
• The candidate is expected to attend conferences meetings and training sessions both virtually and in-person.

Work Environment

• Reports to work Monday-Friday and some weekends.
• Typical office environment or virtual space with frequent interruptions.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range:$110000$130000. Final salary is determined by BMT based on years of experience educational background and level of expertise. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Black Men Teach also provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Reimbursement for a portion of your health care insurance premium.
• 401k plan with company match.
• Paid time off (PTO) which will accrue at the rate of 15 days per year.
• Nine paid holidays per year: New Years Day MLK Day Good Friday or other religious holiday your choice Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Christmas Day and Juneteenth

Join Us!

If youre passionate about reimagining systems and creating lasting impact we invite you to bring your ideas and energy to BMT. Together were not just transforming education were transforming possibility.

Deadline: The job will remain open until filled

Black Men Teach is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from diverse candidates. All decisions regarding recruiting and hiring will be made without unlawful discriminationon the basis of race color national origin ancestry sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression religion age pregnancy disability work-related injury covered veteran status political ideology genetic information marital status or any other factor that the law protects from employment discrimination.