Project & Strategic Initiatives Manager

As the Project & Strategic Initiatives Manager, you are critical to ensuring the successful implementation, coordination, and strategic alignment of initiatives within the SPARK Quality Support Center. The Manager is the connective tissue between strategy and execution for the SPARK Quality Support Center. Why Acelero? Our mission is bold: To design and deliver research and evidence-based approaches to eliminate the gaps between young children’s inherent potential and their achievement in school and life. With our partners, we accelerate child and family outcomes that honor all of the aspirations and cultures of the communities we serve. Our values: Data-Informed Learning; Transparent & Open Communication; Growth Mindset; Championing Equality; Caring Teams & Communities. Your Role: In this role, you will ensure projects are aligned, integrated, and implemented with excellence, strengthening day-to-day operations and cross-team cohesion. Reporting to the Project Director and working in close collaboration with the Deputy Director, this role is responsible for managing a portfolio of projects, fortifying internal systems and processes, and ensuring operational cohesion across teams. The Manager facilitates effective project execution, fosters cross-functional collaboration, contributes to continuous quality improvement efforts, and supports strategic initiatives aligned with business goals. This position influences execution by working closely with system partners, subcontractors, and leadership to drive excellence in service delivery. What You’ll Do: Manage a portfolio of cross-departmental projects identified by the QSC leadership team, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and timelines are met with precision and accountability. Projects include, but are not limited to, Provider Advisory Council, CLASS Pilot, Collaboration Workgroups, Workforce Development and Teacher Waivers, and Project Management Systems Creation. Strengthen cross-functional processes by developing, refining, and implementing operational workflows and collaborative structures that enable seamless interaction. Track project milestones and performance indicators; prepare progress updates, reports, and presentations for internal stakeholders and external partners as needed. Analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data from multiple systems and stakeholder inputs to generate clear, actionable insights that guide decision-making and continuous quality improvement across the SPARK Quality Support Center. Contribute to feedback loops by collecting and synthesizing input from various teams and partners; support data integration into ongoing quality improvement practices. Facilitate interdepartmental working groups, collaborative planning sessions, and co-working opportunities that deepen integration and peer learning. This includes workgroups, communities of practice, and peer learning circles. Support efficient allocation of personnel and resources for special initiatives; assist in coordinating calendars and collaborative timelines. Serve as a communication bridge among project teams, ensuring clear documentation of processes, responsibilities, and decisions. Act as a strategic thought partner in designing and launching special initiatives or partnerships identified by leadership. Supervision: Supervises assigned management personnel, including but not limited to: hiring, training, scheduling, evaluating, and ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and the completion of all work performed by direct reports. Educates direct reports on all department and organizational policies and procedures. Meets with assigned staff regularly to identify and resolve problems, manage projects, track goals, and review work processes and procedures. Operates in lieu of staff during staffing vacancies Represents team and/or department at meetings, events, and training as required. What You Bring: Educational Background Master’s Degree in education, business administration, public administration or related field. Professional Experience Minimum of three years of experience working in educational administration, education or project management; Experience working in early childhood education administration a plus. Travel required locally within the City of Philadelphia up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions. Skills & Abilities Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. Demonstrated computer literacy skills, especially using Google Suite apps; spreadsheets, basic data management systems and internet navigation. Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines. Self-motivated and able to work independently. When/Where/How Much When: Summer 2026 Where: Philadelphia, PA How Much: $90,000 - $95,000 per year + comprehensive benefits package Application closing date : June 22nd, 2026 Why You’ll Love Working with Us A meaningful mission that drives real change in the lives of children and families A collaborative, inclusive team that values your growth and well-being Opportunities for professional growth, coaching, and leadership development Robust Benefits That Support Your Wellbeing Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance Life Insurance Professional Development Reimbursements Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Wellness Programs and Employee Perks If you’re ready to take on a challenge that matters and join a company where purpose and values drive every decision, apply now to join us as our next Project & Strategic Initiatives Manager. Together, we can help every child thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and healthy workplace. Shine Early Learning is committed to proving that every child can succeed at the highest levels – and demonstrating that high-impact, evidence-based approaches can help early childhood programs truly make the difference in a child's life. Shine Early Learning offers dedicated resources and an integrated programmatic approach to help Head Start and early education programs reach their own ambitious goals. The Shine Early Learning approach is developed, implemented, and continuously refined at Acelero Learning, a high-performing Head Start and Early Head Start program serving more than 5,000 children across the nation. Acelero Learning was named an Exemplar Head Start provider by Bellwether Education Partners, a leading education research and consulting firm. Through the implementation of an integrated programmatic approach, Acelero Learning has produced some of the largest child outcome gains ever recorded at an individual Head Start program. Acelero Learning's evaluation study conducted by NIEER show children served for two years make twice the gain of average Head Start participants, as compared to the 2009 FACES data.