Education Manager, JA Innovation Center @ Lawrence High School

Position title: Education Manager, JA Innovation Center @ Lawrence High School

Reports to: Chief Operations Officer

Compensation: Full-time with benefits (exempt); $60,000-$70,000

Application: Submit cover letter and resume

to jobs@jagreaterboston.org

Join an innovative team working together to close the wealth and opportunity gaps in underserved communities in Massachusetts. JA of Greater Boston (JA) offers benefits including a 401k match, $500 in your FSA account, partial cell phone, internet, and car maintenance reimbursements, mileage reimbursement for most work-related travel, and the potential for an organization-wide bonus each fiscal year. Traditionally, we are off the week between Christmas and New Year’s and have a flexible summer schedule.

Position Description

JA of Greater Boston (JA) seeks an Education Manager to run the operation of the JA Innovation Center @ Lawrence High School (LHS). This role will serve two essential functions. The first essential function of this role is to lead the day-to-day operations of the JA Innovation Center @ Lawrence High School, a place that provides collaboration space, making equipment, and opportunities to bring in classes of all ages. In this space, the Education Manager will also lead workshops for students, educators, and staff on an array of design and prototyping topics. Daily operations of the JA Innovation Center @ Lawrence High School includes but are not limited to, overseeing the creation and implementation of safety and training protocols on all equipment, providing the training and supervision of JA students, JA staff, and LHS employees, tracking equipment use, scheduling and performing maintenance, and regulating access to areas throughout the space. The Education Manager will be expected to foster an environment of design, innovation, collaboration, psychological safety, and making that brings together various stakeholders from across the Lawrence community and will work closely with LHS staff to coordinate classes, events, and maintain cohesive use of the facility.

The second essential function is to serve as the education manager for all partnerships in Lawrence. This includes building and maintaining high quality relationships, delivering on programming requests, and building brand awareness with the stakeholders in schools within Lawrence. While a primary focus will be on high school programming, some middle school recruitment will be required for specialized events. It is important to note that this role is still evolving in its functions and responsibilities and requires someone who is willing to be nimble and help define the role in real-time.

This is a full-time role. During the academic year, this is an in-person role with hours that align with the Lawrence High School bell schedule and afterschool needs during the academic year and if/when programs are happening in the summer. During summers, school vacations, school holidays that JA does not observe, and snow days hybrid work is expected. The Education Manager will be supplied with a laptop and additional equipment to be able to work remotely comfortably, as needed. Must have reliable internet and transportation. Shared office space and a conference room(s) are available at JA’s Innovation Center @ RSM at 80 City Square in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston.

Primary Responsibilities

• With LHS Pathways Coordinator, create opportunities for the space to be an extension of pathways courses, whereby teachers assign projects for their classes to be completed in the IC
• With LHS Pathways Coordinator, maintain schedule of classes using the center and possible open time for individuals to use the center during school and afterschool
• Maintain safety and supervise all usage of the lab/shop environment
• Maintain all equipment including Laser Cutters, Vinyl Cutters, 3D Printers, etc.
• Train students, JA Staff, and various LHS employees in the mandatory safety training course on all equipment as well as all additional advanced trainings for individual equipment
• Manage and track use of equipment and supplies for programming impact and budgeting purposes
• Manage events and classes held at the JA Innovation Center @ LHS
• Attend twice monthly in-person staff days and other major JA Events held outside of the JA Innovation Center @ LHS as scheduled. Ensure LHS administration & educators are aware of any changes to availability due to these events
• Develop, expand, and maintain school/community partnerships in Lawrence
  • Create or update partnership plan and subsequent JA Certified School Agreement with high schools and community partners
  • Become an expert in JA’s high school programs and curriculum
  • Support teachers and volunteers to ensure quality of programs through training, regular phone calls, and in-person class visits to provide the highest level of customer service
  • Ensure data is collected, organized, and shared with appropriate stakeholders, including JA staff
  • Manage all record-keeping, including appropriate school, teacher, and volunteer data is captured and entered in BCRM in a timely manner
• Conduct work to produce high quality experiences and outcomes for all partners both internally and externally through attention to detail, a high level of organization and communication, and strategic, thoughtful, and innovative planning and implementation
• Work cross-collaboratively with colleagues to meet goals and fulfill funding obligations
• Collaborate with Development Team to complete grant proposals and grant reports
• Enthusiastically take on other assigned projects as necessary

Skills and Qualifications

• Must have an entrepreneurial mindset, open to learning new things and willing to envision and propose new methods to perform tasks that support innovative and entrepreneurial experiences
• Relevant work experience in a makerspace or innovation center space strongly preferred; relevant work as an entrepreneur with experience using making equipment will also be considered
• Bachelor’s degree in education, engineering, or other fields related to the operation of a technical space preferred (Alternative relevant training or certification will also be considered)
• A demonstrated passion for hands-on education/hands-on making and creating (or equivalent experience)
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills
• A strong communicator: initiates discussions with their manager and colleagues to ensure consistency of practice & elevate needs of stakeholders and self quickly and concisely
• Strong organizational and time management skills; keen attention to detail and diligent follow through a must
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, as well as independently
• Success in coordinating, managing, problem-solving, and executing programs and projects
• Ability to work well in a highly collaborative team environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher)
• Knowledge and experience with a CRM system, preferably Blackbaud (e.g. Raiser’s Edge); familiarity with Asana a plus
• Ability to work independently and virtually effectively is necessary
• Spanish language proficiency a plus

About Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement’s (JA) mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. JA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating young people on financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship through programs taught by trained corporate or community volunteers in schools and at after-school sites throughout the world. Together with our school, business, and community partners, Junior Achievement of Greater Boston draws on its 75 year history to prepare today’s youth for the workforce of tomorrow. Through our proven, hands-on programs and experiences, middle and high school students learn how to manage their finances, launch their own businesses, make their college and career goals a reality, and become future leaders. We engage volunteers from the business community who understand our students’ lived experiences, and can guide them as they build their confidence, and important life and workplace skills. By focusing on communities most in need of opportunity, we’re transforming students’ lives, making a lasting impact on their families, schools and communities, and creating a more equitable society.

Corporate Culture Statement

We hire the best people, not just the best talent. We work together as one team to deliver our mission. We treat each other with respect, communicate clearly, value diverse opinions, and challenge the status quo on our quest for continuous improvement. We value our people and offer them competitive compensation/benefits, schedule flexibility, and purposeful professional/personal development opportunities. We treat all our stakeholders as important contributors to our ultimate goal of delivering on our mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. JA provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants. We do not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We encourage applications from candidates who can complement our diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion work by offering unique perspectives and understanding of issues impacting groups that have been traditionally under-represented in the field.

The above position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship.