Associate, Programs

Overview

Catalyst:Ed is seeking a detail-oriented and mission-driven Associate to support overarching project management, coordinate communications with external stakeholders, and drive information management for our project matching process. This role is critical to ensuring seamless operations and alignment with the Programs team’s initiatives and the organization’s mission and strategic goals. This position reports to a Partner on the Programs team.

Who We Are

Catalyst:Ed is a national nonprofit that catalyzes equity, innovation, and improvement by connecting leaders and teams to critical expertise, hands-on support, and resources. We are on a mission to improve outcomes for America’s children and youth by strengthening the schools and nonprofits that serve them. Ultimately, our vision is to help transform the capacity of the nation’s education and social sector ecosystem to help unlock the potential of every child.

We help school systems, education agencies, postsecondary institutions, nonprofits, and philanthropies tap into the expertise of our network of leaders and technical assistance providers in order to spur change and power organizational learning and capacity. Our pioneering model leverages technology, networks, and data to rapidly and effectively match education organizations to the capacity-building support they need to become more effective, innovative, and equitable.

The Programs Team @ Catalyst:Ed delivers high-quality services that meet authentic needs of field leaders and helps organizations grow their capacity and deepen their impact to drive transformational outcomes for students, especially those from underserved communities. In order to deliver on this promise, the Programs team:

• Works in partnership with organizations to understand their needs and connect them with expertise, resources, and support to grow their capacity and deepen their impact. This includes leading the strategic direction, management, and execution of our project matching services provided to the general public, within Catalyst:Ed’s Exchanges, and via other forms of capacity building services.
• Delivers coordinated, streamlined, thoughtful, and high-quality customer service to organizations and providers
• Supports the development of providers in the Catalyst:Ed network through engagement in community and learning activities.
• Assures that organizational values are represented across all programmatic efforts
• Maximizes organizational learning and quality improvement, and field-facing learning by developing and disseminating various forms of content to Catalyst:Ed’s staff and stakeholders.

About This Role

The Associate is responsible for supporting the project management, communications with external stakeholders, and information management for Catalyst:Ed’s project matching process.

Key Components of Your Role

• Provide project management and operational support for Catalyst:Ed’s Project Matching services:
  • Enter, edit, and ensure accurate information and project tracking from initial listing to completion. Includes:
    • Learning to use and leverage our proprietary project-matching platform and database.
    • Pulling information and ensuring proper data at each stage of the process.
    • Accurately following up on tasks in a timely manner and according to deadlines. Fielding questions from relevant stakeholders and providing timely and accurate responses.
  • Request survey completion and monitor responses to ensure service quality and satisfaction by partner organizations and technical assistance providers. Flag any issues for follow-up.
  • Manage logistics for meetings, interviews between partner organizations and technical assistance providers, and other project-matching-related activities. Includes scheduling, communications, supporting preparation, notetaking, and sending follow-up information.
  • Support coordination, communications, and administrative/ operational duties for relationships with external partners, including funders.
  • Collaborate regularly with team members and other Associates and Managers, and join topic-focused, cross-cutting teams formed to advance broader team alignment, coordination, and organizational development through short-term internal projects or initiatives
• Partner organization support, relationship management, and communications
  • Drive customer success as a point of contact for education leaders who reach out to and engage with Catalyst:Ed for project matching services.
  • Act as the point person for providers on projects, answering questions and engaging as needed.
  • Collaborate with associated team members to communicate with our partners and providers on time.
  • Support team members on any additional asks

Supports you’ll receive from others to be successful

• Associate Group: Associates will have the opportunity to work closely with and build relationships with other Associates on the team, who can provide support for navigating the Associate roles at Catalyst:Ed, or provide support on handling specific tasks related to the project matching process.
• Product & Tech Team: Associates will have support from the Product & Tech team specifically related to learning to use and leverage our project matching platform, as well as how to execute specific tasks within the platform. The Product team is also available for general tech support and capacity building related to tech systems, though a facility with and willingness to learn about new technologies is required for the role.
• Manager: Associates will have support from their Manager who helps them prioritize work, provides clarity on the Associate’s responsibilities for specific work streams or projects, and supports their overarching professional growth and development
• Whole Team: Collaborate with team members during cross-team projects or committees. Look to team members for support or advice on projects or work streams depending on their specific expertise or experience with said project or workstream.

Skills and Qualifications

• You are new to the field, and interested in working in the nonprofit and/or education sector
• You are operationally-minded, and very comfortable independently learning about and working with web applications and technology systems
• You have an equity-focused mindset
• You have strong written and verbal communication skills
• You have strong active listening skills
• You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• You are responsible, reliable, and can manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• You easily build relationships with others and have a service-oriented mindset
• You have strong attention to detail
• You have a growth mindset and can learn from your experience. You know what you know, and what you don’t know, and are comfortable asking questions to fill in your knowledge gaps.
• You are comfortable working in a fast-paced work environment
• You work well in both independent and collaborative work settings, as well as in a remote environment.
• You are comfortable operating in a climate of ambiguity where contextual factors may not always be clear.
• Experience:
  • This is an entry-level position; no prior professional experience is required.

Good to Know

• Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried position with full benefits and retirement. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Salary range: $49,000 – $55,000. Benefits include medical and dental insurance coverage, 403(b) with up to 5% match on base salary, and a generous leave policy.
• Start date: May 27, 2025
• Location: Catalyst:Ed works nationally. We are a remote team with an office in New Orleans. Team members can work from a location of their choosing.
• Travel Requirements: Occasional travel (approx. once a quarter) is required for attendance at in-person team meetings and events.
• Physical Demands and Working Environment: The bullet points below are representative of the physical demands and working environment that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
  • Standard/Remote office setting; proximity to office equipment that includes electronic devices.
  • Multiple people-facing meetings and interactions a day using Zoom or other video call software
  • Must remain at a workstation for at least 50% of the time; will need to use equipment that includes electronic devices.
  • Communicate and accurately exchange information with text, media, and people.

How to apply

If this sounds like the right role and the right mission for you, please complete the application. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 21st. The selection process includes a work exercise, 3-4 virtual interviews of 30-60 minutes each, and reference checks.

Please email hr@catalyst-ed.org with any questions about the role.

Catalyst:Ed is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.