Director of Programs and Partnerships

Employment status: Full-time

Reports to: Chief Program Officer

Application Period: Open until filled

Start date: July 1st, 2026

Salary Range: $105,400- $126,300 annually

Anticipated openings: 1, contingent on organizational needs

What You'll Do

As a Director of Programs and Partnerships, you will oversee a portfolio of tutoring programs at the district level within Saga's Progressive Services Approach, including Saga-Owned, Saga-Managed, District-Managed, and District-Owned implementations. In this role, you drive district partnerships, external relations, and program growth while ensuring high-quality implementation across your portfolio. Serving as the primary liaison with district leaders and external partners, you ensure program fidelity, coach and support Program Managers, and leverage data to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement. You will also cultivate a collaborative, high-performing team culture, aligning internal resources and priorities to maximize student impact and organizational success.

District Partnerships, External Relations & Development

• Establish and maintain strategic, long-term partnerships with district leadership to advance program goals.
• Facilitate regular meetings and communications with district leaders to ensure alignment, share insights and successes, and support program growth, serving as the primary district liaison.
• Collaborate with district stakeholders to inform program strategy, provide feedback, and co-create solutions that drive student success.
• Drive partnership sustainability and program growth by managing contract renewals and identifying opportunities for expansion with district partners, in collaboration with the Chief Program Officer.
• Provide strategic oversight and support for Federal Work Study and other external hiring agencies when Saga serves as the host site, ensuring compliance, effective coordination, and a high-quality experience for partners and participants.

Strategic Program Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop Program Managers through intentional 1:1s, targeted professional development, and continuous performance feedback aligned to organizational priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership during implementation challenges and emergencies, at both site and district levels, by troubleshooting issues, providing adaptive solutions and communicating plans beyond the scope of Program Managers.
• Lead and support teams through complex program implementation, navigating ongoing change management while driving innovation and adaptive solutions to meet evolving needs.
• Guide internal teams in cultivating and sustaining strong, effective relationships with school-based staff to enhance implementation and impact.
• Partner with the Chief Programs Officer to manage program budgets, monitor financial performance, and ensure programs operate within contractual and funding parameters.

Program Fidelity, Data, and Continuous Improvement

• Lead a portfolio of partner-facing programs, overseeing design, launch, and ongoing execution in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure operational excellence, compliance, and fidelity to program goals and contractual commitments.
• Provide strategic oversight to ensure high-quality program implementation across sites and district partnerships.
• Oversee analysis of program and operational data to identify trends, evaluate outcomes, and inform strategic action plans for tutors, sites, and programs.
• Drive program fidelity and adherence to the Saga model through in-person site visits, observations, and data review, and translate findings into actionable feedback and system-level improvements.
• Collaborate with the Advancement Team to oversee grant-funded programs by providing accurate data and insights for funder reports, ensuring compliance, and representing the organization in funder meetings and strategic discussions to strengthen partnerships and accountability.
• Develop reporting systems and share key program data with district partners and internal teams to inform decisions, measure impact, and strengthen collaboration and accountability.

Collaboration & Culture

• Collaborate with and serve as a liaison across leadership levels and departments to align priorities, resources, and program goals, and to strengthen cross-functional communication and collaboration.
• Lead strategy for Program Department culture and health in partnership with Directors and the Chief Program Officer, fostering collaboration, accountability, continuous learning, and a high-performing, positive team environment.
• Champion a positive and resilient team culture by proactively addressing challenges, sustaining high morale, engagement, and productivity across teams.
• Support hiring and onboarding of program staff and tutors to ensure strong employee experience and alignment with organizational culture.
• Lead and model effective internal and external communication practices that foster collaboration, alignment, and a strong culture of partnership across teams and with external stakeholders.

What We'll Use To Measure Success

• Mission Alignment - You recognize challenges in education and demonstrate a commitment to continuous growth and improvement
• Decision Quality - You make good, timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward
• Manages Ambiguity - You operate effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear
• Directs Work - You provide direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done
• Develops Talen t - You develop people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals
• Manages Conflict - You handle conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Education or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in school or district leadership roles Teacher Coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Program, Senior Director of Program, Director of District Partnerships, or equivalent), required.
• Proven experience partnering with school districts to design, implement, and support effective program delivery.
• Experience supporting or overseeing initiatives that span multiple schools, departments, or partner organizations.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage people and initiatives across varied contexts, ensuring alignment, communication, and operational effectiveness.

Travel / Driving: This role requires up to 50% cross-state travel to visit Saga-managed programs. Candidates must have a valid U.S. driver's license and be legally authorized to rent and operate a vehicle for work-related travel

What We'll Provide

Saga Education offers competitive compensation and benefits, including health insurance, IVF coverage, paid parental leave, an optional FSA, and telehealth benefits. Saga provides a generous PTO package, which includes a paid Winter Wellness Break, an optional 401(k) with discretionary matching, and company-provided technology. All employees have access to our comprehensive Employee Assistance Program and Saga 360 Wellness Program.

Saga is committed to equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the ADA, we provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, contact [email protected].

Thank you for applying to Saga Education.

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