Program Manager

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Director, Center for Innovation in College Admission

CLASSIFICATION: Contract full-time, exempt (Tuesday through Thursday, onsite in Arlington, VA)

CONTRACT: 24 months grant funded, with renewal contingent on funding

SALARY: $70,000 - $80,000 annualized, commensurate with education and experience

Our mission is to dismantle barriers to higher education by researching, advocating for, and implementing innovative, equitable admissions practices nationwide. The Center for Innovation in College Admission (CICA) is a newly established research-practitioner hub of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

We are seeking a dedicated and strategic Program Manager to lead a portfolio of high-impact initiatives focused on systemic reform in the college admissions landscape. This pivotal role involves overseeing multiple interrelated projects—ranging from developing new admissions frameworks to implementing pilot programs with university partners and researchers.

The ideal candidate is passionate about education equity, possesses strong knowledge of the K-12 and college admissions landscape, and has a proven track record of managing complex programs within the research, policy, or education sectors. This role requires someone who can translate systemic-level innovative changes into tangible, coordinated efforts amongst various stakeholders.

• Program Design & Execution: Create, implement, and manage a suite of new and existing interdependent projects (e.g., research initiatives, advocacy, partnerships, pilot programs), ensuring all deliverables meet high standards of quality, impact, and timelines.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy: Build and maintain robust relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including college admission professionals, K-12 counselors, policymakers, and researchers. This role will also manage current and future advisory councils for various initiatives.
• Communications & Reporting: Develop strategies for the Center to share our current initiatives with internal and external stakeholders by collaborating with our social media and communications team. Additionally, this role will support the Director of the Center with reports or updates to the NACAC leadership team, NACAC’s Board of Directors, grant funders, and the broader education community.

The qualifications, skills, attributes, and experience for this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

Education

• Master’s degree related to higher education, policy, or management is preferred.

Experience

• 3-5 years of related experience is required, with progressive responsibility.
• Experience that demonstrates strategic, creative, and analytical thinking.
• Previous experience as a college admission counselor for at least two years is preferred.
• Previous experience driving systemic-level change is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Familiarity with the education and admissions landscape.
• Strong interpersonal skills and public speaking abilities.
• Proficiency in proofreading, copyediting, and professional writing.
• Enthusiastic personality, strong problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.

Ability to:

• Maintain a high level of organization to manage multiple projects or processes with varying deadlines simultaneously.
• Establish and maintain relationships in a competitive environment.
• Work independently, think critically to provide solutions to difficult problems, and create value.
• Engage effectively in a hybrid environment using Teams, Zoom, and other collaboration tools.
• Build collaborative working relationships with staff, members, and external stakeholders.