Y Combinator Head of Program Design, Innovation Team
Summary
DREAM (a NYC youth education nonprofit) is hiring a Head of Program Design to lead its Innovation Program Design team, creating and packaging AI fluency and future-ready skills curriculum for partner schools in the Bronx. The role blends curriculum writing, team leadership, data-driven improvement, and collaboration with tech developers and researchers.
DREAM will develop and scale AI-enabled teaching and learning models designed to expand opportunity for students across the Bronx. Over the next three years, we will partner with 15 schools in the Bronx to help them implement an AI literacy curriculum, use AI tools to accelerate learning, and pursue new school models that prioritize real-world learning and future-ready skills. We will recruit partner schools, provide training and embedded coaching to leaders and teachers, and help educators implement and adapt these practices, curriculum, and tools in their own classrooms. Through rigorous evaluation and continuous improvement, this new initiative aims to improve academic outcomes while creating more time for collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and other future-ready skills.
About this Work
The Head of Program Design, Innovation Team will lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of DREAM’s disseminated innovation curriculum and related curricular products. This leader will manage the Innovation Program Design team, setting a clear vision for the use of DREAM’s innovation curriculum, and ensuring that materials are rigorous, polished, branded, and ready for implementation by external partners. The curricular products will include AI fluency, project-based and experiential learning, AI edtech design, and durable skill-building.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced curriculum leader with a strong background in teaching and school leadership, expertise in curriculum development, a record of leading complex cross-functional initiatives, excitement about the evolving field of AI in education, and the ability to translate research and data into strong learning experiences.
Responsibilities
AI Curriculum and Team Leadership
- Manage and develop the team responsible for designing DREAM’s disseminated AI and future-ready skills curriculum;
- Provide high-level oversight and feedback on standards, branding, packaging of curricular products to the team, for turnkey-readiness to external partners;
- Write AI and future-ready skills curriculum, modeling the highest standards of execution for the team;
- Establish metrics, monitor outcomes, and use data to assess impact, drive continuous improvement, and inform strategic decision-making.
- Teach and model how to use DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills curriculum in the classroom;
- Communicate a clear vision for the use of our AI and future-ready skills curriculum;
- Stay up-to-the-minute on AI and future-ready skills in education, including peer-reviewed research, identified best practices, and relevant political influences, translating that knowledge into curriculum design and strategy.
- Work closely with technology developers throughout the product design and development process;
- Collaborate with the Implementation Team to integrate curricular content into Convening playbooks and learning experiences for our AI partners;
- Coordinate with external academic researchers to study the effectiveness of DREAM’s AI and future-ready skills implementation and apply findings to curriculum and program improvement.
Other responsibilities related to the role as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education or a related field preferred;
- Minimum 8 years of experience in education, including experience as a teacher, required;
- Minimum 4 years of experience in people and team leadership on a Network Curriculum Team at a large Charter Management Organization or at a corporate curriculum provider, required;
- Experience producing high quality curriculum at scale, required;
- Experience in research (such as evidence-based curriculum and randomized control trials), preferred;
- Content expertise in AI literacy, project-based learning, experiential learning, the use of tech to accelerate learning, and high impact tutoring;
- Clear vision for a high standard of excellence in curriculum products, with the ability to polish and package curriculum for dissemination to partners;
- Demonstrated success managing or developing teams;
- Ability to stay up-to-date on AI as it evolves and to use data to inform decisions and improve curriculum;
- Exceptional attention to detail, superb follow-through, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines;
- Ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity;
- Strong collaborative, interpersonal, and communication skills;
- Deep commitment to DREAM’s mission, values, and graduate vision, with a strong belief in the power of families as partners and leaders.
Benefits and Paid Time Off
- Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
- The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
- Dental and vision plans;
- Disability benefits;
- Life insurance;
- Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
- Flexible spending account options;
- Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
- Fitness and entertainment discounts;
- A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
- A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment;
- Access to a professional development fund;
- Referral bonuses;
- All full-time Network Support employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays;
- Benefits are subject to change.
Compensation
- DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $170,000 to $190,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.
Working Expectations
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The ROLE is part of the Innovation Team, which currently works 3 days in the office and up to 2 days remote per week, with some weeks requiring more in-person work.
As published by lever · 20 questions · 2 written answers
Basics
Resume/CV, Full name, Pronouns, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Other website
Short answers (8)
- Please share your full legal FIRST name, as it appears on official documents (e.g., government-issued ID, social security card, passport)
- Please share your full legal LAST name, as it appears on official documents (e.g., government-issued ID, social security card, passport)
- What is your preferred FIRST name? (name you wish to be called and to appear on all non-legal documents)
- What is your preferred LAST name? (name you wish to be called and to appear on all non-legal documents)
- Do you have any immediate family members or persons with whom you have a close personal relationship who are employed by DREAM? Immediate family includes: spouse, parent, child, sibling, in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, and members of the household. Please write in the name(s) of the person(s) or N/A if this does not apply.
- If you were referred to DREAM, please provide the name of the person who referred you: optional
- If the person who referred you is not a DREAM employee, please provide their email address or contact information: optional
- Other optional
Pick from a list (10)
- Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
- Do you now (or will you in the future) require DREAM to sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B)?
- Are you currently or have you ever been a DREAM employee? optional
- Are you a DREAM Legend? (You are a Legend if you are a past participant of a DREAM/Harlem RBI program, or a graduate of DREAM Charter Middle School or DREAM Charter High School)
- Were you referred by someone for this role? optional
- Please select the role that best describes the person who referred you to DREAM. optional
- How did you hear about DREAM?
- DREAM embraces the responsible use of AI to enhance work and learning. Candidates are welcome to use AI to support their applications, however, we've noticed an increase in AI-generated responses that provide little insight into one’s candidacy. We encourage you to ensure your responses communicate your own voice, specific experiences, and unique perspectives. optional
- Check this box to affirm that all information included in this application is accurate. optional
- We may text you with updates about your application, like your offer letter.
Written answers (2)
- DREAM’s mission is to level the playing field by providing resources and empowering all children to recognize their potential and realize their dreams. Please describe your interest working in support of this mission and children from underserved communities.
- Tell me about a time when you received significant constructive feedback. What was the feedback, and how did you respond?
