Manager, Program Strategy at Merit America

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Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

22 Apr, 26

Salary

115500.0

Posted On

22 Jan, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Program Design, Curriculum Development, Project Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Data Analysis, Communication, Adaptability, Change Management, Research, Innovation, Evaluation, Quality Assurance, Inclusive Excellence, Stakeholder Engagement, Learner-Centered Design, Strategic Planning

Industry

Professional Training and Coaching

Description

The Organization: Merit America The American economy is broken. Today, 53 million working adults–nearly half of the U.S. workforce–do not earn a living wage. These talented workers have few options to advance: college is too long and expensive, full-time boot camp programs don’t offer enough flexibility, and online courses don’t have the structure or support to translate learning into a new career. The result? Talented workers, disproportionately people of color and women, get stuck in low-wage roles with no way to build a better life for themselves and their families. Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family-sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low-wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults: We start by analyzing tens of millions of job postings to identify in-demand, high-paying tech careers. We then work with industry-recognized partners to train for these roles with part-time programs that combine flexible online learning with best-in-class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, helping them connect with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher-earning, family-sustaining jobs, driving an average wage gain of $24k three months or more after completing the program. Merit America is on a mission to build a scalable pathway for workers to join the middle class through merit, not money. We’re on track to generate $1B in wage gains by 2025. Role Overview The Manager, Program Strategy is a senior individual contributor role that combines hands-on program design work with strategic execution and cross-functional project leadership. You will design and develop curriculum and program models while also serving as a "project quarterback" for high-priority initiatives—ensuring ideas move efficiently from design to operational reality across Merit America's career tracks and program offerings. This role does not include direct people management but requires strong cross-functional influence. You will report to either the Director of Program Design or the Director of Program Innovation and collaborate frequently with teams across Program, Product, Coaching, Operations, and Admissions. Responsibilities The responsibilities of the Manager, Program Strategy will include, but are not limited to, the following: Program Design & Curriculum Development Design, curate, and maintain high-quality curriculum resources across learning tracks, ensuring alignment with industry standards and learner needs Partner with the coaching team to streamline the learner experience through clear objectives, instructions, and feedback mechanisms Work with third-party content providers to ensure content relevance, scalability, and alignment with industry needs Regularly update and refine curriculum based on learner feedback, data, and industry trends Develop and implement program models that enhance the learner experience, focusing on innovative and scalable delivery methods Create resources and training for internal stakeholders to support effective program delivery Program Strategy & Execution Own execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives, including new track launches and major program updates. Develop and manage project plans, timelines, dependencies, and risks to ensure high-quality, on-time delivery. Ensure program execution aligns with Merit America’s “North Star” learner experience and organizational priorities. New Track Launches & Program Rollouts Lead coordination of new career track launches across curriculum, coaching, and operations. Partner with Program Operations to translate program designs into clear rollout plans, tools, training, and documentation. Support post-launch evaluation and iteration based on outcomes and operational feedback. Research, Innovation, & Experimentation Conduct and synthesize qualitative and quantitative research on learner needs, workforce trends, and program effectiveness to inform strategic decisions. Support the design and monitoring of pilots and experiments, translating findings into scalable recommendations. Embed inclusive excellence principles into research, experimentation, and program design. Evaluation, Quality, & Communication Analyze ongoing learner feedback and program data to assess current effectiveness and inform strategic decisions Ensure curriculum, coaching strategies, and program models align with industry standards and design intent Partner with Program Designers to maintain quality and consistency across program offerings Synthesize program progress, learner insights, and outcome data into clear reports and recommendations for leadership to support decision-making and prioritization. Skills and Competencies We recognize that some individuals from underrepresented backgrounds may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet 100% of the listed qualifications. Please don’t let that discourage you from applying! We value the unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that each applicant brings, and we encourage you to apply if you believe your background demonstrates the required skills and competencies: Must Haves for all roles at Merit America: Committed to Merit America’s mission to pave pathways to family-sustaining careers, break the poverty cycle, and create upward mobility for low-wage workers Demonstrated history of embodying our values, which inform our work and drive our organization's culture Shared sense of responsibility and ownership for our collective work in making a positive impact on the community we support, true to our value of Win & Lose Together Committed to continuous learning and growth in advancing inclusive excellence and closing gaps across lines of difference Passionate about fostering a workplace culture that embraces and values individual differences, aligned with our core value of inclusivity Must Haves for this role: Program Design & Curriculum Development Experience designing, developing, or building curriculum or learning experiences Learner-centered mindset with focus on effective, engaging educational experiences Ability to iterate based on data, feedback, and industry trends Strategic Project Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence Strategic project leadership across complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives Experience developing and managing project plans, timelines, dependencies, and risks Strong cross-functional influence without formal authority Systems thinking across curriculum, coaching, operations, and learner experience Data-Driven Analysis & Communication Ability to synthesize data, research, and feedback into clear recommendations Experience conducting research and evaluating program effectiveness to inform strategic decisions Clear written and verbal communication for senior leadership audiences Adaptability & Change Management Comfort operating in ambiguity and supporting change management Nice to Haves for this role: Experience launching new programs or products from concept to operational reality Prior work in education, workforce development, or social impact sectors Experience with inclusive excellence frameworks and equity-centered program design Knowledge of workforce development trends and industry certification pathways Familiarity with agile project management methodologies Background in research design or program evaluation Experience coordinating training and documentation for operational rollouts Other Logistics This position is full-time: 4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week) Location: Remote Salary: $115,500 Our goal is to have competitive and equitable compensation. We have a market-based compensation approach, which means we benchmark each role from reputable data sources. We compare our benchmarks against similarly sized non-profit organizations with comparable annual budgets and geographical areas. We pay the same rate for the same roles and adjust to comply with statutory mandates. We take care of our employees by providing the following perks and benefits (please note that some of the benefits do not apply to temporary employees): 4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week) Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% Paid Employee Only Coverage) Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account Dependent care Flexible Spending Account Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit Education & personal development reimbursement Catalog of courses for professional learning and development Short and long-term disability Unlimited vacation (after a 90-day introductory period) Paid Parental Leave and Adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment) 11 federally recognized holidays 2 week holiday office closure in December/January 401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution Wellness Benefits/Wellness Resources Discount perks at work program Phone/technology stipend Home office setup stipend Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in-person, and/or regional meetups *Eligibility for some benefits may vary based on employment status, full-time or part-time. Eligibility will be outlined during the hiring process. Remote Work & Sponsorship Candidates must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia and have full authorization to work in the 50 U.S. states & the District of Columbia (international work abroad, including the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other islands are excluded). In addition, Merit America doesn't offer employment visa sponsorship. Equal Opportunity Statement Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment. We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain workspaces that are fully inclusive. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Still excited about our work? You can learn more about our work in this video we made with our founding partner, Google. Fair Chance Ordinance Applicants who have arrest or conviction records and are in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will be considered in accordance with the state’s fair chance ordinance law. Employment under the ordinance includes part-time work, seasonal work, contract work, contingent work, work on commission, and work through the services of a temporary or employment agency. E-Verify Statement This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I-9 Form.

Responsibilities

The Manager, Program Strategy will design and develop curriculum and program models while leading high-priority initiatives to ensure efficient execution across Merit America's offerings. This role involves collaboration with various teams to enhance the learner experience and support program delivery.