Professional Learning Manager

The Purpose of Zearn

Zearn is the nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to inspire all kids to love learning math. Everything we do is driven by our belief that every kid is a math kid.

Our top-rated learning platform is designed to catch kids up and move them forward in grade-level math. And it works. Large-scale efficacy research shows students who use Zearn make significant gains in math proficiency, including the students who start multiple grade levels behind.

As a nonprofit, all of our work is driven by what is best for kids. At the same time, we operate as an intense and fast-moving technology company, inclusively solving hard problems that will impact current and future generations. The problems we solve require expertise in teaching, learning science, software development, design, video production, and countless other disciplines. As an organization that is always stretching to get to the next level of impact, every single person owns mission critical work.

If you’re ready to join our Team of problem solvers, and own work that will drive us to achieve impact at scale, we are looking for you.

Learn more about us at https://about.zearn.org/. 

The purpose of the Professional Learning Manager, State Support role at Zearn is to ensure that our most experienced facilitators don't just deliver content, but master the art of contextual responsiveness. In this role, you own the advanced coaching and state-level execution for facilitators who have moved beyond onboarding. You are the bridge between foundational standards and the nuanced, high-stakes needs of our state partners, ensuring every session feels localized and impactful. This is achieved by:

Driving advanced coaching and performance ownership to move facilitators from "ready" to "expert."

• Manage a cohort of facilitators.
• Assume full coaching ownership for facilitators who have successfully transitioned from the onboarding phase.
• Conduct intake observation cycles for transitioning team members within the first 60 days to establish clear, advanced development priorities.
• Run structured coaching cycles aligned to our Criteria for Success, focusing on high-level facilitation moves.
• Identify and analyze performance patterns among experienced facilitators to proactively adjust coaching focus.

Strengthening systems for preparation and state-specific mastery to ensure Zearn’s mission resonates in every unique context.

• Reinforce consistent preparation routines while empowering facilitators to adapt messaging for state-specific needs.
• Coach facilitators on advanced skills like off-script flexibility, adaptive questioning, and framing "big ideas."
• Experiment with approved state-specific messaging adjustments and provide feedback to PD Content on how they land in live sessions.
• Lead high stakes sessions within key partnerships, exemplifying preparation and reflection routines and executing with excellence in high-visibility scenarios.

Synthesizing data and insights to provide a clear picture of state-level execution and quality.

• Review observation data and educator feedback through a state-level lens to identify recurring patterns.
• Ensure facilitators consistently surface insights aligned to organizational priorities.
• Surface state-level trends and execution insights to inform content refinements.
• Coordinate with the Director of Professional Learning to ensure facilitator readiness for high-stakes or high-visibility engagements.
• Translate readiness evidence into actionable, long-term development plans that ensure sustained quality.

The Next Problems for this Role to Solve

• How might we help facilitators adapt to complex state requirements without losing the core integrity of the Zearn Math standards?
• What coaching interventions can we design to keep facilitators with 12+ months of tenure engaged and growing in their skill?
• How can we create a more predictive system to ensure facilitators are fully prepared for high-visibility partner engagements?
• What is the most effective way to funnel state-level facilitation trends back to the broader Academic team to improve our core resources?

Skills You Bring to the Table

• Master Coach: You have a "third eye" for facilitation. You can spot the subtle difference between a good session and a great one, and you know how to coach others to find that extra 10% of impact.
• Strategic Synthesizer: You don't just see individual data points; you see the story the data is telling about a state or a portfolio.
• Adaptive Communicator: You can navigate high-stakes environments with ease, whether you are supporting a complex partner engagement or giving tough feedback to a tenured peer.
• Systems Thinker: You understand how the transition from onboarding to state support fits into the larger Facilitator Development system and can manage that handoff seamlessly.

Potential Markers of these Skills

• 7+ years of experience in education or professional learning, with at least 2 to 3 years specifically in a coaching or people-development role.
• Experience managing or supporting large-scale implementations, such as state-level or large district contracts.
• A track record of using observation rubrics or "Criteria for Success" to drive measurable growth in others.
• High proficiency in synthesizing qualitative observation data into clear, actionable reports for leadership.
• BA/BS in Education, Math, or a related field.

This is a Managerial Role

• Title: Professional Learning Manager, State Support
• Direct Reports: 3-5 Professional Learning Facilitators
• Reports to: Professional Learning Operations Director

How We Work

• We aim to create a numeracy movement. This is no easy feat, and no one of us can solve this on our own.  Given that, Zearn is a transparent, collaborative, and open-to-feedback culture. 

• Our work is often collaborative in nature:

• We own our deliverables in close collaboration with others

• We communicate openly, and share early thinking and drafts often

• We seek ways to create and improve systems, and work with each other to contribute thinking in both asynchronous and synchronous discussions.

• We create a sense of community through regularly sharing context so we can collectively solve problems to drive Zearn’s velocity.

Location

This role is remote and can be performed in any of the following states:  

CA, FL, IL, LA, MA, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, SC, WA, WI

Travel

This role requires up to 90% travel weekly, year round, to facilitate in-person professional development sessions. You will also travel to an annual team building meeting each year.

Compensation & Benefits

The compensation range for this role is $90,000 - $105,000 per year.

We offer a competitive benefits package, including comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 401K matching, parental leave, and a generous PTO policy. We also offer a collegial and passionate culture and the potential to positively impact the lives of millions of children.

To Apply: https://apply.workable.com/j/D04AA271FA

Zearn is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.