Program Specialist

ABOUT PLAYWORKS

At Playworks, we believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. We create a place for every kid on the playground to get active, build valuable skills, connect, and have fun. We partner with schools, districts, and after-school programs to provide a service or mix of services, including on-site support, professional training for school staff who support recess, digital resources, and consultative partnerships.

As a Program Specialist
, you will help demonstrate the power of Playworks in communities throughout Michigan and Ohio by providing high-quality trainings, consultative support, on-site program delivery, and spreading awareness of Playworks best practices.

The Program Specialist helps ensure that partners experience high-quality, consistent Playworks programming while building the capacity of school staff to successfully implement and sustain Playworks practices. This role reports directly to the Associate Program Director.

This is a flexible, hybrid regional delivery role
, with responsibilities shifting based on partner and program needs. Time may include school-based programming, trainings, consultative support, partner follow-up, regional program coverage, and other activities that support high-quality program delivery.

Specifically, you will:

• Deliver high-quality Playworks trainings and consultative support that build partner capacity and support successful implementation.
• Assess partner needs and provide practical coaching and guidance that help school teams set goals, address challenges, and strengthen implementation.
• Build and steward strong partner relationships through responsive communication, follow-up, and ongoing support that strengthen the partner experience and support long-term partnership.
• Represent Playworks professionally at trainings, partner meetings, conferences, demonstrations, and other regional activities.

• Deliver high-quality Team Up programming at assigned elementary schools, using play to strengthen recess culture and build the capacity of school communities to sustain Playworks practices.
• Partner with school leadership and recess teams to assess needs, establish goals, develop action plans, and strengthen systems that support successful implementation.
• Coach and train school staff by modeling strategies, games, and systems that help create active, positive, and engaging recess environments.
• Deliver student-facing programming through group play and youth leadership experiences that build positive recess expectations, cooperation, leadership, and conflict resolution.
• Use observations, assessment tools, data, and partner feedback to monitor progress, identify needs, and adjust support.
• Maintain strong partner relationships and required program documentation
  , communicating progress, successes, challenges, and emerging needs to the Associate Program Director.
• Provide flexible program coverage across Team Up schools as needed to maintain consistent, high-quality service during staff absences, vacancies, or other regional program needs.

If you're a good fit for this position, you already know much of what the role entails. To provide a clear picture, here are a few important details:

• Success in this position requires experience working with schools and the ability to coach adults, facilitate learning, and build strong relationships with school and district partners.
• You’ll thrive in this role if you bring strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills and can successfully manage multiple schools, trainings, partners, and priorities.
• This role requires someone who can move comfortably between doing, modeling, coaching, and consulting - knowing when to lead directly and when to build the capacity of others to lead.
• Because this is a flexible regional role, you’ll need to be comfortable shifting between schools, partners, and types of program delivery based on regional needs while maintaining consistent quality and follow-through.

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in education, youth development, training/facilitation, or school-based program implementation.
• Strong experience facilitating adult learning and coaching others
  , with the ability to model practices, provide constructive feedback, and build confidence and capacity.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, and communication skills
  , with the ability to effectively engage…