Program Manager, School Partnerships & Implementation

Program Manager

Cambiar Education's Quest team seeks a Program Manager to join our growing Micro-Internship initiative—a national effort connecting high school students to real-world, project-based work experiences.

This is the perfect role for a generalist who loves both people and details—someone who finds joy in making complex programs run seamlessly while building trusting relationships with teachers and students. You'll be the connective tissue that ensures everything works: timelines stay on track, educators feel supported, and students have transformative real-world learning experiences.

The Program Manager will report to the Director, Quest and collaborate closely on our partnerships, design, and evaluation work. The role is based in Los Angeles and includes monthly in-person team meetings, regular in-person visits to schools and events, plus occasional national travel as the program expands.

As the Program Manager, School Partnerships & Implementation, you will be accountable for the following:

Outcome:
Each micro-internship cycle runs seamlessly from launch through student completion.

• Manage project timelines, partner calendars, and implementation milestones.
• Oversee logistics for teacher training, program launches, and student showcases.
• Track participation, survey completion, and evaluation data to ensure quality delivery.
• Maintain clear documentation, streamline internal systems, and propose process improvements.

Outcome:
All partners (schools, teachers, and business clients) have clear, user-friendly materials and training supports to deliver the micro-internship experience with fidelity.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of schools, districts, and business partners, coordinating onboarding, training logistics, and communication.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve partner materials (e.g., training guides, facilitator guides, toolkits, and slide decks) and manage a centralized resource library.
• Co-facilitate virtual and in-person training to ensure partners are prepared for implementation.
• Troubleshoot issues, align schedules and expectations, and capture feedback to inform ongoing improvements.

Outcome:
Educators and business partners receive the coaching, tools, and encouragement they need to guide students through authentic project-based learning.

• Support educator coaching sessions (e.g., scheduling, preparing materials, documenting takeaways).
• Help refine and update facilitation guides, educator toolkits, and learning resources.
• Observe and support select implementations to capture feedback and model strong facilitation practices.
• Champion student voice and equitable participation throughout program delivery.

Outcome:
The micro-internship program scales effectively with consistent quality across regions.

• Collaborate with the team on national implementations beyond LA.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts across design, data, and partnership work streams.
• Contribute to team learning, reflection, and continuous improvement cycles.

• You are a detail-oriented project manager who enjoys bringing order to complexity.
• You build strong, trusting relationships with educators and partners.
• You're proactive, anticipating what's needed before others notice it's missing.
• You're energized by helping teachers and students succeed through real-world learning.
• You love working in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment that values collaboration and humor.

• 4–7 years of relevant experience in program management, education, youth development, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple work streams and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Experience supporting educators or implementing project-based learning in school or out of school settings.
• Comfort engaging with high school students in classroom or program settings.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and proactive communication skills.
• Proficiency with…