Public School Forum

A think-and-do tank committed to North Carolina public schools

Center Background 

After studying the impact of childhood trauma (known as Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs) on learning and student behavior, the Public School Forum of North Carolina launched the NC Center for Resilience & Learning (formerly the NC Resilience & Learning Project) in 2017 to implement whole-school and district-wide strategies to improve the academic performance and social-emotional well-being of students impacted by trauma. The core model of the Center’s work includes school-wide educator training and ongoing coaching and technical assistance with school-based teams called Resilience Teams. The Center is seeking a full-time Senior Program Manager of Professional Learning to be based anywhere in North Carolina, to create synchronous and asynchronous learning presentations, toolkits and resources around trauma-informed practices for schools, plan and lead an ongoing statewide virtual learning series, implement a new coach-the-coach model designed to scale and expand more trauma-informed educator leaders across the state, and lead the Center team in network expansion and new partnership engagement. Candidates should have an interest in working on systems change to promote the expansion of trauma-informed, safe and supportive learning environments that can improve educational and life outcomes for all students. 

Job Description 

The Senior Manager builds and implements scalable professional learning and practical tools that support trauma-informed practices, Resilience Teams, SEL, and access to mental health supports to educator leaders across the state. Key projects and focus areas for this scaling work include: 

● Trauma-Informed Virtual Learning Series: Develop and lead virtual professional learning opportunities on ACEs, trauma, and their impact on student learning and behavior. Create foundational and advanced sessions, including guest speakers, to support ongoing educator growth. 

● Coach-the-Coach Cohort Model – CORE Collaborative (Community of Resilient Educators): Facilitate peer-based learning communities for educators and administrators using a coach-the-coach model. Support participants in setting priorities, building trauma-informed action plans, and leading implementation efforts in their schools. 

● New training content and resource development: Design, curate, and provide continuous improvement of high-quality, trauma-informed professional learning curricula, implementation guides and toolkits (on topics such as building internal school resilience teams), and other resource guides, ensuring all content aligns with the Center’s core frameworks and equips the full coaching team to effectively support educators and school systems. 

● Network Expansion & Market Visibility: Lead the team in mapping out an annual conference and networking calendar, coordinating staff submission of workshop proposals to maximize regional and statewide visibility and relationship-building opportunities for the Center.

Primary Job Responsibilities 

  • Professional Learning Design & Delivery 
    • Develop and lead trauma-informed professional learning programs, including engaging virtual and in-person training/workshop sessions and tailored small group coaching and consultation support with program participants. 
    • Lead design and curation of new professional learning content on expanded trauma-informed topics – including training slides, implementation toolkits, and other resource guides for team use with educators and school partners; provide ongoing training and support to fully equip team members to deliver new training materials.
  • Project Management 
    • Serve as primary project lead on CORE (Community of Resilient Educators) Collaborative (cohort-style coach-the-coach model) and the Center’s Virtual Learning Series – providing project oversight and project management for all aspects of these programs from start to finish. This includes directly leading and facilitating training and consultation sessions, organizing the application process, driving recruitment strategy, setting program goals, serving as the primary point of contact with program participants, and providing evaluation and impact summaries. 
    • Collaborate with the Center Impact Specialist to coordinate individual project logistics and communications needs. 
    • Collaborate with Center evaluation partner at Duke University for program evaluation needs and impact reporting. 
  • Center Leadership 
    • Serve as an active member of the Center Leadership Team to collaboratively plan, structure, and facilitate team-level meetings, continuous professional development initiatives, and bi-annual strategic retreats that align with the Center’s mission and goals.
  • Outreach and Partnership Expansion
    • Build and maintain relationships with school and district staff participating in professional learning programs through the Center to recruit for future opportunities and deepen partnership engagement. 
    • Create a system for the team to map out regional and statewide educational conferences throughout the year, coordinating proposal submissions, conference registrations, and/or vendor table acquisition for the team with the goal of building new relationships and expanding partnership opportunities. 
    • Establish relationships with key educational leaders and partner organizations across the state to support growing the Center’s reach and professional learning capacity (such as Regional Education Service Alliance organizations – RESAs) 
  • Technology & Systems 
    • Use organizational tools (e.g., Google Suite) and recommend new platforms to enhance the delivery and management of learning initiatives, such as Google Classroom or other online learning platforms. 
  • Other duties as assigned 

Qualifications 

Qualifying Experience

  •  Professional Development: Experience creating and leading high-quality professional learning opportunities, demonstrating effective presentation and facilitation skills.
  • Education Background: Prefer prior experience as an educator or in a school setting, with a strong understanding of the educational environment. Instructional coaching, curriculum development, and/or administration experience preferred. 
  • Equity and Inclusion: Commitment to and experience in implementing equitable best practices to support traditionally underserved, under-resourced, and historically marginalized student populations.
  • Collaborative Experience: Ability to work well with diverse groups, including teachers, parents, students, school/district staff, and partner organizations. Proven ability to collaborate closely with external partners and stakeholders.
  • Adult Learning: Strong understanding of adult learning practices and tactics.
    • Trauma and Resilience: Passion for trauma-related topics, with foundational knowledge of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), trauma-informed schools, and resilience-building research.
    • Expanding reach and partnership-building: Experienced in external-facing engagement, with a history of leveraging professional networks and partnerships to successfully scale organizational visibility and reach.

Technical Skills

  • Technology Proficiency: Strong proficiency with Google Drive and its suite of applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides). 
  • Computer and Social Media: Competence with computers, web, and social media tools for communication and content dissemination. 
  • Proficiency with learning management systems and platforms such as Zoom, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.

Additional Requirements

  • Writing and Content Creation: Strong writing skills and experience creating engaging content and slides. 
  • Communication and Relationship-Building: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders. 
  • Organizational Skills: Exceptional organizational abilities, including being a self-starter, paying close attention to detail, and comfortably learning new things. 
  • Team Collaboration: Thrives in a team-driven, collaborative work environment.
  • Travel: Willingness and ability to lead and support professional development across the state of North Carolina two to three times a month. 
  • Remote Work: Comfortable and proficient with remote work. 
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degrees preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time (12-months/yr) position. The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $85,000 annually, dependent upon experience. The ideal start date for this role is on or before August 1, 2026. The Public School Forum offers the following benefits: competitive compensation commensurate with experience, a generous 401K retirement plan, personal leave, and parental leave policy, 10 paid holidays in addition to the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and a shortened (32 hours/Fridays off) summer workweek from Memorial Day to Labor Day, term life insurance, and employer sponsored group health insurance with access to dental, vision, short and long term disability plans. The Public School Forum of NC is a 35+ year old nonprofit organization and not a state employer. The Forum fosters a welcoming, diverse and inclusive culture. 

Position may be located anywhere in North Carolina, employee will work remotely. Some travel

required within NC based on location of regional communities of practice and in-person trainings; occasional travel to the Forum’s office in Raleigh. Background check required for employment. 

This is a grant-funded role currently secured through October 2027, with organizational goals and a track record focused on continuous renewal and long-term project sustainability.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and two writing or resource samples that you have been the lead/primary owner in creating to jobs@ncforum.org with the subject line “Senior Manager – Professional Learning” by Friday, June 12, 2026. A background check is required for employment. 

About the Public School Forum of NC: 

For more than 40 years, the Public School Forum of North Carolina has worked with partners across the state to advance equitable educational opportunity and support public education through research, policy analysis, and innovative programs. In addition to its education research and policy work, the Forum is home to the NC Center for Afterschool Programs (NC CAP), the North Carolina Center for Resilience and Learning, and the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity (Flood Center). 

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

It is the policy of the Public School Forum to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, including, but not limited to, lactation, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other class protected by state or local law.