Who We Are: Philadelphia Academies, Inc. (PAI)
For more than 55 years, Philadelphia Academies, Inc. (PAI) has connected young people in Philadelphia to real pathways for postsecondary success, career mobility, and economic opportunity. Founded in 1969, PAI partners with schools, employers, labor unions, higher education institutions, and the School District of Philadelphia to ensure students—particularly Black and Brown students across the city—have access to career-connected learning experiences that change life trajectories. Under new executive leadership, PAI has entered a significant period of growth and transformation. The organization has expanded its footprint to its largest in history, strengthened its financial position, launched five registered pre-apprenticeship pathways, and deepened its role as a citywide leader in workforce development and student success. Today, PAI is proud to be:
- The only youth-serving organization in Pennsylvania operating five registered pre-apprenticeship programs for in-school high school students
- Leading Philadelphia’s nationally recognized 9th Grade Success Network
- A growing force in middle grades career-connected learning and early pathway development
- A trusted intermediary between schools, industry, labor, philanthropy, and government
This is a moment of momentum. We are building the next generation of career-connected learning systems and professional learning opportunities in Philadelphia—and we are looking for leaders ready to help shape that future.
Background
Since 2018, Philadelphia Academies, Inc. has led the 9th Grade Success Network (9GSN), a citywide initiative that partners with schools to increase 9th-grade On-Track rates through professional development, leadership coaching, technical assistance, and data-driven intervention strategies. Research from the School District of Philadelphia shows that students who finish 9th grade On-Track graduate at rates near 90%—more than double that of their Off-Track peers. In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and the University of Chicago, PAI supports schools in using practitioner-friendly data tools to identify and support students at risk of falling Off-Track. Since 2018, average On-Track rates across participating schools have increased from 61.3% to 70.7%, with especially strong gains among Black and Latino young men. PAI also works with schools to strengthen Firmly On-Track rates, a key indicator tied to college enrollment and long-term student success.
Position: Manager, 9th Grade Success Network (Full-Time)
The Manager of the 9th Grade Success Network serves as a mid-level leader, bridging school-based coaching and network-wide strategy execution. This role sits between the 9th Grade Success & Data Coaches (who focus primarily on direct school coaching) and the Assistant Director (who leads overall network strategy and design in partnership with the Director).
The Manager is responsible for both direct school support and the supervision and development of coaches, ensuring high-quality implementation of the 9th Grade Success Network model across a growing portfolio of nearly 30 schools.
In partnership with the Assistant Director, the Manager helps ensure consistent implementation of network systems, strengthens coaching practice across the team, and supports the execution of key Network initiatives and events. The Manager reports to the Assistant Director of the 9th Grade Success Network.
The ideal candidate for this position will have experience coaching and leading professional development sessions for educators in public schools; familiarity with the Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) framework; experience with Microsoft Excel, tracking and monitoring systems, and data-driven decision-making; and strong written and interpersonal communication skills. Ideal candidates will also have experience in supervisory roles and/or in providing feedback and support to other professionals. This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate professional interested in making a systems-level impact by taking on a leadership role supporting schools and program development.
Key Responsibilities:
Coaching & School Support
● Coach 9th Grade Assistant Principals at 2-3 high schools via weekly coaching meetings centered on data utilization, effective team meetings, intervention tracking and monitoring systems, building distributed leadership, and continuous improvement methods in order to increase 9th Grade On-Track and Firmly On-Track rates at assigned schools
● Guide school leaders in regular reflection, practice analysis, and planning by looking at data dashboards and analyzing trend data in order to impact their thinking and planning; help leaders translate and communicate relevant data trends to their teams in a succinct way
● Attend all assigned schools’ weekly 9th Grade Team meetings and offer support, suggestions, and coaching during and/or after meetings
● Lead quarterly data review and practice reflection meetings with assigned schools’ Assistant Principal and/or Principal
Community of Practice and Professional Development Design and Execution
● Lead and/or support planning and execution of impactful and engaging Network-wide Community of Practice meetings, retreats, demonstration visits, and professional learning experiences
Management and Strategic Leadership
● Supervise 2–3 9th Grade Success & Data Coaches through weekly one-on-one meetings, observations, and ongoing feedback, providing the support and resources needed to foster professional growth and ensure success in their roles
● Ensure consistency and quality across coaching practices aligned to PAI’s Success Network coaching model
● Collaborate with the Assistant Director to ensure strong implementation of 9th Grade Success Network systems, timelines, and priorities
● Partner with the School District of Philadelphia and external consultants to support the implementation and refinement of data tools and best practices for 9th graders across the School District of Philadelphia
● Surface school-level trends, challenges, and promising practices to inform network-wide decision-making and continuous improvement
● Participate in key stakeholder meetings, including district and funder sessions, to share implementation insights and strengthen alignment
Reporting & Organizational Support
● Document and track school progress toward their goals, including writing in-depth quarterly reports for the project funder and other key stakeholders
● Participation in all PAI “Signature Events” and fundraisers, as needed
● Other duties as assigned
Additional Qualifications and Required Skills:
● Bachelor’s Degree in a related field, required; Master’s Degree preferred
● Experience coaching and leading professional development for school-based staff (required)
● Experience working with teachers and/or administrators to achieve specific goals
● 5-10+ years of experience working in or with public high schools
● Supervisory experience highly preferred
● Passion for racial equity and commitment to applying an equity lens to all that you do
● Demonstrated ability for public speaking, as well as leading small/large group presentations
● Great attention to detail and organization
● Strong interpersonal communication and relationship-building skills
● Ability to analyze and respond to problems, and communicate potential solutions in an
approachable way
● Able to work well both independently and in a team, with strong collaboration skills
Compensation: The salary range for this role begins at $73,000, with consideration given to experience. PAI offers a full benefits package, including but not limited to Health Insurance, Life Insurance, generous Paid Time Off, and 403(b) retirement plan.
Start Date of early to mid-July 2026.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume in the job posting on PAI’s website.
Candidates who make it to the final round will be asked for three professional references and work samples