About this opportunity
Stem to the Future lists this VP of Programs opportunity in los angeles, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
The mission of Inner Spark Learning Lab (fka STEM to the Future) is to support elementary and middle school aged Black and brown youth in realizing their inherent freedom and potential, guiding them towards self-actualization and personal revolution. We foster environments where youth can explore their identities, align with their purpose, and develop the confidence and skills to create their desired realities for themselves and their communities.
Our social justice and STEAM-based learning experiences equip Black and brown elementary and middle school-age students with insight to solve issues of equity within their communities.
Our Team
ISLL is founded and led by educators and creatives from diverse backgrounds who share a deep passion for youth and their capacity to do amazing things. Our team values discovery, open communication, empathy and creativity in everything we do. We’re united by our shared values, a deep commitment to our community, and to our mission of motivating and inspiring Black and brown youth to create the world they want and deserve. Our employees include athletes, parents, artists, writers, activists, and more.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Chief Programs & Learning Officer to lead ISLL's full program portfolio as a coherent, high-impact system. This is a senior leadership role at the intersection of pedagogy, strategy, and operations. The ideal candidate brings a deep belief in liberatory education, strong instincts for people leadership, and the ability to translate mission into systems that actually work.
The Chief Programs & Learning Officer is accountable for ensuring that every ISLL program reflects student-centered values, generates knowledge that informs the field, and is led by a team that feels clear, supported, and connected to shared goals.
What you’ll do
Directly manage the Director of Labs and additional program directors as the portfolio grows
Lead a standing monthly Directors meeting to surface cross-team dependencies, share insights, and coordinate priorities
Maintain a non-negotiable weekly 1:1 cadence with all direct reports
Conduct quarterly performance reviews for all Directors with written documentation
Coordinate an extended team of consultants and researchers, setting clear scopes, aligning deliverables, and integrating their work into the broader program system
Cross‑Team Integration
Own the integration architecture across Labs, Curriculum, Evaluation, and Professional Development functions
Ensure Lab learnings feed curriculum iteration quarterly; translate curriculum innovations into PD offerings twice per year
Share evaluation data summaries monthly with action items tracked across teams
Ensure all programmatic narratives and data are available to the Development team 30 days before major fundraising asks
Strategic Priorities
Lead execution of the Lab Visitor Strategy: host 100+ educators, researchers, policymakers, and storytellers in ISLL learning environments by Year 3
Oversee knowledge generation, ensuring ISLL produces at least 2 internal learning briefs per year, 1 external-facing report or white paper annually, and ongoing case studies from lab environments
Partner weekly with the Executive Director on strategic alignment, budget and resource planning, and board-level programmatic updates
Our ideal candidate will have
Demonstrated senior leadership experience in a mission-driven educational or youth development organization
Deep fluency in liberatory pedagogy and student-centered program design
Proven experience managing directors or senior staff, not just coordinating, but genuinely developing people
Strong systems thinking: the ability to see how programs, people, and data connect across a portfolio
A track record of producing knowledge artifacts (reports, briefs, or publications) that move beyond internal use
High EQ paired with clear expectations; someone who holds people accountable without losing the relationship
It’s a bonus if you have
Experience managing contracted consultants and researchers as part of an integrated team
Background in evaluation, learning science, or curriculum development
Experience building or scaling a lab or innovation-focused learning environment
Existing relationships with researchers, policymakers, or storytellers in the education space
Success in Your First 90 Days Looks Like
You have built strong working relationships with the Director of Labs, all program directors, and key consultants and researchers
You have conducted at least one lab observation and delivered meaningful feedback
You have launched the monthly Directors meeting with a clear cadence and distributed summaries within 48 hours
You have mapped cross-team integration points, including how consultants and researchers connect to each team, and identified current gaps
The Executive Director views you as a strategic, proactive partner
You have articulated 2 to 3 strategic priorities for the program portfolio
Competitive salary commensurate with experience
Medical, Dental, Vision, Chiropractic/Acupuncture, and Life Insurance (100% covered by the organization)
Annual learning stipend
Monthly housing and wellness stipends
Pay Scale
Medical, Dental, Vision, Chiropractic/Acupuncture, and Life Insurance (100% covered for select plans)
Annual learning stipend
Monthly housing and wellness stipends
The pay range for this role is:
110,000 - 135,000 USD per year (Los Angeles)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Worksite address
los angeles, CA, 90079, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.