Manager, FutureShock! Operations (San Benito)

ROLE TITLE: Manager, FutureShock Operations (Temporary: April 2025 - August 2025)
POSITION REPORTS TO: Senior Managing Director, Senior Designer: Samantha Asante-Bio

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Priority application deadline Sunday, March 16, 2025, by 11:59 pm ET

LOCATION: San Benito, TX (Rio Grande Valley)

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

FutureShock! is a ten-day experience where high schoolers explore career interests through hands-on projects with others. 

Career exploration is challenging, irrespective of age. It’s especially tough for high schoolers right now. Most young people are not sure what they want to do after graduating high school. Many have only limited exposure to the range of possibilities they could pursue after graduating. They’re increasingly skeptical of traditional higher education options, and alternative paths are unclear.

Moreover, most high schoolers lack the underlying skills needed to explore career and post-secondary options. This includes skills for self-direction; reflecting on one’s interests; and translating one’s interests into concrete projects. Existing solutions during the academic year (e.g. college and career counseling) are too shallow and often too focused on identifying a singular career path. And most existing programs focus on reflection, with little support connecting this to actual projects. The best version of career exploration supports students in moving between reflection, hands-on-experiences, and relationship building with others.

We believe that building your future is more than just about finding a job. The starting point does not have a single trajectory; it involves developing different skills over time and combining them in different ways. 

FutureShock! is designed to enable students to work on cool projects and find people to support and challenge them, all while making sense of how what they’re learning and doing might set them up for the future. By the end of the program, we hope they’ll be able to say “I practiced connecting my strengths and interests in unique ways to find challenging opportunities that I’m motivated to do in the future.”

WHAT YOU’LL DO

We are seeking a dedicated FutureShock! Operations Manager to execute key logistical tasks for our ten-day summer experience. Pre-event, you’ll immerse yourself in understanding your role, connecting with your team and familiarizing yourself with all stakeholders (school leaders, students, families). During the program, you’ll take charge of on-site logistics and work alongside your team for a successful close-out event. Post-program, you will pack or donate remaining supplies, support full-time staff in collecting participant feedback, and provide your own feedback.

YOU’D BE GREAT FOR THIS ROLE IF…

• You have the ability to pivot and adapt quickly based on evolving needs

• You have strong communication skills and can effectively convey ideas and feedback.

• You are proactive and take initiative to identify and address potential issues.

• You thrive in a fast-paced setting and can manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

• You are detail-oriented and ensure accuracy in all aspects of your work.

• You are passionate about continuous improvement and seek out opportunities to enhance operations.

• You are excited to leverage cutting-edge AI tools to guide and support students in developing projects

• You are an educator or leader with summer flexibility

WHAT YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Leading up to summer

• Internalize and develop a deep understanding of the systems you’ll execute on in the summer

• Complete the required synchronous and asynchronous training for your role

• Proactively build relationships with other staff members to understand and shape the summer experience

• Prepare to collect, save, and access important information (waivers, student and emergency contact, relevant medical info, allergies) 

• Coordinate a site visit for your team to begin planning for the spaces you’ll be utilizing

During the summer

• Own on-the-ground school site logistics on behalf of TFA, including liaising with school site’s operational staff, owning physical set up and take down at the school site, and contributing to operations for school site initiatives (meal delivery, bus loading, etc.)

• Order materials for lessons and student projects

• Assist with rostering and student lists at school site as needed

• Aid data collection by ensuring submission of student surveys

• Support communications with students and parents as needed 

YOUR COMMITMENT

• 20 hours of training from late April to late May (virtual and one weekend in-person).

• 125 hours of prep, ops, and debriefs during FutureShock! programming (3 school cohorts for 2-week increments).

• Must be able to commit to up to 3 school cohorts (up to 6 weeks total of programming). Cohorts may take place at more than one school site. 

• Must provide your own transportation 

• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs. as role requires loading/unloading student materials

YOUR EXPERIENCE

• Proactive Learning and Adaptation: Demonstrated ability to quickly grasp and implement training for on-the-ground operations, adapting to new challenges and systems with agility

• Strategic Organizational and Time Management: Exceptional organizational skills, proficient in managing school site logistics and operational tasks in a fast-paced environment

• Customer Service and Support Orientation: Proven track record of providing excellent customer service, addressing the needs of stakeholders and colleagues with empathy and resourcefulness.

• Innovative Problem-Solving and Initiative: Ability to creatively and proactively solve complex problems, especially in managing school site operations and addressing unforeseen challenges

• Collaborative Teamwork and Inclusivity: Experience in fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment, working effectively with diverse teams to support regional and cohort needs

YOUR FUTURE TEAM

The Reinvention Lab at Teach For America is the home team of FutureShock! This team is a creative cadre of product and program designers committed to reinventing towards the future of learning.  The FutureShock! team designs transformative experiences that propel high schoolers into meaningful lives. Join forces with passionate professionals committed to redefining education and empowering the next generation through groundbreaking experiences. Your contributions will be at the forefront of a movement to reinvent learning and launch students into a future filled with purpose and possibilities.

YOUR COMPENSATION

The Manager, FutureShock! Operations role will be compensated at an hourly rate of $31.16. The rate will be determined based on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands.