Senior Academic Product Manager, Special Education & Supplemental

About Us:

Elevate K-12 is on a mission to ensure every student receives a high-quality education, regardless of zip code. We are changing the way classrooms work by creating a brand new category of live, virtual classroom instruction to give students access to exceptional teachers through our two-sided network. Our certified teachers from across the country are securely streamed into tens of thousands of classrooms, providing instruction that would otherwise be unavailable in many districts across the U.S. Our goal is to enable high-quality, live teaching for every learner in the U.S., from kindergarten through their first jobs, so they can identify and pursue their unique passions in life. We are the new way to the classroom! 

Elevate K-12 is a series-C funded (led by General Catalyst), high-growth, EdTech company enjoying strong business momentum. We are growing at 150%+ CAGR in a $50B TAM with plans to double again next year. We have the first-mover, and now the first-scaler, advantage and we are working to become an iconic EdTech brand in live teaching, uplifting the lives of millions of students and creating unique job opportunities for teachers in this new, innovative category of education. 

The Role:  

We are looking for an engaging, passionate individual to join our Academic Product team. You will have the opportunity to join a growing team that directly impacts our mission to deliver meaningful live classroom instruction to every student, regardless of zip code, or disability. 

As an Academic Product Manager for our Special Education and Supplemental products, you will be responsible for sustaining, monitoring, and improving our inclusive product lines and course offerings to meet the growing needs of schools in the areas of special education and supplemental instruction. You will leverage your K-12 Special Education expertise to identify opportunities, track product performance, and drive the largest impact for our inclusive learning products. You will enhance the quality and capabilities within the product and work cross functionally to launch and maintain features that impact the growth of our academic product line.  

What you will do:  

• Drive buy-in for and execute on the special education and supplemental product vision and strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals to maximize student impact and client retention. 
• Establish and track key performance metrics for special education and supplemental product lines, using data insights to refine strategy and meet company objectives. 
• Develop and continuously refine detailed product requirements and specifications based on evolving state standards, special education laws, best practices, and district needs 
• Lead in-depth research on special education law, state-specific curricular approaches, and instructional models, translating insights into innovative and compliant product solutions. 
• Stay ahead of developments in online learning for diverse learners, integrating emerging trends and best practices into product innovation. 
• Represent the company as a subject matter expert in client meetings, site visits, and industry discussions, effectively influencing key stakeholders. 
• Design and implement scalable processes to gather stakeholder feedback through surveys, focus groups, and direct engagement, ensuring products evolve based on real-world needs. 
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to optimize and enhance academic product lines, prioritizing features that maximize engagement and outcomes. 
• Develop strategic recommendations for new courses and academic products based on market trends, competitive analysis, and stakeholder demand. 
• Continuously benchmark against best practices, trends, and competitors to position the company’s special education products as industry leaders. 
• Evaluate and enhance marketing and sales materials, ensuring messaging aligns with product strategy and effectively conveys value propositions. 
• Collaborate and support the development of product pricing and positioning strategies, alongside key leaders. 
• Drive academic product and feature launches including working with curriculum development, tech product, sales, and marketing teams, executives, and other cross-functional teams. 
• Evaluate marketing and sales materials and messaging to ensure that they are consistent with product line strategy and that the message is accurately and effectively conveyed. 
• Partner with curriculum managers and content teams to ensure lesson design meets high engagement standards and provides differentiation for students with IEPs, 504s, and supplemental needs. 
• Analyze program health data, client feedback, and student performance metrics to refine and enhance special education courses for optimal learning outcomes. 
• Champion special education across the organization, articulating the vision, value, and impact of our academic product lines to internal and external audiences. 

Qualifications: 

• Master's degree in education (M.Ed., MA, or MS), Special Education, Educational Leadership or Administration, Instructional Design, Education Technology, Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on EdTech or Product Manager, preferred  
• Bachelor’s degree in special education, education, instructional design, psychology (with a focus on education or learning science), business, marketing, or related field required 
• K-12 teaching experience in Special Education and/or serving as a department, building or district leader in special education required. 
• State-Level Special Education Certification or National Board Certification in Exceptional Needs preferred. 
• 15% Travel.

Required Experience 

• 5+ years in education, edtech, curriculum development, or product management 
• Experience in special education settings (as a teacher, coordinator, or administrator) 
• Proven track record of launching and optimizing academic products 
• Strong background in using data and market research to inform product decisions 
• Experience working cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and curriculum development teams 

Preferred Experience 

• Experience in a product management role within edtech or curriculum publishing 
• Leadership in special education program design, compliance, or implementation 
• Working with school districts, state education agencies, or large-scale education initiatives 

Location 

• Chicago, preferred 
• Major metro 

What we offer 

• An amazing team of “Elevaters” with a strong, inclusive, and diverse work culture 
• Competitive compensation 
• Unlimited PTO (Paid Time Off) & 12 company paid holidays 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K and more 
• Phone stipend  

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity, gender expression, change of sex, and transgender status), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. 

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