Jacq Bennett Consulting

Position: Manager 

Location: Texas

Our preferred application deadline is August 21, 2026.  Please note that we do not guarantee review of applications received after this date.

Position Summary

As a Manager at Empower Schools, you will contribute to local- and state-level projects and initiatives that apply innovative solutions to better meet the needs of students. Working closely with your teammates and partners, this position will primarily support Empower’s growing work and impact across Texas. In this role, you will focus primarily on project implementation and outcomes tracking across our rural partnerships, managing execution across multiple grants and philanthropic investments, cultivating partnerships, and joining our movement to dramatically increase positive outcomes for students who have been traditionally underserved. 

Applicants must be willing to travel up to 30% of the time (primarily within Texas) to support the growth of our statewide work and to provide on-the-ground support in communities across the state, particularly in rural areas. As part of this role, you will receive coaching, mentorship, and guidance from experienced leaders inside and outside of our organization.

Who We Are

Empower Schools envisions a country where every student, especially those in underserved communities,  has the opportunity to succeed in school and life. As a national non-profit, we partner with educators and communities to help catalyze innovation and support the design, launch, and successful implementation of sustainable solutions to local education needs. While the specific work varies in response to local context, Empower Schools prides itself on working in places where we are invited, and expanding access to solutions that serve the greatest number of students with the greatest needs. 

We create enabling conditions for innovative school systems through three interconnected ways:

• Innovation Schools - We work with communities to design and launch sustainable local partnerships that enable transformative district schools. Innovation Schools educators have the flexibility to make decisions that are right for their students, community, and staff.
• Rural Collaboratives - We work with rural communities to forge new partnerships and develop new ways to share resources so that students in rural areas have access to a great education and are equipped for college and career success.
• Early College and Career Pathways - We work with communities to create opportunities that lead to postsecondary success for all students. We foster innovative, sustainable, and scalable structures that bridge high school to college and career so students can get the head start and success they need even before they graduate high school.

To date, we have supported the design and launch of empowering partnerships across seven  states. We are supported by an ecosystem of partners and stakeholders in each community, often organized at a state-level in partnership with state agencies. Developing both site and state-specific strategies and relationships is key to our work.  

Empower’s work in Texas focuses on innovative district partnerships and rural collaborative partnerships. We have worked with districts and communities in Texas since 2018, when our work began with the Rural Schools Innovation Zone, a catalyst for the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership legislation (HB 2209) passed in Texas in 2023. Empower is a leading partner in supporting rural districts throughout the state to form collaborative partnerships to expand college and career opportunities for students. We are now an approved technical assistance provider through the Texas Education Agency to support  R-PEP grants for rural districts looking to launch and expand collaborative partnerships. In our work, we work closely with state agencies, Education Service Center leaders, other place-based backbone organizations, and local district leadership. To date in Texas, across all three Ways We Empower, we have partnered with over 50 school districts serving over 20,000 students across the state. This role will support our growth in the state and primarily support our work with rural districts, supporting the design, launch, and implementation of rural collaborative partnerships through the R-PEP legislation. 

How You’ll Help

You will support an array of important initiatives and relationships, playing a key role in enabling schools in the state to make the best decisions for students in communities across rural Texas and beyond. Your work will vary based on needs over time and will include the following:

• Execution and project management of work with school systems 
  • Serve as project manager; successfully manage and track workflows and stakeholder activities for successful execution of implementation and design projects
  • Work closely with superintendents, cabinet-level system leaders, and civic, higher education, and industry partners to plan and implement bold school transformation plans and collaborative efforts
  • Track and report on progress and outcomes across multiple grants and philanthropic investments, ensuring deliverables and funder requirements are met on time
  • Manage and coordinate execution across multiple workstreams and initiatives simultaneously, keeping stakeholders aligned on priorities and timelines
  • Build deep relationships with system stakeholders and help ensure projects stay on track over time through regular check-ins and communication
  • Create custom, community-focused materials for various stakeholders 
  • Work with teammates to support the design and implementation of programmatic strategy that supports transformative, innovative, and sustainable education initiatives
  • Travel to rural regions to support project implementation in person 
• Partnership development and execution of state and district partnerships
  • Develop and cultivate relationships with potential state and district partners in Texas 
  • Research, identify, and recruit like-minded organizations and leaders who can play strategic roles in advancing our projects and overall impact in Texas 
  • Build productive and professional working relationships quickly with various stakeholders
  • Support developing project proposals, project plans, and deliverables
• Additional support as needed
  • Provide leverage and capacity on additional projects outside of Texas as needed
  • Contribute to Empower Schools' organizational growth as a go-to for innovative education work that prompts structural, sustainable, locally-led change that benefits traditionally underserved students and communities 

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of work experience, with experience in one of the following areas: K-12 education, higher education, workforce development, or consulting/strategic planning. 
• Demonstrated interest in and strong alignment with the mission, vision, goals, and values of  Empower Schools
• Track record of taking initiative to successfully manage complex projects and initiatives involving multiple components
• Dynamic and effective prioritization skills, enabling  strong, on-time completion of multiple projects with shifting timelines
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the ability to collaborate across differences and earn trust and buy-in from a wide range of stakeholders
• Clear and effective communication skills including tactfulness and demonstrated ability to successfully manage stakeholder relations and translate ideas into clear, compelling messaging (e.g., in PowerPoint)
• Entrepreneurial mindset (i.e., flexible, resourceful, and creative) and deep motivation to drive toward high-quality outcomes with a consistently positive attitude
• Knowledge of state and federal grant management practices preferred 

Salary and Benefits

The salary band for a Manager is between $78,000 and $93,000 annually. Empower Schools uses a transparent formula that factors in years of experience to determine initial placement in the salary band. New hires should expect to be placed closer to the start of the band with opportunities for meaningful increases over time. Empower Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental insurance, retirement benefits, parental leave, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

Application

Interested and qualified applicants should apply here. Note: the application deadline for this position is August 21, 2026. We do not guarantee review of applications submitted after this date.

We support equal opportunity and value building the diversity of our team as we grow. We seek individuals of all races, ethnicities, abilities, and creeds to support our organization’s work and encourage individuals from historically under-represented backgrounds to apply.