Director, Program Implementation - East Tennessee

Title: Director, Program Implementation - East Tennessee

Location:  East Tennessee Grand Division (e.g., Chattanooga, Knoxville, or any community within East Tennessee), with up to 60% travel throughout the assigned Grand Division and the broader state required.

 

Job Band: Level 3

 

Reports to : Vice President, Program - Tennessee 

 

Start Date: Rolling, with a target start by November 2026

Who We Are

Blue Engine is an education non-profit focused on ending the long-standing pattern of disproportionate student outcomes by shifting the paradigm of “typical teaching.” Blue Engine partners with schools and systems to elevate educators' mindsets and skills, ensuring all students can access and engage in grade-level learning in every lesson. We support educators in effectively teaching to learner variability by supporting the development of 1) inclusive mindsets & practices, 2) effective co-teaching and educator collaboration, and 3) data-driven teacher development systems. Our product offerings support school and system leaders in system and school-level planning and design, instructional leader development, and content-driven teacher development. 

Role

The Director of Program Implementation – Tennessee is an expert technical assistance provider who leads implementation and drives impact within one Tennessee Grand Division. 

 

As Blue Engine launches its statewide technical assistance partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Director helps establish and deliver high-quality RTI²-A+B support within their region.

The Director spends most weeks working directly with LEAs, schools, educators, and leaders. They diagnose implementation needs, develop support plans, facilitate professional learning and collaborative communities, and conduct coaching cycles that strengthen RTI²-A+B systems and inclusive instruction.

 

The Director also manages and develops the contractors assigned to the Grand Division. They ensure technical assistance is timely, coherent, evidence-based, and aligned with Tennessee requirements and Blue Engine's standards.

Primary Responsibilities & Outcomes

I. Partner Implementation and Impact | 75%

1. Provide direct technical assistance and drive LEA impact

   1. Serve as the primary technical assistance provider for a portfolio of LEAs, with particular ownership of complex, high-priority engagements.

   2. Conduct enabling-conditions diagnostics and use multiple forms of evidence to identify strengths, root causes, barriers, and priorities at the district, school, team, and classroom levels.

   3. Co-develop clear support plans with LEA and school leaders, including intended outcomes, roles, milestones, evidence of progress, and sustainability strategies.

   4. Design and facilitate professional learning, collaborative professional communities, consultation sessions, strategic planning, and other technical assistance responsive to local context.

   5. Design and adapt practical tools, resources, and professional learning materials that translate RTI²-A+B guidance and evidence-based practices into supports responsive to LEA and school needs.

   6. Conduct coaching cycles with district leaders, school leaders, instructional coaches, interventionists, and educators that produce observable changes in systems and practice.

   7. Help partners strengthen the relationship among Tier I core instruction, Tier II and Tier III supports, academic and behavioral intervention, and access to rigorous grade-level learning.

   8. Support leaders to use student, implementation, perception, and practice data to make decisions, monitor progress, and adjust supports.

   9. Build partner capacity to sustain effective RTI²-A+B implementation with decreasing dependence on Blue Engine over time.

2. Coordinate Grand Division execution and maintain implementation quality

   1. Coordinate the work of technical assistance contractors assigned to the Grand Division, including onboarding, LEA assignments, priorities, schedules, and role expectations.

   2. Set clear standards for technical assistance quality, documentation, responsiveness, evidence use, and alignment with Tennessee's RTI²-A+B framework and Blue Engine's implementation approach.

   3. Observe contractor practice, review coaching and support artifacts, gather stakeholder feedback, and provide timely, direct feedback that improves performance.

   4. Maintain an accurate view of active referrals, LEA support plans, contractor assignments, service delivery, milestones, risks, and required follow-up across the Grand Division.

   5. Review Grand Division evidence to identify patterns, disparities, emerging needs, and opportunities to adjust technical assistance.

   6. Coordinate with other Grand Division Directors and statewide leaders, so partners experience a coherent service model across regions.

II. Product and Organizational Contribution | 25%

1. Strengthen Blue Engine’s products and implementation model

   1. Pilot product updates in authentic partner contexts.

   2. Provide specific, evidence-based feedback on product usability, feasibility, contextual relevance, and impact.

   3. Identify patterns across partnerships that may warrant product improvement or additional implementation guidance.

2. Contribute to cross-functional collaboration and shared learning

   1. Participate in statewide calibration, planning, and learning structures that strengthen the Tennessee technical assistance model.

   2. Collaborate with Program, Product, and Partnership Development colleagues to solve implementation challenges and improve partner outcomes.

   3. Share lessons, effective practices, and implementation risks across partnerships.

   4. Participate actively in required team and organization-wide collaboration structures.

   5. Support the development of shared tools, routines, and standards that improve implementation quality.

3. Contribute to Blue Engine’s culture

   1. Give and receive candid, constructive feedback across roles and levels.

   2. Follow through on commitments and contribute to a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

   3. Maintain a students-first orientation while recognizing the needs and perspectives of the educators and communities Blue Engine serves.

Core Responsibilities:

• Level 3: Drive impact for partners through effective implementation of Blue Engine’s products 

Required Experience and Capabilities

Specifically, we are searching for an individual who demonstrates proficiency in the following competencies and brings the experience necessary to lead high-quality technical assistance: 

• Bachelor’s degree required 

• K–12 Experience: 5+ years of K–12 teaching experience with demonstrated impact on student outcomes, plus 2+ years of instructional coaching, school leadership, or related implementation leadership experience. Coaching experience in special education, multilingual education, and/or tiered intervention strongly preferred.

• Coaching & Developing Others: Demonstrated ability to deepen educators’ and leaders’ skills and shift behaviors and mindsets through technical and adaptive coaching. Experience building strong coaching relationships that lead to observable changes in practice; comfort coaching across multiple content areas and grade levels.

• Influencing & Motivating Others : Ability to navigate varied school and district contexts, build trusted relationships, and cultivate investment and engagement among stakeholders across roles and identities.

• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to organize and manage complex work across multiple partners and priorities, maintain a dynamic schedule, coordinate resources and stakeholders, and reliably meet commitments and deadlines.

• Unpacking Root Causes: Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative evidence to identify root causes, strengths, and barriers; define problems; and develop actionable solutions responsive to local context.

• Setting & Managing Expectations: Communicates clear expectations, coordinates and delegates work effectively, and follows through to achieve shared goals.

• Functional Expertise: Strong knowledge of inclusive instruction and K–12 instructional systems, with expertise in special education, multilingual education, RTI/MTSS, and/or tiered academic and behavioral intervention strongly preferred. Familiarity with nonprofit management and applying a strategic lens to problem-solving is a plus.

$87,393.50 - $97,103.93 a year

This role sits in Job Level 3 within our compensation structure, with a starting salary range of $87,393.54-$97,103.93. Blue Engine provides comprehensive benefits. Compensation for this role will depend on experience, demonstrated performance on core competencies, and alignment with internal equity. Blue Engine offers a comprehensive benefits plan (through JustWorks, a PEO), including employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with most dependent costs subsidized. Other benefits include six weeks of paid time off, a 403(b) plan with employer matching, an FSA plan, commuter benefits, and a flexible work environment.

To Apply

Submit your application (resume & application questions) via this link. We will review applications on a rolling basis.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.