Social Emotional Learning Phd Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This is a New York City based hybrid position which requires a blend of onsite work with schools and district teams across NYC, days at Urban Assembly’s central office in Manhattan’s Financial District, and remote work. The current expectation is that employees work in person at least 2 days per week, with the possibility of additional in-person days based on organizational or team needs. Due to the school-facing nature of this role, this position will regularly require additional in-person days to meet school coaching, program, and partnership responsibilities.

Salary: $125,000

Our target start date is October 20, 2026. Special consideration will be given to candidates who apply by September 14, 2026. This position will remain open until filled.

ABOUT US

The Urban Assembly (UA) is a non‑profit that promotes social and economic mobility by innovating in public education, both in its 22 New York City schools and in the solutions it offers to school districts nationwide. The Urban Assembly founded more than 20 small, career‑themed high schools in New York City since 1997, pioneering career‑connected education. Its school design and support enabled the Urban Assembly to develop high‑impact learning solutions for schools and districts nationwide.

Under the mission of advancing students’ social and economic mobility by improving public education, the Urban Assembly partners with schools and districts to design and scale solutions that improve social‑emotional learning, post‑secondary readiness and success, and instructional quality. The UA values the uniqueness of every student, and our work honors the various social and cultural contexts from which they come. We acknowledge the historical barriers created by education systems to perpetuate the social inequities that keep students of color from accessing postsecondary and career opportunities - and commit to dismantling these barriers.

ABOUT THE JOB

Reporting to the Managing Director of Program, the Director of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is responsible for the strategic leadership, execution, growth, and continuous improvement of Urban Assembly's SEL portfolio. This role leads the design and delivery of high‑quality, evidence‑based SELprogramming that improves educator practice, student outcomes, and school culture through disciplined implementation, organizational capacity building, and performance management. Working collaboratively across partners and internal teams, the Director develops scalable systems, strengthens strategic partnerships, advances organizational learning, and generates field‑shaping insights that position Urban Assembly as a national leader in social and emotional learning.

The key responsibilities include:

Program Strategy & Execution (30%)

Lead the design, execution, and continuous improvement of Urban Assembly's SEL portfolio to achieve measurable implementation, educator, and student outcomes through disciplined strategy, execution, and performance management.

Success in this area includes:

• Achieve ambitious program outcomes by establishing a culture of execution that defines clear implementation expectations, monitors leading indicators of success, addresses performance gaps in real time, and ensures accountability for achieving measurable implementation, educator, and student outcomes.
• Design and continuously improve the implementation system by developing and refining implementation frameworks, coaching models, operational routines, performance dashboards, implementation resources, and organizational infrastructure that enable high‑quality, scalable, and sustainable program delivery.
• Build the capacity of educators and school leaders to implement and sustain high‑quality, evidence‑based SEL practices through coaching, professional learning, technical assistance, and implementation support.
• Use qualitative and quantitative evidence to drive strategic decision‑making by identifying root causes, evaluating implementation effectiveness, assessing emerging needs, and translating findings into improvements in program design, implementation strategy, products, and service delivery.
• Cultivate a learning network that identifies, validates, and disseminates effective implementation practices across Urban Assembly partners while ensuring the SEL portfolio remains aligned with organizational priorities and integrated within broader instructional, postsecondary, and Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) initiatives.

Strategic Growth and Portfolio Leadership (35%)

The Director is accountable for the long‑term growth, sustainability, and national expansion of the SEL portfolio by increasing its reach, strengthening its financial sustainability, and building strategic partnerships that advance Urban Assembly's mission.

• Expand the reach and impact of the SEL portfolio by securing new district, state, and national partnerships that increase the number of schools, educators, and students served.
• Generate sustainable revenue by securing new grants, contracts, and fee‑for‑service opportunities that contribute at least 10% of the program's annual budget.
• Maintain a high‑performing partner portfolio by achieving an annual contract renewal and retention rate of at least 85% through strong implementation, relationship management, and demonstrated impact.
• Develop scalable solutions that extend the reach of the SEL portfolio beyond direct service through products, tools, implementation playbooks, digital platforms, and professional learning models.
• Represent Urban Assembly as a national thought leader by facilitating contributions to conference presentations, publications, strategic partnerships, and other opportunities that increase awareness, demand, and adoption of UA's SEL solutions.
• Build and steward a strategic growth pipeline by identifying, cultivating, and advancing opportunities that strengthen the long‑term reach and sustainability of the portfolio.

Research, Learning & Field Leadership (35%)

The Director is accountable for transforming implementation and outcome data into actionable knowledge that strengthens Urban Assembly's practice and advances the broader field of social‑emotional learning.

Success in this area includes:

• Generate evidence about effective implementation by identifying the implementation conditions most strongly associated with improved educator practice and student SEL outcomes.
• Develop Urban Assembly's organizational knowledge base by translating implementation findings into frameworks, tools, implementation guidance, and best practices that improve program quality across the organization.
• Contribute to the broader field of SEL by disseminating evidence, implementation insights, and practitioner guidance through publications, conference presentations, and strategic partnerships.
• Shape future program strategy by using implementation and outcome evidence to identify emerging opportunities for innovation, research, and continuous improvement.

The key competencies of an Urban Assembly staff member include: Problem‑Solving, Collaboration, Communication and Listening, Priority‑setting and Time Management, Position Expertise, Professionalism, Commitment to Growth and Community

Qualifications:

• 5+ years in the field experience preferred
• 3+ years of non profit experience and/or equivalent adult development work preferred
• Excellent project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to build relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders (principals, counseling staff, external agencies, parents, youth, etc.).
• Knowledge of the NYC public education landscape
• Experience working with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms)
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and effectively utilize advanced technological tools to enhance educational outcomes

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Due to a non‑compete clause, we are unable to hire staff directly out of NYCPS or central offices, but former NYCPS staff (out of the system for more than 1 year) are encouraged to apply.

OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS

The UA team will review applications on a rolling basis. We use a structured interview process and candidates moving forward in the interview process will be contacted by email regarding a phone screening, interviews and performance tasks.

The UA makes every effort to ensure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions. The UA is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email our Deputy Chief of Staff at jobs@urbanassembly.org . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The UA is an equal‑opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The UA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities; protected veterans; and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This is a full‑time, exempt position with a salary of $125,000. The UA also offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Employer‑paid medical plan with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• Employer‑paid Life, AD&D, and Long‑Term Disability
• 403(b) with 3% employer match after one year
• Vacation, Sick, Personal, Floating holidays, Winter Recess & Summer Fridays
• Transit and phone hotspot stipends
• Up to $2,000 annually for professional development
• Hybrid work schedule with summer flexibility