Job description
At Playworks, we believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. We create a place for every kid on the playground to get active, build valuable skills, connect, and have fun. We partner with schools, districts, and after-school programs to provide a service or mix of services, including on-site coaches, professional training for school staff who support recess, and consultative partnerships.
ABOUT THE POSITION: As the Regional Partnerships Manager, Quality, you will lead a team of Pro Trainers to ensure consistent, high-quality implementation of Playworks programming across your assigned schools. You will oversee trainer development, manage a portfolio of school and district partnerships, and focus on renewing and strengthening those relationships year over year. This role combines people leadership with partnership management, supporting staff performance while ensuring that the schools you serve continue to experience the full value of Playworks services.
This is a full-time, exempt position that reports directly to the CA Regional Partnership Director and will be based in Northern California.
Responsibilities include:
People Management
- Supervise and support a team of 5–7 regionally based Pro Trainers who work remotely and travel to school sites across Northern California; provide virtual coaching and conduct in-person observations at partner schools.
- Oversee all aspects of trainer performance management, including coaching, evaluation, development, and logistics.
- Oversee the implementation of Playworks curriculum and digital services (e.g., Tag Team, SparkPlay!) across school sites.
- Conduct regular (minimum 1x a month per Trainer) program observations and staff evaluations using Playworks protocols and tools to ensure quality implementation, identify trends, and guide improvement and renewal decisions.
- Lead hiring and onboarding of new Pro Trainers.
- Develop and refine internal training content for quarterly Pro Trainer learning sessions in collaboration with fellow Northern and Southern California Regional Partnership Managers and CA Regional Partnership Director.
Portfolio Management
- Manage a portfolio of school partnerships, serving as the primary contact for key accounts, including major district contracts.
- Lead partnership strategy meetings, conduct joint school visits, and support digital services adoption with district and school partners.
- Support trainers in serving as primary liaisons for their schools, providing coaching and stepping in for escalations when needed.
- Maintain strong relationships with district partners throughout the engagement lifecycle, including on-site consultation, recess observations, and collaborative action planning.
- Collaborate with regional leadership to shape and execute school partnership strategies aligned with Playworks’ growth and impact goals.
- Mediate and resolve program-related issues involving schools, Playworks staff, and other stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development and refinement of Playworks’ curriculum, training materials, and promotional content.
- Support regional data collection efforts and use insights to inform service delivery and partnership strategy.
- Contribute to the regional sales pipeline, with responsibility for renewing assigned contracts.
If you’re a good fit for this position, you already know most of what this job entails. However, to be sure we’re providing a complete picture, here are some additional details:
- This position requires extensive travel to training locations both in the Bay Area and beyond (Fresno, Sacramento, Merced, etc.) at an average of 45% of your time, with some months being more during peak seasons (August - November and January - April)
- The most successful candidate will be a self-starter with strong organizational skills and proven ability to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines.
- You will be successful if you possess a Growth Mindset and you seek and incorporate feedback easily.
- The strongest candidate will have demonstrated an ability to see the big picture and manage practical details.
Desired Skills & Experience
- Passionate commitment to Playworks’ mission and keen desire to contribute to social impact
- 2–3 years of direct experience leading activities, coaching, or facilitating programming for elementary or middle school students in collaboration with school staff and administrators
- Excellent relationship management, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills that facilitate partnership cultivation and negotiations
- Experience with managing long-term partnerships
- Experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data
- Knowledge of youth development principles and practices, especially relating to issues of equity, inclusio,n and healthy competition within sports and physical activity
- Understanding and experience working in a matrix organizational structure
- Comfort with a playful and exuberant workplace culture
- Knowledge of Salesforce and Cirrus is preferred.
Compensation & Benefits:
Playworks offers the full package - great benefits, a fun place to work, and an opportunity to grow professionally.
- This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Regional Partnership Director with an anticipated start date of August 11th, 2025
At Playworks, our starting salary takes into consideration internal pay equity, geographic pay differential, and robust external market data. We highly value transparency and equity within compensation and, therefore, are committed to adhering to established compensation pay points. The salary for this position is: $76,200
- A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k), and 1% employer match, employee-funded pre-tax health and child care spending accounts.
- Generous flexible time off with sick and holiday leave
This is a hands-on, creative, playful, and fun-loving environment to work in, all while contributing to the success of our nation’s youth. So if you’re ready to immerse yourself in the education sector, working on a rewarding set of challenges, and if you’ve got the skills, experience, passion, and a team spirit, apply!
Please include:
- A cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience has prepared you for this role.
- Resume.
- If we believe you’re the right fit, we’ll request your references; there’s no need to include them at this stage.
Work Environment: This position operates in both a school and office environment both indoors and outdoors. The position interacts with children on playgrounds and in classrooms on a daily basis. A portion of the interaction with schools may occur virtually.
Typical physical and mental demands:
This position requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to stand for extended periods at times; walk on a school site in various weather conditions; to climb stairs at some sites; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach and twist and, dependent on assignment the employee may occasionally lift, push, pull and/or move up to 50 pounds.
As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, faith, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates for employment, volunteering opportunities, or board service on a merit basis.
