ABOUT PLAYWORKS: 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 a Program Specialist, you will help demonstrate the power of Playworks in new communities throughout Illinois by providing single or multi-day trainings, on-site service delivery, and spreading awareness of Playworks best practices. This role reports directly to the IL Program Director. This is a hybrid position; however, time is split between various programs, training, and activities. This position may require frequent travel throughout Illinois and Missouri.
Specifically, you will:
External Playworks Trainings and Consultative Support (Up to 50%)
Lead School Site Support
- Conduct baseline assessments with school administration and recess teams using the Great Recess Framework (GRF) and school/district data.
- Train designated school staff in the implementation, calibration, and ongoing use of the GRF.
- Collaborate with principals and recess teams to establish goals aligned with school-site objectives, guided by GRF and school/district data.
- Support and facilitate staff trainings to address skill and content gaps identified in the needs assessment process.
- Provide monthly onsite support to coach, model, assess, and plan with recess teams and administration to achieve established outcomes.
- Develop school-site status reports and action plans to track progress and next steps.
- Coordinate site-based planning, assessment, and goal-setting between principals and recess teams.
- Facilitate cross-site learning by surfacing themes and emerging best practices at the school-site level.
Training Delivery
- Serve as a certified trainer to deliver high-quality trainings and support for all Playworks Pro services, including travel throughout the region.
- Implement and facilitate various trainings across Illinois, Missouri, and nearby regions.
- Provide training and consultation to teachers, school staff, administrators, youth workers, and other partners in areas including play, youth development, recess design, physical activity, group management, conflict resolution, youth leadership, and program sustainability.
- Develop and maintain relationships with partners pre- and post-training, including school visits for recess observations, consultation, and collaborative action planning with school recess teams.
- Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of Playworks curriculum, including creating training content and techniques.
- Support the creation of written materials and tools such as training packets, posters, conference programs, promotional materials, and other educational and marketing resources.
- Provide feedback and support to other Playworks staff delivering trainings.
- Assist in general outreach strategy, which may include school contact research, attending local conferences, conducting on-site demonstrations to recruit new schools, and serving as a creative partner in these efforts.
- Build strong relationships with national and regional Playworks stakeholders to increase impact nationally and regionally, and provide high-quality customer service to training partners.
School-Based Program Implementation (Up to 50%)
- Plan and implement a consultative play-based program (TeamUp) at one public elementary school.
- Deliver onsite coaching, consultation, and modeling to school personnel in implementing core program components:
- Recess: Partner with school staff to create a safe, inclusive playground environment. Coach recess staff, organize and play large games with 20+ students, and role-model positive behavior.
- Student Leadership (Junior Coach Program): Collaborate with school staff to launch and support a Junior Coach leadership program by facilitating trainings and coaching recess staff to supervise and guide Junior Coaches during recess.
- Instructional Classes: Lead classroom sessions with elementary students and their teachers to build skills through cooperative games and activities, increasing awareness of rules, boundaries, and cultural expectations at recess.
- Foster consistent, clear, and effective communication among Playworks staff, school personnel, teachers, and volunteers to ensure alignment and collaboration.
- Collect and manage program documentation, including daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, agendas, notes, and data.
- Plan and deliver learning units and recess staff trainings to strengthen program implementation.
- Contribute to regional and national teams by supporting the development of programmatic learning resources and management tools.
If you're a good fit for this position, you already know much of what the role entails. To provide a clear picture, here are a few important details:
- Success in this position requires strong knowledge of school-site coaching and systems change within the education sector, along with the ability to facilitate both small and large group presentations.
- You’ll thrive in this role if you bring excellent organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills, as well as the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet ambitious deadlines.
- The strongest candidates will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, consistently, and respectfully with a wide range of school and district stakeholders, including district departments, school and district leaders, recess staff, teachers, and parents.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in elementary education or working directly with schools and school districts
- Proven ability to quickly learn and apply Playworks’ methodology, assessment practices, management systems, and outcome measures
- Strong capacity to collaborate and engage effectively with diverse audiences, including students, recess aides, teachers, principals, and district administrators
- Demonstrated expertise in teaching and facilitating adult learners
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including experience engaging senior and executive leadership
- Skilled in data-driven decision making, with the ability to identify and interpret trends at both the school-wide and district-wide levels
- Ability to excel independently as well as in collaborative team settings
- High professional standards with a balance of big-picture thinking and attention to detail
- Spanish fluency preferred, but not required
Compensation & Benefits:
Playworks offers a comprehensive package that includes great benefits, a supportive and fun work environment, and opportunities for professional growth. We provide:
- Competitive nonprofit salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time, exempt position. The expected salary is $56,600.
- A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) with employer match, life insurance, employee-funded pre-tax health, and child care spending accounts.
- Generous paid time off with paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave.
This is a hands-on, creative, playful, and fun-loving place to work, all while making a meaningful impact on the success of students across the country. If you’re ready to dive into the education sector, tackle rewarding challenges, and bring your skills, experience, passion, and team spirit, we encourage you to apply!
Please include:
- A cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience has prepared you for this role.
- Resume.
Other things you need to know:
- This position will require travel to various school locations, roughly 10-18 days every month. Reliable transportation is required for this role.
- If a Playworks employee is required to drive a vehicle for work-related purposes (not commuting), the employee must complete an authorization form and provide evidence of a valid, current driver’s license and proof of liability/collision/property damage insurance with minimum coverage of $50,000 per accident / $100,000 per occurrence.
- This role also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.
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.
