Managing Director of Special Education

Company: Neighborhood Charter Schools
Location: New York City
Posted on: February 14, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description About Neighborhood Charter Schools Neighborhood Charter Schools (NCS) is a public charter school network rooted in Harlem and the Bronx, serving students in an intentionally designed, inclusive learning community. NCS is built on a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves to be known, valued, and supported as their full self. Our schools operate as a true neighborhood model, grounded in deep relationships with families and a commitment to belonging for every student. What distinguishes NCS is an inclusive-by-design approach. Classrooms, schedules, and supports are intentionally built to serve autistic students, multilingual learners, students with IEPs, and general education students together. Inclusion is not a program or an add-on—it is the foundation of how our schools function and how students experience learning every day. As NCS expands from a K–8 network to a K–12 system, the launch of its first high school marks a defining moment for the organization. This next chapter requires greater coherence across schools, clarity around vision and systems, and senior leadership to ensure quality and consistency as the network grows. About the Role The Managing Director of Special Education is responsible for defining the vision for special education and inclusion at NCS to ensure equity and inclusion for all students. As part of this role, the Managing Director will be responsible for setting the strategy for implementing the vision, especially as NCS shifts from a K-8 to a K-12 model. The Managing Director will work with the executive leadership team to build and maintain strong systems and programming for students with disabilities across the network. As a senior organizational leader, the Managing Director of Special Education also serves as a cultural standard-setter for the network. Grounded in a deep belief in equity for all students, the MDSE models NCS’s LIGHT values in practice, sets clear expectations for how leaders work together, and inspires teams to pursue system-wide change in service of students and communities. What You’ll Do Define and Uphold the Vision for Special Education for K-12 Design and articulate a clear, shared K–12 vision for special education programming and inclusive practices at NCS that ensures equity, access, and inclusion for all students. Design the strategy for implementing, evaluating, and maintaining fidelity to the vision for programming across the network. Work with the Special Education team to ensure families receive regular direct support and advocacy. Define and create family communication systems and norms across the special education team to ensure the development and sustainment of strong relationships with NCS families. Partner with school-based directors and principals to ensure special education vision and inclusion practices are evident and effective on the school level. Collaborate with network academic leaders to ensure inclusive practices, expectations for rigor, and support structures are aligned within content-specific systems and curricula. Lead, Manage, and Develop School and Network Leaders Manage and support the School-Based Directors of Special Education, the Autism Program Specialist, Network Intervention and 12:1 Specialist, and the Special Education Projects Manager. Build a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth among school and network leaders. Lead the vision of Special Education Team growth and expansion while developing clear plans for training, development, and accountability. Collaborate with leaders network-wide to ensure consistent professional development for teachers and leaders that aligns with the vision of special education. Build and Sustain Strong Special Education Systems Serve as the primary steward of inclusive special education systems across all NCS campuses, ensuring consistency in service models, instructional practices, compliance, and student support structures. Establish clear goals and metrics for the successful implementation of special education systems and support. Use data and qualitative evidence to identify priorities and drive continuous improvement. Build systems that are coherent, scalable, and responsive as the network grows. Collaborate with the Special Education and Operations teams to develop and implement a robust enrollment system for the Autism Program that ensures budgetary and programmatic alignment. Collaborate with the School-Based and Operations teams to ensure robust network-wide enrollment systems that include dedicated processes for students with IEPs. Collaborate with the School-Based Directors and Culture teams to develop and maintain network-wide behavior systems to ensure strong support, services, and data collection. Work with the Finance Team to manage the Special Populations budget. Refine and Codify the K–8 Special Education Model Aligned to the High School Vision Work with the Executive Director and senior leader team to design a scalable, sustainable K–12 special education model that supports both current students and future expansion. Ensure alignment between high school academic and culture expectations and existing K–8 practices to support increased rigor, independence, and postsecondary planning. Partner closely with the Founding High School Principal and academic leadership to align the school’s vision for the academic and student experience with special education systems, ensuring consistency in service models, instructional practices, compliance, and student support structures. Who You’ll Work With Executive Director – this role reports to the Executive Director and serves as the driver of special education and inclusivity for the network. School-Based Special Education Team – direct reports and key partners in executing the special education vision and driving school-based systems. Network-Based Special Education Team – direct reports and key partners in executing network-wide special education vision and systems. School Principals – critical partners to ensure that special education and inclusion are at the forefront of school-based systems. Network Academic Leadership Team – critical partners to ensure that inclusion sits at the center of the academic vision and its implementation. Network Leaders – cross-functional partners to ensure special education priorities are supported by talent, operations, and organizational systems. Required Skills and Experience Master’s degree in Special Education or related field preferred NY State Teaching Certification required NYS SBL/SDL certification preferred, or willingness to participate in an accredited SBL/SDL program to pursue certification A minimum of 4 years of school leadership and professional management experience Proven effectiveness as a special education teacher or service provider. Strong knowledge and experience in best practices for students with disabilities, including autistic students A commitment to contributing to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive setting Effective organizational and time management skills Collaborative mindset and ability to work productively with all stakeholders Effective communicator in public and interpersonal settings Additional Details This is a full-time, NYC-based, in-person role with regular travel between the Harlem, Bronx future high school campuses. The salary range for this position is $160,000- $170,000. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Neighborhood Charter Schools is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds who share our mission and values to apply. Powered by JazzHR s0TZ9TuhxH

Keywords: Neighborhood Charter Schools, Bridgeport , Managing Director of Special Education, Education / Teaching , New York City, Connecticut