Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Manager, Implementation

at Standtogether

🏢 About Standtogether

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that partners with bold entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs to tackle America's biggest problems. What makes it unique is its focus on empowering individuals and communities through bottom-up solutions, particularly in education, where it champions school choice and education freedom. Working here means being part of a mission-driven team that values innovation and practical impact over bureaucracy.

About This Role

This role involves leading the execution of education freedom policies at the federal and state levels, turning legislative wins into real-world programs that help families access school choice. You'll be the bridge between policy and practice, developing tools and solving operational challenges to ensure programs are simple, scalable, and effective. It's a high-impact position that directly shapes how thousands of families experience education freedom.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a check-in with state partners to troubleshoot a new application portal issue, then move to a virtual working session with the policy team to align on upcoming legislation. Afternoon could involve developing a training guide for school administrators or analyzing data to identify bottlenecks in the family enrollment process.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Standtogether Is Looking For

  • Has direct experience translating education policy (e.g., school vouchers, ESAs, tax-credit scholarships) into operational programs that serve families, including developing eligibility criteria, application processes, and funding disbursement systems.
  • Possesses strong project management skills with a track record of leading cross-functional teams (e.g., policy, legal, tech, communications) to launch state-level initiatives on tight timelines.
  • Demonstrates problem-solving agility, having navigated regulatory hurdles, stakeholder pushback, or logistical bottlenecks in education implementation.
  • Thrives in a remote, fast-paced environment and can build trust with diverse partners like state agencies, school administrators, and advocacy groups.

📝 Tips for Applying to Standtogether

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific education policy implementation projects, quantifying impact (e.g., 'Led rollout of ESA program serving 5,000 families in 6 months').

2

In your cover letter, reference a specific Stand Together education initiative (e.g., their work on Education Freedom Accounts) and explain how your experience aligns with their approach.

3

Use the application to demonstrate operational thinking: include a brief case study of how you solved a complex implementation problem.

4

Network with current or former Stand Together employees on LinkedIn to gain insights, and mention any conversations in your cover letter.

5

Prepare to answer behavioral questions about managing ambiguity—Stand Together values entrepreneurial adaptability.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Emphasize your experience translating policy into operational reality, with concrete examples of programs you've built from the ground up.", "Show passion for education freedom and understanding of Stand Together's bottom-up philosophy, not just top-down policy.", 'Highlight your ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, especially state officials and community organizations.', 'Demonstrate comfort with remote work and self-direction, as the role requires independent initiative.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Stand Together's education policy priorities on their website, especially their work on Education Freedom Accounts and state-level campaigns.
  • → Read recent news articles about school choice programs in states like Arizona, West Virginia, or Iowa to understand current implementation challenges.
  • → Familiarize yourself with Stand Together's broader philanthropic philosophy and how they measure social impact.
  • → Look up the backgrounds of key leaders in the implementation team (e.g., on LinkedIn) to understand their approaches.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you turned a policy change into a functional program. What were the biggest operational challenges?
2 How would you design a simple, family-friendly application process for a new school choice program?
3 Tell me about a time you had to persuade a skeptical stakeholder (e.g., a school district) to support your implementation plan.
4 How do you prioritize competing demands when multiple states are launching programs simultaneously?
5 What metrics would you use to measure the success of an education freedom implementation project?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus only on policy advocacy or lobbying experience—this role is about operational execution, not campaigning.
  • Avoid generic statements about 'passion for education'—be specific about education freedom and school choice.
  • Don't underestimate the remote work aspect; failing to show you can work independently without micromanagement will hurt your candidacy.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Standtogether!

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