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Program Manager 4

State of Iowa

Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IAFull-time$100–142K/yrPosted 2 days agoStill listed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$100–142K/yr
Location
Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Iowa Certified Public Manager Program

Job overview

The Iowa Department of Education seeks a Program Manager 4 to lead project management and coordination for major school choice initiatives and legislative priorities. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the role supports planning, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of statewide programs, including Education Savings Accounts, charter schools, nonpublic school programs, and the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit. The position also coordinates legislative work and other department initiatives.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Project ManagementLegislative CoordinationAdministrative Rule DevelopmentTechnical AssistanceProfessional LearningStrategic PlanningAnalytical ThinkingTeam LeadershipIndependent WorkPrioritizationTime ManagementWritten CommunicationVerbal CommunicationRegulatory InterpretationConflict ResolutionInterpersonal SkillsEducation PolicySchool Choice ProgramsEducation LawRegulatory ComplianceGovernment Reporting

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or EquivalentSix Years Professional ExperienceTen Years Education or ExperienceFour Years Professional ExperienceTwo Years Graduate Education or ExperienceIowa Certified Public Manager ProgramProgram Manager 3 ExperienceProgram Manager 2 Experience

Full job description

Iowa Department of Education’s mission is ensuring all students experience a world-class education. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to build an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential. This position provides leadership, project management, and coordination for major school choice initiatives and legislative priorities of the Iowa Department of Education. Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, the position supports the planning, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of statewide education initiatives, including Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), public charter schools, accredited nonpublic school programs, and the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) program. Your Responsibilities: Provide project management and coordination for the Department's school choice initiatives, including Education Savings Accounts, public charter schools, accredited nonpublic school initiatives, and other programs assigned by the Chief of Staff. Coordinate the development, implementation, and ongoing administration of Iowa's participation in the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit. Support the Chief of Staff and the Department's legislative liaison with legislative activities, information gathering, and implementation of enacted legislation. This position will work collaboratively with the legislative liaison and Department staff to ensure timely responses to requests and effective coordination of legislative priorities and requirements. Provide project coordination and administrative support for additional Department priorities and special initiatives assigned by the Chief of Staff and Division Administrators. A successful candidate will bring or have the ability and desire to learn:

  • Passion for accomplishing common goals in pursuit of public service

  • Strong technical skills

  • Strategic and analytical mindset

  • Knowledge and experience with coordinating the development of legislation, administrative rules, and legislative proposals

  • Ability to work collaboratively on, and provide leadership for, high-performing teams

  • Ability to work independently, moving projects forward with minimal supervision

  • Ability to work in complex situations and meet deadlines while leading teams as a non-traditional leader (no supervisory authority)

  • Experience providing technical assistance and professional learning to educators

  • Ability to manage self in relation to prioritization and time management

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to interpret and break down highly technical and regulatory language, and present information in an understandable manner

  • Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills

  • Desire to work with diverse teams and stakeholders

Desirable Qualifications:

  • State government operations, administrative processes, and education policy.

  • Iowa's PK–12 education system, including public schools, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools.

  • School choice programs, including Education Savings Accounts and scholarship programs.

  • Legislative processes, policy development, and implementation of enacted legislation.

  • Project management principles, strategic planning, and organizational improvement.

  • State and federal education laws, regulations, and administrative requirements.

  • Governmental reporting, accountability, and compliance processes.

What's in it for you?

  • Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities
  • Collaborative, positive work environment
  • Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow
  • Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country
  • Employee discounts from a variety of vendors
  • Competitive salary and benefits package:

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/employment/Benefits_Beyond_the_Paycheck.pdf(Download PDF reader)

Candidates are encouraged to include detailed information about their relevant experience in their application, or submit a cover letter and resume in addition to their application.If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact [email protected]. To ensure full consideration for this position, all requested materials must be completed and uploaded through the NEOGOV online application process. Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday; some nights and weekends, occasional in-state and out-of-state travel E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

  • Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to six years of full-time professional-level work inprogram administration, program development, program operations, or management.
  • A total of ten years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
  • All of the following (a, b, and c): (a) Four years of full-time professional-level work experience in program administration, program development, program operations, or management; and (b) A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and (c) A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, public health, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
  • Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes one year of full-time work as a Program Manager 3 or two years of full-time work as a Program Manager 2 or comparable specific management-level position.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

How this job compares

Set against the 10,791 open Program Management jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$100–142K/yr
  • Iowa median$123–221K/yr70 salary ranges
  • US median$127–201K/yr7,807 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $121K, is 31% below the Iowa median midpoint ($175K) — in the lowest quarter of Program Management salary ranges in Iowa.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 85 open Program Management jobs in Iowa and 10,791 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Iowa
Experience
Program Management postings that state a minimum ask for 7 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 5 to 10 years (9,230 postings).
Education
4,135 of the 10,791 open Program Management jobs (38%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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