Program Director, Club & Library

About J3 Foundation

J3 Foundation (J3) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to give kids the foundation they need for a lifetime of reading success. J3 equips upper elementary students in under-resourced communities with the tools they need to achieve grade-level literacy while fostering positive self-image, self-confidence, a love of reading, and a lifelong identity as readers.

Launched in 2018 in response to alarming data showing that 4th graders who fall behind in reading face significantly higher risks of incarceration or public assistance as young adults, J3 provides reading intervention programs and after-school reading clubs to students across Los Angeles County — with ambitions to expand to cities nationwide. J3 is committed to changing that narrative, one reader at a time.

Position Summary

The Program Director, Club & Library, leads J3 Foundation’s flagship literacy programming: the Cozy Reading Club (CRC), the organization’s lending library, and builds and maintains J3’s book collection. In partnership with the Vice President, Program, the Director translates J3’s multi-year program vision into annual plans, curriculum, and consistent implementation across all school sites. The Director designs the training, tools, and fidelity standards for program delivery; equips Regional Program Managers to train and supervise the part-time coaches who execute the program; and monitors implementation quality and student outcomes across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

CRC Program Strategy & Planning

• Drive annual program planning for the Cozy Reading Club, owning delivery against program targets and milestones, including attendance and outcomes goals; ensure plans advance the multi-year vision established with the Vice President, Program
• Develop and oversee the CRC’s approach to measuring student growth in vocabulary, comprehension, and reading identity, and collaborate with the Director, Data & Partnerships, to develop and refine measures of vocabulary, comprehension, and reading motivation
• Analyze attendance, fidelity, and student growth data to inform curriculum updates, training priorities, and engagement strategy
• Lead regular data review cycles with the VP, Program, and RPMs; report progress toward goals and other annual targets to organizational leadership

CRC Curriculum & Experience

• Stay current on the science of reading, reading motivation research and social emotional learning to inform program design and strategic recommendations
• Own the Cozy Reading Club curriculum: design, maintain, and continuously improve scope, sequence, session plans, and materials
• Design programming that balances joy and rigor, embedding vocabulary, comprehension, and reading motivation development within high-interest, student-centered experiences
• Develop and execute an attendance and engagement strategy that makes the Cozy Reading Club an experience students don’t want to miss — growing voluntary participation through student voice in book selection, themed experiences, creative use of LA-based partnerships and experiences, and family engagement
• Curate new materials, thematic units, and experiences aligned with J3’s mission
• Pilot, evaluate, and scale program innovations based on implementation data and student feedback

CRC Coach Hiring, Training & Program Fidelity

• Serve as hiring manager for part-time CRC coaches: define the coach role profile and selection criteria, lead recruitment and hiring in collaboration with RPMs and VP
• Forecast coach staffing needs across sites and maintain a recruitment pipeline to ensure clubs are fully staffed
• Lead, refine, and scale the CRC training program for RPMs and part-time coaches, including onboarding, session facilitation guides, model lessons, and ongoing professional development
• Create CRC fidelity standards, observation rubrics, and quality benchmarks for club delivery across all sites
• Oversee program fidelity in partnership with RPMs: track fidelity data across sites, identify trends and gaps, and adjust training and tools accordingly; RPMs conduct observations and deliver written feedback to coaches
• Facilitate a regular community of practice with RPMs to calibrate quality expectations and address implementation challenges
• Ensure training and fidelity systems are consistently executed across all regions, escalating implementation concerns to the VP, Program as needed

Library & Literacy Resource Management

• Manage and grow J3’s centralized lending library (8,000+ books), ensuring selections are diverse, high-interest, culturally relevant, and aligned to club curriculum and student demographics
• Develop a collection strategy governing acquisitions, retirements, and alignment of titles to reading levels, languages, and student interests
• Develop and maintain systems for book lending, inventory tracking, and school-site book rotation
• Coordinate regular book distributions and student giveaways
• Generate usage reports and insights from library systems to inform program enhancements
• Build and maintain book donation partnerships and other external relationships that support the collection
• Develop and coordinate program partnerships that enrich the club experience, such as therapy-dog visits and author engagements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Library Science, Literacy, or a related field
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in literacy programming, curriculum development, or instruction, including experience leading a program (e.g., owning program goals, designing curriculum or training, or managing staff and systems)
• Strong foundation in literacy and literacy curriculum design, including working knowledge of the science of reading and how to build reading motivation and reading identity in students
• Strong knowledge of children’s literature and experience with book collections, curriculum resources, or reading programs
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to own multiple workstreams
• Effective communicator who builds trust across school communities, staff, and partners
• Deep commitment to literacy access, cultural relevance, and educational equity
• Experience with book collections, curriculum resources, or reading programs
• Data fluency: able to use attendance, fidelity, and outcomes data to guide decisions

Work Environment & Travel

• Hybrid role based in Los Angeles with regular on-site presence at the J3 office, school sites, and community partners; this is not a remote position, and relocation assistance is not provided
• Occasional evening or weekend work for training or events, including a minimum of one overnight trip for the annual J3 team retreat
• Must be able to lift and transport books and program materials

Salary & Benefits

The full salary range for this position is $100,000 – $138,000. The anticipated starting range is $100,00-119,000. Placement within the anticipated starting range will be based on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise as evaluated during the hiring process.

J3 offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays and office closures.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed as they come in. Candidates who best fit the role and mission will be contacted for a phone screening, followed by in-person interviews with a panel, a short work sample, and reference checks. Final candidates will complete any required background clearances.

Because this is a priority hire on a compressed timeline, please note the following key dates:

Applications must be received by July 18, 2026

Initial interviews will be held the week of July 20, 2026

Target start date is August 10, 2026

We encourage you to apply as early as possible and to hold time the week of July 20 in case you are invited to interview.

Questions

If you have questions about the position or hiring process, please contact us at hiring@j3foundation.org. To help us keep communication organized, please use this email address only.

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

J3 Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team strengthens our work, and we encourage applications from individuals whose lived experiences mirror those of the students and communities we serve.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.