Program Manager

At Youth Guidance, we believe that no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have caring adults in their lives. Our highly-trained staff guides kids to overcome the life and academic challenges facing youth. We meet kids where they are — physically and emotionally — to help them focus on their education, make positive choices, and remain on the right path toward life success.

Founded in 1924, and still relevant today, Youth Guidance is a leading provider of outcomes-driven programs and capacity building initiatives, directly serving more than 13,000 youth in Kansas City, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Chicago.

The Program Manager oversees planning, development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of all Community and Afterschool Program activities, staff and the outcomes sought. They will administer the program by assessing needs, making assignments, and managing programs at multiple sites where the program operates.

When you join our team, you will:

• Assumes major responsible for ongoing communication with school personnel, social service agencies, community groups and public officials regarding program goals and objectives
• Assumes assigned responsibilities that support the overall function of the agency. These responsibilities may include such activities as grant writing, public relations, community advocacy, public speaking, etc.
• Supports growth and development of new school and program partnerships; works collaboratively with Director to implement improvements, strengthen program and advance departmental strategic priorities; and with the Program Management Team to advance the agency vision
• Arranges or provides for all supervision of program staff
• Coordinates the development and implementation of the program area
• Collaborates to plan and manage the program budget, ensuring strong relationships with site partners, and address issues that impact teaching and learning
• Manages financial reporting related to grants that fund the program and coordinates with Finance Office to ensure compliance with all financial documentation
• Monitors program expenditures
• Acts as link between the program, the school, the agency and the community
• Assists in the coordination of school-based data collection and program evaluation initiatives.
• May suggest directions for research and evaluation efforts related to program. Accountable for submission deadlines of direct reports
• Maintains focus on the achievement of key program outcomes including goals for student performance, retention, and satisfaction. Ensuring all programs are on-track for desired metrics Assists and coordinates program staff development and provides training and technical assistance to program and school staff, as needed
• Plans and attends necessary program staff meetings
• Assures that all program documentation, records, and required reports for program stakeholders- are prepared in a timely fashion
• Serves as point of contact for finance team with regard to program area or team related issues
• Provides or arranges ongoing weekly supervision with program staff, as needed. Supports, builds, and shares best practices for positive student outcomes. Provides specific guidance in the areas of professional responsibilities, prioritization, time and resource allocation
• Recruits, supervises, evaluates, develops, and retains talented program team members

Our Program Manager has been equipped for this impactful work in education and training with at least:

• Bachelor's Degree in public/non-profit administration, business, social work, human services or a related to area from an accredited university program is required. (Master's degree preferred)
• Minimum of five years of work experience in the education, human service, youth development, or social service field. Two years of this experience must be supervisory
• Must be self-initiating, energetic and motivated. Comfortable with ambiguous and changing tasks, and capitalizing on opportunities that arise
• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills that excel in cultural sensitivity and respect for differences
• Must function well in group and team settings. Able to be solutions-focused, task-driven and innovative in those settings
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communications skills

Our Program Manager exemplifies:

• Communication: Able to use effective written and oral communication with internal and external audiences and stakeholders; demonstrates empathy and listening
• Client orientation: Can recognize needs of diverse stakeholders and approaches relationships with a service orientation to ultimately maximize impact
• Planner: A problem solver who is able to manage uncertainty and adapt to changes while still performing at high levels of excellence
• Equity mindset: Understands and is committed to goals of equity; consistently brings an equity mindset to the organization’s work and workplace
• Growth mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required; Demonstrated ability to be solutions-focused, self-reflective, and dedicated the continuous improvement of service quality
• Ownership and quality of work: Effectively manages own work and work of internal and external stakeholders ensuring delivery of high-quality work

What you will love about us:

• Opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of the youth we serve
• On-going professional development and access to our Learning Management System (LMS)
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Life Insurance
• Health and wellness programs including an Employee Assistance Program
• Medical expense reimbursement programs

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to spend extended time on a computer in a workstation.

*The duties performed are primarily in an office and school setting, vaccination is required.

DEI Statement

At Youth Guidance, we understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We celebrate the diversity of youth and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences. At the same time, we acknowledge that many systems and institutions meant to support youth are inequitable and unjust.

As such, we are committed to advancing DE&I through our words and our actions, both internally and externally, by:

• Strengthening cultural competence as well as policies, practices, and organizational structures that foster belonging and leverage the unique backgrounds and talents of staff;
• Offering youth-centered programs that are accessible and responsive to people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, language, and cultural and religious beliefs and practices;
• Influencing systems that youth, their families and communities are impacted by, such as schools, organizational networks, governmental bodies, researchers, and the funding community, to apply approaches that embrace DEI in addressing the needs and supporting the aspirations of young people.

Youth Guidance is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. Youth Guidance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity along all of these lines. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

EOE/M/F/D/V/SO