Program Initiatives Specialist

Summary of Position : Reporting to the Manager of Program Initiatives, the Temporary Full Time Program Initiatives Specialist will be responsible for a variety of logistical and administrative supports for special projects and events that are critical for the After School Matters’ Program Department. A cting as the liaison between After School Matters and the program providers and community partners, the Program Initiatives Specialist will communicate requirements, policy changes and other relevant information to ensure successful implementation of the special projects and events. Based upon observations, the Program Supports Specialist will provide coaching to ensure teen and instructor readiness for high profile opportunities.

The Program Initiatives Specialist will interface with a variety of stakeholders (teens, instructors, funders, and partners) while supporting the planning and execution of high-quality internal and external events. Candidate will assume increasing responsibilities over time, including managing and strengthening relationships with key partners to support the transition and ownership of strategic partnerships. The ideal candidate must be flexible enough to support both large-scale initiatives and small, discrete program plans, and will have a passion for improving the lives of Chicago’s teens.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide logistical and administrative support before, during, and after events, including preparing materials, organizing spaces, preparing teens, and facilitating stakeholder engagement.
• Take ownership of event logistics, from ordering supplies and coordinating room setups to troubleshooting issues and ensuring all requirements are met for successful program delivery.
• Interface with teens, instructors, funders, and partners to foster collaborative relationships and support the planning and execution of impactful events.
• Prepare and send formal correspondence for the Program Initiatives team
• Visit programs and assist instructors with administrative questions and tasks
• Develop and maintain relationships with program partners and instructors
• Build and manage strong relationships with key partners, gradually taking on greater responsibility in overseeing and transitioning partnership management.
• Assist in developing and maintaining a master list of programs, instructors, and program providers to participate in special requests
• Act as a trouble shooter in the areas of program implementation, logistics, and data collection
• When requested, provide quality control over multiple programs from beginning to end and ensure timely completion with support from the Program teams as needed
• Secure the appropriate tools and supplies for each program and work with the warehouse
• department to ensure delivery
• Serve as a key point of contact between the Development, Events, and Programs departments, in addition to other internal teams, proactively sharing updates on program schedules, event logistics, and policy changes to ensure alignment and smooth execution across the organization
• Understand key dates and initiatives across all branches and answer questions for parents or teens
• Manage administrative systems such as Cityspan and Google Classroom to track attendance, enrollment, and program verifications, ensuring accurate and timely data entry.
• Prepare and send formal communications to stakeholders, including instructors, partners, and funders, to keep all parties informed and engaged.

Supervisory Responsibilities :

• Independent instructors and program providers

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent organizational skills; strong process orientation, problem solving and trouble-shooting skills; a firm commitment to quality
• Effective communication skills: Articulate in conveying information verbally and in writing.
• Proven ability to plan, execute, and oversee projects to successful completion.
• Skilled in developing and facilitating collaborative relationships and interacting with people at all levels
• Demonstrate experience in managing multiple programs at one time, able to respond to requests quickly, willingness to be flexible, and able to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment
• Strong orientation to customer service (i.e., ASM staff and teens, corporate executives, community, and government leaders, etc.)
• Detail oriented and capable of meeting deadlines
• Proficiency in MS Office applications required
• Database management
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgement

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3+ years of experience in education, youth development, and/or nonprofits required
• 1-2 years of program event planning preferred
• Commitment to the youth of Chicago
• Evenings and weekends may be required
• Cook County residency required
• Valid Driver’s License, insured transportation, and driving record that satisfies our Motor Vehicle Policy required

Salary: $25 / hour

Temporary Seasonal Full Time Position:

• Period Range: April 2026 – August 2026

Schedule:

• Flexible work hours required consistent with out of school time programming which are between 8am-6pm for the summer program session.
• Fall and Spring session hours may vary: 9:00AM to 5:00PM, 10:00AM-6:00PM, 11:00AM-7:00PM or 11:30AM-7:30PM.
• Must be available on some Saturdays as needed (as projects/events require).

About Us: After School Matters is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that annually offers after-school and summer programs to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills that will set them up for success in college and beyond.

Thirty-five years later, now known as After School Matters, our program has engaged more than 450,000 Chicago teens and is the nation’s largest and most successful provider of after-school and summer programs for high school teens. No other organization offers programs to high school students at the scale and quality that we do.

We offer paid apprenticeships led by professionals in the fields of arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Our nationally respected youth development model has been replicated in cities across the country and earned us the City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Programs take place at community locations throughout the city, including three ASM buildings: downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center in Belmont Cragin, and the Pullman community at Gately Park. Currently, After School Matters' annual operating budget is approximately $48M and employs approximately 500 staff across the organization. For more information, visit

EEO: After School Matters is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, military discharge status, age, marital status, parental status, or source of income.