Senior Program Manager - Downtown Branch

Summary of Position : The Senior Program Manager provides leadership and coaching to program staff, and is responsible for overseeing, managing, and supporting a portfolio of 60-100 youth development programs and special projects. This work is done in collaboration with instructors, schools, and community organizations to ensure program success. The Senior Program Manager works closely with the Senior Program Director on all programmatic special projects and liaise with other departments on programmatic projects/initiatives.

Supervisory Responsibilities :

• Program Specialists (2-3)
• Program Assistant (1)
• Seasonal Program Specialists (1-2)
• Part-Time Program Staff

Annual Operating Budget Responsibility: $3-$4M

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Leadership

• Provide effective supervision, coaching, and guidance to Program Specialists, Program Assistant, seasonal, and part-time staff to ensure program success, aid professional development and support performance improvement.
• Lead the planning and execution of programs and special initiatives.

Program Quality

• Ensure branch area team compliance with program quality benchmarks, providing feedback and resources to improve outcomes including enrollment and retention metrics and recruitment strategies.
• Manage program quality benchmarks through data analysis, site visits, and team meetings.
• Oversees routine program site visits and monitor compliance, performing observations outlined in the annual plan and coaching staff on continuous improvement.
• Oversee incident report process and manage resolving programmatic areas for improvement
• Manage the planning, coordination, and execution of building-wide activities and events, including but not limited to Fire Drills, Hard Lockdown Drills, Career Day, Facility Tours, and End-of-Session Showcases and /or as needed.

Program Operations

• Lead or actively contribute to interdepartmental committees focused on resolving issues, improving processes, and driving enhancements that directly impact program delivery.
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of program budgets, meticulously refining them to ensure funding and ASM program model requirements are met through precise allocation of staffing and supplies resources before final approval

Community Relations

• Foster and maintain strong relationships with program partners, instructors, and community stakeholders, while efficiently coordinating branch area meetings and events, and conducting comprehensive assessments to address the needs and interests of teens in targeted community areas.
• Provide leadership for the branch when the Senior Program Director is not available.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work in fast paced, high energy environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Skilled in developing and facilitating collaborative relationships
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams
• Excellent organizational skills and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent Microsoft Office including proficiency in Excel; ability to collect and maintain information as needed
• Demonstrate experience in project management
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Respect for all levels of the organization and outside partners
• Energetic team player who works well in collaborative situations
• Strong orientation to customer service
• Strong planning skills
• Strong organizational skills

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred)
• 4+ years management and youth programming experience
• Cook County residency required
• Availability on evenings and Saturdays; open to flexible schedules as the sessions vary in need – Summer, Fall and Spring.

Benefits for full-time regular employees include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Parental Leave (PPL)
• 403B Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Sick Time and paid national holidays

Compensation: $70,000 - 75,000 salary, depending on applicable experience and education

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.

ASM has engaged more than 400,000 Chicago teens and is the nation’s largest and most successful provider of after-school and summer programs for high school teens.

ASM offers 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 $35M and employs approximately 500 staff across the organization.

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.