Senior Program Manager

The Senior Program Manager (SPM) leads Reach’s Programs Team and is responsible for the execution, quality, and continuous improvement of all Reach programs. The SPM reports directly to the Executive Director (ED) and serves as a key member of Reach’s leadership team.

The ideal candidate possesses literacy expertise with a strong understanding of foundational reading instruction-phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension-and the pedagogical skill to train staff and teen tutors in these areas. They communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, build strong relationships with youth, and create the conditions for staff to facilitate well-managed, joyful literacy environments. The SPM has effectively managed and led teams – and worked collaboratively to support the achievement of individual and team results. The SPM is mission-driven, guiding full and part-time staff members towards achievement of Reach’s mission through intentional training, strategic application of pressure and support, and adherence to Reach curriculum and protocols – while simultaneously introducing relevant ideas and practices from the field of education, youth and workforce development.

This role is both strategic and relational. The SPM strengthens organizational connections, supports team-wide goal setting, and collaborates closely with colleagues to ensure program excellence. They oversee Reach’s four core programs:

• After School Tutoring Program (ASTP)
• Summer Leadership Academy (SLA)
• Teen Publishing Project
• Teen Philanthropy Challenge

The SPM manages and reports on all programmatic activities and ensures effective program delivery as measured by the indicators outlined below.

Program Oversight (50%)

• Oversee and support staff in coordinating and delivering the After School Tutoring curriculum; ensure materials and supplies are prepared and distributed to Program Instructors (PIs).
• Collaborate with full-time staff to refine, develop, and deliver training for Program Instructors and Liaison Teachers.
• Foster a positive, supportive experience for all program-affiliated employees, contractors, and volunteers.
• Strengthen relationships across the program ecosystem: among PIs, between PIs and full-time staff, between PIs and tutors, and among tutors within and across cohorts.
• Define and manage participant recruitment and enrollment strategies; coordinate recruitment activities at partner schools throughout the year.
• Manage elementary student recruitment and enrollment in collaboration with school principals and liaisons.
• Collaborate to identify and coordinate opportunities for participant outings.
• Manage and maintain inventory and distribution of program supplies and resources.
• Regularly review and update the Program Team’s practice manual.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with administrators and partners (e.g., Connected Schools Managers, Teacher Liaisons); communicate effectively to advance organizational priorities and keep team members informed.
• Edit existing documents as needed. Create new content; innovate and generate relevant program materials in keeping with current research and proven trends from the field of education.
• Design new protocols to support hiring and training of part-time staff, contractors, and volunteers.

Supervision & Collaboration (25%)

• Model Reach’s values and contribute positively to organizational culture.
• Participate actively in team meetings, one-on-one meetings with the ED, and other internal meetings that support organizational functioning.
• Attend team retreats and celebratory events; support planning and preparation in collaboration with members of the leadership team, the board (where applicable) and external partners.
• Engage in internal professional learning and pursue external professional development; share key takeaways with the team.
• Manage full- and part-time program team members in the implementation of Reach’s four key programs.
• Lead hiring processes for full- and part-time program staff; coordinate team involvement at each stage.
• Design and implement training protocols for part-time staff, contractors, and volunteers.

Assessment & Evaluation (15%)

• Manage data requests with DC Public Schools and other partner schools and organizations.
• Learn the foundational elements of Reach’s student assessment tools; train team members to administer assessments, collect data, and track program effectiveness.
• Regularly review, update, and implement evaluation tools for the After-School Tutoring Program – including short-form checklists for tutoring sessions, the evaluation rubric for bi-annual reviews of Program Instructors and other contracted staff, and annual evaluation documents for direct reports (Site Coordinators and others as assigned)
• Manage assessment schedules at the beginning and end of each program year; manage Hello Insight assessments during SLA; recommend and administer additional assessments in collaboration with the ED.
• Identify, recommend, and implement (additional) valid and reliable tools to gather qualitative and quantitative data to inform staff training needs.
• Collect, analyze, and report qualitative and quantitative data (regarding all across all four programs; identify performance trends and share findings quarterly (or more frequently).
• Meet monthly with the ED to discuss program data and lead quarterly all-staff meetings to review program outcomes.
• Deliver programmatic data and pertinent related information to the ED in preparation for meetings with the board of directors.

Financial Management (10%)

• Oversee and delegate payroll processes for contractors and Program Instructors (prepared by Managers and Coordinators); ensure staff effectively manage payroll for high school participants.
• Train full-time staff in data collection protocols and platforms used for payroll.
• Manage program budgets in collaboration with Managers and Coordinators.
• Oversee compliance and contracting with school and program partners.
• Ensure compliance with Reach budgetary and financial expectations.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s (or higher) degree in education, reading, literacy development, social work or closely related field
• 3 or more years of education or youth development experience (high school experience preferred)
• Experience leading, managing, and evaluating individuals and teams
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize, analyze, and communicate participant data
• Excellence in written communication
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to manage priorities through project planning, task management, delegation and follow through.
• Must possess reliable transportation and be able to travel to and from school sites daily

Attitudes & Beliefs

• Deeply committed to equity and justice
• Committed to creating, leading, and maintaining a positive team culture
• Capable of performance analysis, coaching, and mentoring towards results
• Creativity and innovation – particularly with regard to youth development
• Maintains an “Extra Mile Mentality”