Senior Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT PUBLIC ALLIES

Public Allies' mission is to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it. Public Allies is changing the face and practice of leadership in communities across the country by demonstrating its conviction that everyone can lead, and that lasting social change results when citizens of all backgrounds step up, take responsibility, and work together. Public Allies' primary program model matches full-time apprentices with coaching, training, and leadership development in across 21 states.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Site Executive Director, the Senior Program Manager oversees the execution of the full programmatic year for our signature Apprenticeship program and manages the Fellows Program for returning participants. Operating within a co-leadership model , this role works in close partnership with two Program Managers—using strong project management skills to keep shared goals on track while each manager handles their designated areas of focus. 

The Senior Program Manager leads partner organization recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing relationship management to support partner retention. Additionally, this role co-leads Ally coaching, leadership development, and curriculum delivery, while ensuring the team meets all Public Allies National Office (PANO) and AmeriCorps compliance standards and executing key events like the annual Partner Luncheon.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS & KEY OUTCOMES

• Programmatic Project Management & Co-Leadership
  • Drive project management across the full programmatic year, ensuring clear timelines and smooth execution for Ally, Fellows, and Partner activities. 
  • Serve as the senior project lead within a co-leadership structure, working closely with two Program Managers to align workflows and share key responsibilities. 
  • Support and guide co-leading Program Managers by sharing best practices in project management, compliance, and partner engagement.

  Fellows Program & Curriculum Execution

  • Oversee the Fellows Program, providing direct coaching, advanced training, and tailored leadership development for returning members. 
  • Lead second-year Ally curriculum planning, development, and delivery. 
  • Support overall Ally curriculum development and co-facilitate training sessions across the program.  

  Partner Organization & Ally Management

  • Lead partner organization recruitment, onboarding, relationship management, and long-term retention efforts. 
  • Lead monthly communications with partner organizations.
  • Manage and coach a dedicated group of up to ten (10) Allies (primarily Fellows), offering direct professional development, coaching, and constructive feedback to drive growth and retention. 
  • Plan and execute major program events, including the annual Partner Luncheon and recruitment fairs, to build strong community partner relationships. 
  • Balance partner site needs with the growth and development goals of the Allies. 

  Compliance & Operations

  • Track and ensure site-wide compliance with all Public Allies National Office (PANO) and AmeriCorps grant guidelines. 
  • Review and approve member files, time logs, Member Service Reports (MSRs), background checks, and partner paperwork on time. 
  • Maintain accurate data tracking systems and support evaluation plans to track program success and compliance standards. 
  EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES 
  

  • Commitment to and demonstrated capacity to act from Public Allies' core values:

    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: able to listen, learn, and work across differences to build the common good; actively works to dismantle oppression in all areas of life and work. 
    • Focus on Assets: able to recognize and catalyze the strengths and natural leadership of everyone to build moment for social change; actively seeks to ensure those closest to the impact of our work have a voice in shaping out work 
    • Integrity: meets commitments and acts responsibly with public and personal trust 
    • Collaboration: able to build consensus and empower individuals and groups to achieve common goals
    • Continuous Learning: relentlessly seeks new information and bold ways to apply that learning
    • Innovation: able to respond to demographic, political and social shifts by acting in creative ways that generate new solutions
  • Bachelor's Degree or comparative life experience 
  • Proven project management experience, including the ability to organize, track, and manage multi-phase program timelines. 
  • Strong ability to collaborate effectively in shared-leadership or team-based work environments. 
  • Demonstrated experience planning and running events (e.g., luncheons, fairs, workshops). 
  • Ability to identify, engage, and support young adults with diverse educational and economic backgrounds
  • Ability to manage multiple and varied tasks related to supporting and guiding young adults from the educational, relational, emotional, and social development perspective
  • Have a passion for leadership development and a desire to set high expectations and provide a high-quality learning experience for Allies
  • Openness and ability to learn from experience and change the course of action to meet the needs of the organization’s evolving environment;
  • Open-minded and objective with eagerness to continuously improve the organization’s systems and ability to achieve its outcomes for leaders, organizations, and communities;
  • Creative problem solver;
  • Solution-oriented;
  • Self-starter, self-driven;
  • Experience working collaboratively with a team;
  • Strong communication skills;
  • Commitment to personal and programmatic excellence;
  • Adapting to changing goals and responsibilities;
  • Positive growth mindset;
  • Commitment to Public Allies Mission and Core Values
  • Willingness to work nights and weekends as required
  • Flexibility and willingness to work long hours (including nights and weekends when needed)
  • Ability to manage multiple and varied tasks; attention to detail, strong time management and project management skills;
  • Strong and intersectional understanding of racial, economic and social justice 
  • Strong preference for and experience in collaborative, team based work environment
  • Strong outreach and communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentations;
  • Proficiency in the use of Windows XP, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
  • Ability to be adaptive, comfort with change and a dynamic work environment;
  • Experience working in diverse work environments;
  • Sense of Humor;
  • Positive attitude in accomplishing responsibilities.
    

WORKING CONDITIONS The position is predominantly sedentary requiring the ability to sit, bend, stand and walk. It may require occasional  stooping, reaching, stair-climbing and repetitive motions of the hands  and wrist related to writing and typing at an electronic keyboard. It rarely requires kneeling, pushing/pulling, and repetitive motions of the feet.

 

Physical demands of the position necessitate hearing, talking, handling, and grasping regularly. Specific vision conditions include close vision reading. It requires the ability to operate a computer, telephone, fax, copy machine and adding machine or calculator.

The position is generally performed in an office environment. The noise level is generally low to quiet. The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations, however, will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform said essential functions.

PAY EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY

Public Allies is committed to eradicating the pervasive and systemic racial, gender, and socioeconomic barriers to meaningful and sustaining employment that perpetuate inequality and limit opportunity. We believe pay equity and transparency in the hiring process are the first steps.

The salary range for this role is $68,000. We appreciate the time and energy it takes candidates to engage in a job search and the hiring process, and to reinforce this commitment, we will be open about pay ranges and opportunities early on, keeping true to our internal equity standards so we can ensure fairness with every person.