Program Manager

ABOUT BOX UNITED

Box United is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young women and girls through the sport of boxing. Our flagship program, Fight Like a Girl (FLAG), combines athletic training with social-emotional learning to build confidence, discipline, and resilience in youth across the city. We operate at multiple school and community sites throughout Chicago, partnering with educators, coaches, and community leaders to deliver programming that meets young people where they are.

We are a small, mission-driven team that moves fast, works collaboratively, and is deeply committed to the young people we serve. Every role at Box United carries real responsibility and real impact.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Box United is seeking a motivated and organized Program Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of the Fight Like a Girl program. This is a full-time, salaried position ideal for someone who thrives in a hands-on, field-based environment and is passionate about youth development, athletics, and community impact. The Program Manager will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery across all active FLAG sites in the Chicago area.

A central part of this role is serving as the lead on implementation and execution of the DFSS Girls Thrive grant. The Program Manager will be the lead across three Chicago community sites (located near Rogers Park, Little Village, and South Shore), responsible for recruitment, retention, coach and site management, and full grant compliance and reporting under the grant. This role will also assist in evaluating school-based sites in Chicago throughout the year and ensuring data is collected appropriately by all sites.

This role requires regular travel between program sites across Chicago. Candidates must be Chicago-based, hold a valid driver's license, and have access to reliable personal transportation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

DFSS Girls Thrive Grant Lead

• Serve as the lead on implementation and execution of the DFSS Girls Thrive grant across three community sites (Rogers Park, Little Village, South Shore)
• Recruit 20 girls per cohort across the three community sites (5 to 10 girls per site), totaling 60 unduplicated participants ages 13 to 19 across the grant year
• Coordinate with school staff, parole officers, juvenile justice caseworkers, and community partners (CYBC, CIS) to build referral pipelines, and confirm referral timelines at least four weeks in advance of each cohort
• Track progress toward DFSS performance targets, including 80% cohort completion and 75% minimum session attendance, and lead the Week 5 re-engagement touchpoint for any girl who has missed two or more sessions
• Manage grant expenditures, including gear (gear bags, t-shirts, water bottles, hand wraps, workbooks, mouth guards), completion stipends, and coach payroll
• Handle all DFSS reporting requirements and deadlines, and maintain documentation for referrals, attendance, and participant outcomes
• Support grant data collection, including intake forms, pre/post surveys, session logs, and skill assessments

Program Operations

• Conduct regular site visits to FLAG program locations across Chicago to observe sessions, support coaches, and ensure program fidelity
• Assist with documentation of program outcomes and milestones
• Assist with logistics across multiple school and community sites
• Support onboarding and orientation of new coaches and program staff
• Serve as a point of contact for coaches during program hours, troubleshooting issues and escalating as needed to the COO

Family and Participant Communication

• Communicate program expectations, schedule, and enrollment requirements to participants and parents/guardians at intake
• Serve as the primary point of contact for families throughout the cohort
• Coordinate completion stipend distribution and gear bag handouts

Communications and Materials

• Support the creation of program materials, flyers, and communications using Canva and Google Workspace tools
• Draft and distribute routine communications to coaches, school partners, and families as directed
• Maintain organized digital files and records across organizational systems

Compliance and Coach Support

• Coordinate operations across all four community sites and manage relationships with four part-time community coaches, serving as additional on-site support across the locations
• Monitor and track coach compliance with organizational requirements (background checks, training, certifications) and follow up on outstanding documentation
• Assist with coach scheduling, substitution coverage, and attendance tracking
• Flag safety incidents or participant concerns to the COO within 24 hours

General Support

• Attend staff meetings, program events, and trainings as scheduled
• Support special projects and organizational initiatives as assigned by the COO
• Represent Box United and the Fight Like a Girl program with professionalism and enthusiasm

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Residence in Chicago, Illinois (required)
• Valid driver's license and access to reliable personal transportation (required; regular travel to program sites is a core function of this role)
• 1 to 3 years of experience in youth development, nonprofit operations, athletics administration, or education
• Direct experience with youth development, program administration, or working with adolescent girls
• Comfortable working with diverse populations, including LGBTQIA+ youth
• Demonstrated proficiency with Monday.com as a project management and data tracking tool
• Demonstrated proficiency with Google Sheets, including data entry, basic formulas, and file organization
• Demonstrated proficiency with Canva for creating program materials and communications
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines across different sites and timelines
• Clear and professional written communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
• Genuine commitment to youth empowerment, gender equity, and community-based programming

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working directly with youth in a structured program setting (afterschool, sports, camps, or similar)
• Experience with trauma-informed care and gender-responsive programming
• Background in athletics, physical education, or sports administration
• Familiarity with Chicago Public Schools or Chicago-area community organizations
• Experience supporting program compliance, documentation, or grant reporting
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Box United is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We strongly encourage candidates from historically underrepresented communities to apply.