Program Manager

UNO Chicago is a Pilsen-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls through leadership development, fitness, and community connection. We run two core programs: GirlsMPowered, our school-year mentorship and leadership development program, and RunHer, our year-round fitness and wellness initiative. Together, these programs serve girls across multiple Pilsen community sites and schools. Our annual race events Carrera de las Madres (May) and Carrera de los Muertos (October) are our signature fundraisers and community celebrations that generate visibility for our programs. But our programs are our mission. Everything we do is in support of the girls we serve. We are a small, passionate team at an exciting moment of growth. The right Program Manager will help us expand our reach, deepen our impact, and ensure that UNO Chicago is known first and foremost for what we do for girls every day. Why This Role Exists UNO Chicago’s programs are strong and growing. As we expand our sites, deepen school partnerships, and build out after-school and summer programming, we need dedicated leadership focused entirely on the programs and the girls in them. This is a builder’s role. The Program Manager will own the day-to-day and long-term strategy for GirlsMPowered and RunHer, with the support of a Youth Program Facilitator already in place, and will have the opportunity to shape what these programs look like at scale. Compensation starts at $60,000–$65,000 and grows as our programs grow. Our Programs at a Glance Understanding the current structure is essential for this role. Here’s where we are today: GirlsMPowered Season: School year (September–May) Current Sites: Perez Elementary (weekly), Cooper Elementary (weekly)and Current Staff: Program Manager (this hire) RunHer Season: Year-round, including summer Current Sites: Perez Elementary, Pilsen Academy and Summer: Dvorak Park & Gad’s Hill What You’ll Do Own the day-to-day operations of GirlsMPowered and RunHer across all active sites, working closely with the Youth Program Facilitator who supports RunHer Maintain and evolve program curricula and activity frameworks grounded in youth development best practices and aligned with UNO Chicago’s theory of change Adapt program design based on theory of change findings, evaluation data, and participant feedback, continuously refining our approach to ensure we’re delivering meaningful outcomes for girls Develop a student leadership pipeline by creating opportunities for participants to lead activities, facilitate service projects, and serve as GirlsMpowered ambassadors within their schools and communities. Supervise and support program staff and interns, setting clear expectations, providing ongoing coaching, and building a team culture rooted in UNO Chicago’s values Plan and lead end-of-session recognition events that celebrate participant milestones and bring our community together Manage program budgets and track expenditures in coordination with the Director of Operations & Events Coordinate GirlsMPowered Sessions, Speakers & Experiences GirlsMPowered is more than a leadership program, it’s a window into what’s possible. The Program Manager will be responsible for curating an engaging session experience that connects girls to real-world careers and pathways: Build each session around weekly themes tied to speakers’ careers and industries, creating cohesive, engaging programming that sparks curiosity and broadens participants’ sense of what’s possible for their own futures Recruit, onboard, coordinate, and prepare diverse guest speakers, mentors, and volunteers to deliver engaging career exploration experiences aligned with GirlsMpowered curriculum and program goals. Build and steward long-term relationships with speakers, mentors, volunteers, and community partners to create a sustainable network that supports GirlsMpowered participants and advances UNO Chicago's mission. Prepare participants before each speaker visit or field trip and facilitate debrief conversations afterward to deepen the learning experience Coordinate field trips to post-secondary institutions and professional environments, including four-year universities, community colleges, trade schools, law firms, architecture firms, and other workplaces connected to our speaker network Expand Out-of-School Time Programming Lead after-school programming planning and operations, deepening UNO Chicago’s presence at existing school sites and identifying opportunities at new locations Coordinate summer programming at Dvorak Park and Gad’s Hill, building on the RunHer model and ensuring continuity for participants year-round Expand enrichment and sports offerings including soccer, basketball, rowing, golf, and running, giving girls access to activities and spaces they may not otherwise experience Evaluate existing site partnerships and recommend adjustments to ensure we’re serving girls where the need and opportunity are greatest Build Sustainable Community Partnerships We’re looking for someone who builds real relationships that outlast any single grant cycle. That means: Developing genuine working relationships with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Library branches, and other applicable city agencies as true collaborators Connecting with like-minded nonprofits focused on girls’ empowerment, youth development, and community wellness to share resources and strengthen the broader ecosystem Representing UNO Chicago in schools, coalitions, community meetings, and neighborhood events as a credible, trusted partner Maintaining and growing existing school site relationships to ensure program continuity and access for participants Put Our Programs Front and Center Our race events Carrera de las Madres and Carrera de los Muertos and are beloved in the community. Our goal is for GirlsMpowered and RunHer to be just as recognized. This person will help us get there: Actively recruit participants through schools, parks, libraries, and community networks to grow enrollment at every site Track participant journeys from enrollment through program completion, maintaining connection with girls as they move on to their next chapter Build and maintain a participant pipeline, keeping records of where girls go after our programs and identifying ways to stay connected and supportive Collaborate with staff on social media content and community communications that put participant stories and program milestones in the spotlight Measure, Evaluate & Report Design and administer pre- and post-session surveys for participants, families, and school partners Collect and maintain attendance, retention, and outcome data across all program sites Apply theory of change findings to program planning, using what the data tells us to make intentional decisions about curriculum, site selection, partnerships, and growth Use evaluation findings to improve curriculum, inform site decisions, and demonstrate impact to funders and the board Produce clear, accessible program reports for the Executive Director, board, and funders Track the participant pipeline: where girls go after our programs, whether they stay connected, and how we can continue to support them What We’re Looking For Required 3–5 years of experience in youth programming, community education, nonprofit management, or a closely related field Demonstrated experience managing programs and supervising staff or volunteers Genuine passion for girls’ empowerment, youth development, and community-centered work Strong organizational skills: comfortable managing multiple school sites, speaker schedules, field trip logistics, and program calendars simultaneously Experience or comfort with program evaluation, theory of change frameworks, and using data to drive decisions A connector’s instinct: someone who naturally builds relationships with professionals, institutions, and community members and knows how to turn those connections into meaningful experiences for young people A builder’s mindset: energized by growth, not intimidated by ambiguity Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred Availability for some evenings and weekends, particularly around program events and race weekends Preferred Deep familiarity with Pilsen, Little Village, Archer Heights, or similar Chicago Latine communities Familiarity with Chicago Public Schools or Chicago Park District systems and culture Experience coordinating speakers, panels, or experiential learning opportunities for youth Experience planning field trips, site visits, or career exposure programming Experience with program evaluation, logic models, or reporting to funders Annual salary of $60,000 - $65,000, commensurate with experience Salary growth tied directly to program expansion as GirlsMPowered and RunHer grow, so does this role A collaborative, mission-driven team deeply rooted in the Pilsen community The opportunity to shape what girls’ programming looks like in Chicago, starting in Pilsen and growing from there #J-18808-Ljbffr UNO Chicago