Program Director

About the RoleYou Matter 2 is seeking a full-time Program Director to provide strategic, operational, and hands-on leadership for our youth development programs serving middle and high school students across the South Suburban region. This role is responsible for ensuring programs are high-quality, consistent, youth-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with You Matter 2s mission to foster leadership and personal growth in youth.The Program Director will oversee program planning, implementation, staff supervision, program quality, partnerships, family engagement, data tracking, grant compliance, and continuous improvement. This position is ideal for a strong youth development leader who can build systems, support staff, manage details, and work directly with youth, families, schools, and community partners.Position ResponsibilitiesProgram Leadership & StrategyProvide overall leadership for You Matter 2s youth programs, including IGNITE, Discover U, Expressions Unleashed, Teen Night, Study Break on Us, Service Saturday, summer programs, youth leadership experiences, and community-based initiatives.Lead program planning, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery.Develop, refine, and oversee program models, curricula, schedules, session plans, staffing structures, and participant outcomes.Ensure programs are aligned with You Matter 2s mission, strategic goals, youth needs, best practices in youth development, and grant requirements.Support program expansion into schools, community sites, partner organizations, and new service areas.Identify opportunities to strengthen program quality, deepen youth engagement, and improve participant outcomes.Staff Management, Supervision & Team DevelopmentSupervise and support Program Leads, facilitators, outreach staff, contractors, interns, and volunteers connected to youth programming.Support hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, scheduling, and performance management of program staff and contractors.Provide ongoing coaching and feedback to strengthen program delivery, classroom/group management, youth engagement, and facilitation quality.Lead or support regular program team meetings, check-ins, and planning sessions.Foster a positive, supportive, accountable, and collaborative team culture grounded in You Matter 2s values.Ensure appropriate staffing coverage for programs, events, field trips, workshops, and special initiatives.Program Operations & ImplementationOversee day-to-day program operations, including calendars, schedules, staffing plans, materials, supplies, transportation coordination, meals/snacks, space needs, and logistics.Ensure programs begin and end on time, are properly staffed, and are delivered in a safe and organized manner.Support the creation and maintenance of program systems, including lesson plan templates, attendance tracking, supply requests, field trip planning, permission forms, parent communication, and internal workflows.Monitor program environments to ensure they are safe, welcoming, structured, and supportive for youth.Support special initiatives such as college tours, service projects, youth showcases, community events, leadership retreats, and field trips.Ensure program materials, technology, curriculum resources, and equipment are properly managed and available as needed.Program Quality, Curriculum & Youth DevelopmentEnsure all programs reflect strong youth development practices, including relationship-building, leadership development, social-emotional learning, academic support, enrichment, identity development, and community engagement.Review and support the development of lesson plans, workshops, discussion guides, activities, and program experiences.Observe program sessions regularly and provide feedback to staff and facilitators.Ensure programming is engaging, relevant, age-appropriate, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and grounded in youth voice.Support behavior management approaches that are restorative, trauma-informed, and aligned with You Matter 2s policies.Help create pathways for youth to stay engaged with You Matter 2 from middle school through high school, alumni engagement, internships, and volunteer leadership.Partnerships, Schools & Community EngagementBuild and maintain strong relationships with schools, community organizations, youth-serving agencies, families, volunteers, and program partners.Represent You Matter 2 at partner meetings, school meetings, community events, resource fairs, and collaborative tables as needed.Collaborate with the Community Outreach & Partnerships function to support student recruitment, enrollment, family engagement, and partner communication.Support the development of school-based and community-based program partnerships.Help identify and cultivate program partners, guest speakers, field trip sites, service partners, mentors, and workshop facilitators.Maintain professional and timely communication with parents, caregivers, school staff, community partners, and stakeholders.Grant Compliance, Reporting & AccountabilityEnsure programs are implemented in alignment with grant scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and performance measures.Monitor progress toward grant-funded program goals and support timely completion of required deliverables.Work with the Founder & CEO and appropriate staff to prepare grant reports, funder updates, invoices, impact summaries, and site visit materials.Ensure required documentation is collected and maintained, including attendance, enrollment, consent forms, demographic information, surveys, service logs, participant records, and program outputs.Support preparation for funder meetings, compliance reviews, site visits, audits, and reporting deadlines.Communicate proactively with the Founder & CEO regarding program successes, challenges, risks, staffing needs, and grant compliance concerns.Data, Evaluation & Continuous ImprovementWork with staff and the Outreach/Data function to track enrollment, attendance, participation, outcomes, surveys, demographics, and program impact.Ensure program data is accurate, timely, and consistently entered into organizational systems.Use data, staff feedback, youth feedback, family input, and partner insights to assess program effectiveness.Identify trends, barriers, and opportunities for program improvement.Contribute to internal dashboards, progress reports, impact stories, and evaluation summaries.Help translate program outcomes into stories and data that support fundraising, communications, and organizational learning.Safety, Risk Management & Youth ProtectionEnsure programs follow You Matter 2s safety protocols, youth protection policies, emergency procedures, transportation expectations, and behavior guidelines.Support staff in responding to participant concerns, incidents, conflicts, and emergencies appropriately.Ensure incidents are documented and communicated according to organizational procedures.Help maintain safe staff-to-youth ratios for programs, field trips, and events.Support trauma-informed and restorative responses to youth behavior and conflict.Ensure staff and contractors understand mandated reporting responsibilities, confidentiality expectations, and participant safety protocols.Family Engagement & Participant SupportSupport strong communication with parents, guardians, and caregivers regarding program expectations, schedules, attendance, transportation, behavior, and opportunities.Help ensure families feel informed, welcomed, and connected to You Matter 2.Work with staff to identify youth who may need additional support, referrals, follow-up, or encouragement.Support strategies to improve attendance, retention, engagement, and family participation.Collaborate with staff to remove barriers to participation when possible.Collaboration & Organizational LeadershipPartner closely with the Founder & CEO on program strategy, organizational priorities, growth opportunities, and sustainability.Collaborate with development, operations, communications, and administrative functions to align programs with fundraising, storytelling, compliance, and organizational goals.Contribute to organizational planning, staff meetings, board updates, and strategic initiatives as needed.Support a culture of transparency, accountability, teamwork, innovation, and continuous learning.Serve as a key organizational leader who helps translate vision into effective program delivery.Take initiative in identifying systems, partnerships, resources, or processes needed to strengthen You Matter 2s overall impact.QualificationsBachelors degree in Education, Social Work, Youth Development, Nonprofit Management, Public Health, Human Services, Community Development, or a related field preferred; equivalent lived and professional experience will be considered.35+ years of experience in youth programming, education, nonprofit programming, community-based work, or a related field.At least 12 years of leadership, supervisory, or program management experience.Demonstrated experience working with middle school and/or high school youth.Experience managing program implementation, staff schedules, curriculum, events, workshops, or youth development activities.Strong people-management skills, including the ability to coach, support, hold accountable, and develop staff or facilitators.Experience with program planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.Familiarity with grant-funded programs, data tracking, reporting, or compliance preferred.Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.Strong written and verbal communication skills.Strong relationship-building skills with youth, families, staff, schools, partners, and community stakeholders.Ability to problem-solve, adapt, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced program environment.Commitment to equity, youth voice, cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed practices, and community-centered work.Ability to work some evenings and weekends to support programs, events, field trips, and special initiatives.Valid drivers license and reliable transportation preferred for community-based programming.Preferred Skills & ExperienceExperience working in South Suburban communities or similar community-based settings.Experience supervising part-time staff, contractors, interns, or volunteers.Experience supporting school-based partnerships or after-school programs.Experience with youth leadership, college and career readiness, social-emotional learning, restorative practices, or violence prevention programming.Experience using data systems, spreadsheets, Salesforce, Apricot, Google Workspace, or similar tools to track program participation and outcomes.Experience supporting grant reports, funder updates, dashboards, or program evaluation.Ability to facilitate workshops, lead meetings, and represent the organization professionally in the community.Core CompetenciesYouth-centered leadershipProgram planning and executionStaff supervision and coachingRelationship buildingCultural responsivenessTrauma-informed practiceOrganization and follow-throughCommunication and collaborationData-informed decision-makingGrant compliance and accountabilityProblem-solving and adaptabilityCommitment to You Matter 2s mission and valuesWork EnvironmentThis position requires a combination of office-based work, program site support, school and community partner meetings, evening programming, occasional weekend events, field trips, and community-based activities. The Program Director must be comfortable working directly with youth, families, staff, volunteers, partners, and community members in a dynamic nonprofit environment.BenefitsEligible employees receive a benefits package that includes:Medical insuranceDental insuranceLife insurancePaid time off (PTO)Paid holidaysProfessional development opportunitiesSick timeMileage reimbursement
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