Director of Programs

Job Description

Job Description

We’re hiring a Director of Programs to lead the day-to-day execution of our youth program (BOLT Youth Leaders Fellowship) and manage our program team. This is a hands-on, school-based leadership role. You will ensure our youth programs run with strong systems, clear accountability, and consistent outcomes—while staying closely connected to students and school communities. We are looking for a leader who can balance strong accountability and operational rigor with relational leadership, adaptability, and deep respect for young people and school communities.

You will also support the execution of our adult program (BOLT School for Grassroots Leadership), ensuring it runs smoothly operationally.

This role has significant ownership over day-to-day program execution, staffing coordination, and operational decision-making, while partnering closely with organizational leadership on strategic direction, program design, and major organizational decisions. You will not be responsible for setting overall program strategy, but you will play a key role in ensuring that strategy is executed effectively on the ground.

In your cover letter, please provide specific examples of how your prior experience aligns with the responsibilities outlined in this job description. We are particularly interested in experience related to team management, program execution, school or youth-facing leadership, and operational systems.

This job will begin on August 10, 2026 at the earliest.

Youth Program Execution & Outcomes (YLF) (30%)

• Ensure strong day-to-day execution of the BOLT Youth Leaders Fellowship across sites through effective management, coordination, and accountability
• Track and manage key metrics including recruitment, attendance, retention, and outcomes
• Ensure teams are pacing toward goals and hitting deadlines
• Ensure recruitment and program goals are met through proactive planning—not last-minute efforts
• Identify and address gaps early to avoid execution issues
• Build and maintain strong relationships with school administrators and partners; proactively navigate scheduling changes, communication gaps, and on-the-ground challenges to ensure program continuity
• Support expansion into new school partnerships by representing BOLT professionally and building trust with school leaders

Team Management & Accountability (25%)

• Supervise Site Managers and program operations staff (as relevant)
• Partner closely with the Learning & Evaluation Manager to ensure strong data integrity, reporting, and continuous improvement across programs
• Lead regular 1:1s and team check-ins with clear expectations and accountability
• Hold staff accountable to performance goals while supporting their development
• Contribute to hiring and performance management decisions

School & Youth Engagement (20%)

• Be present in schools approximately 3–4 days per week during the academic year, with increased on-site presence during summer programming
• Engage directly with students through recruitment, school visits, and program sessions
• Observe and support Site Managers without overstepping their day-to-day ownership
• Engage regularly with school staff and administrators to coordinate programming, troubleshoot challenges, and ensure strong alignment with school partners
• Model authentic, respectful engagement with young people

Systems, Operations & Onboarding (10–15%)

• Ensure strong coordination between Site Managers and Operations for student onboarding and payroll readiness (e.g., C2LPHL required forms, deadlines)
• Set and enforce clear timelines so students are fully onboarded and able to be paid on time
• Develop and maintain program calendars, workflows, and SOPs
• Identify operational gaps and improve systems for efficiency

Learning, Evaluation & Data Integrity (10%)

• Collaborate with the Learning & Evaluation Manager to ensure accurate program tracking, reporting, and data systems alignment
• Hold program staff accountable for timely and accurate data entry and documentation

BOLT School for Grassroots Leadership (SGL) (10–15%)

• Oversee logistics and execution of the SGL program (September–April)
• Manage participant communication, attendance tracking, and coordination
• Support session facilitation as needed
• Ensure the program runs smoothly week-to-week
• Partner with the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director, who lead curriculum and overall program design

Program Calendar & Summer Programming

BOLT’s programming follows a seasonal rhythm:

• During the academic year , programs are primarily school-based, with Site Managers leading programming across partner schools
• During the summer , BOLT operates a centralized program serving approximately 75 young people, Monday–Thursday (9:00am–2:00pm)

In the summer, the Director of Programs:

• Oversees daily program execution and quality
• Manages Site Managers, who serve as facilitators/educators
• Coordinates with additional facilitators or contract educators
• Ensures strong systems, structure, and student experience across the program

Summer programming is one of the most operationally intensive periods of the year and requires a highly organized, visible, and responsive leadership presence.

Requirements

• 5+ years of full-time experience in youth development, education, or community-based programs
• 3+ years of direct people management experience
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Experience managing toward goals, metrics, or KPIs
• Comfortable using tools like Google Sheets to track and manage program data (e.g., recruitment, attendance, onboarding)
• Able to maintain organized, accurate data and use it to track progress toward goals
• Experience with Salesforce or similar database systems preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work or equivalent experience
• Ability to work during school-day hours (approximately 7:30am–3:30pm as needed)
• Valid driver’s license and consistent access to a car

Who You Are

• You are low ego and highly accountable —you lead by doing, not just directing
• You are comfortable engaging directly with both young people and adults
• You are highly organized and bring structure to fast-moving, evolving work
• You communicate clearly and directly, even when conversations are tough
• You are comfortable operating in ambiguity and helping teams stay grounded and focused
• You are able to build trust and navigate relationships with school administrators and external partners with professionalism, maturity, and strong judgment
• You believe deeply in the potential of young people and show it in how you show up
• You Demonstrate exceptional reliability, punctuality, and follow-through in school and team settings

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Youth recruitment and retention goals are consistently met across sites
• Site Managers are operating with stronger consistency, accountability, and support
• Program operations run proactively rather than reactively
• School partnerships are strong and communication is reliable
• Student onboarding and payroll processes are timely and organized
• Summer programming runs with strong structure and staff coordination

Benefits

• Salary: $85,000-$95,000, commensurate with experience
• Health Coverage: 100% medical, 75% dental, and 75% vision insurance
• Time Off: Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays and 2-week winter break closing
• Flexible Work: Work-from-home flexibility during non-programming hours
• Mission-Driven Work: Opportunity to shape and scale a model that builds leadership pipelines within Philadelphia schools

Want to see our work in action? Check out our Instagram @phillybolt.