Program Manager YEP

Job Description

Job Description

The Safer Foundation is a social service provider to individuals with arrest and conviction records. Through a full range of services, including case management, educational instruction and advocacy, we focus on preparing individuals for the world of work by helping them find and keep productive and meaningful employment

General Summary :

The Program Manager – Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) provides leadership and oversight for all components of Safer Foundation’s YEP across the full 7th Judicial District of Iowa, including Scott, Clinton, Muscatine, Cedar, and Jackson Counties. This position ensures the effective delivery of services through coordinated classroom instruction, workforce readiness activities, and supportive services that align with the program’s contractual outcomes and Safer Foundation’s mission of reducing recidivism through education and employment. The Program Manager maintains strong partnerships with the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) at the Davenport, Muscatine, and Clinton sites to facilitate classroom and extended service instruction, testing, and participant learning opportunities. The Manager also serves as the primary liaison with Juvenile Court Services (JCS), ensuring timely communication, accurate reporting, and compliance with state and contractual requirements. Working closely with the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Regional Operations, Quad Cities, the Program Manager is responsible for staff recruitment, onboarding, and professional development; provides ongoing supervision and coaching; and completes performance evaluations at designated intervals. The position oversees daily operations to ensure a safe and secure environment for staff and participants, including adherence to safety protocols such as wanding and daily check-in procedures.

Key responsibilities include monitoring attendance, ensuring accurate data entry into Salesforce and EICC testing portals, preparing monthly JCS billing, and compiling monthly statistical reports. The Program Manager also conducts regular quality assurance (QA) reviews using internal tools and coordinates on-site audits with Safer’s Quality Assurance team. This role leads coordination of all program events, including guest speakers, completion ceremonies, and community engagement efforts, while supporting recruitment of program donations and volunteer participation. Additional duties include receiving and processing referrals, overseeing participant registration/intake, and preparing discharge and end-of-session reports for JCS. The Program Manager is an active member of Safer’s Quad Cities Management Team, Manager’s Forum, and Community Reentry Services Managers Team. This position reports directly to the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Regional Operations, Quad Cities and is funded primarily through a contract with the State of Iowa, Iowa Judicial Branch.

Performance Results Description

The Position is properly performed when all essential duties and responsibilities are executed by following the Safer Values.

Exceeding Expectations, Communication and Collaboration, Integrity and Evidence Based Innovation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Interface

• Promotes safety and security of all participants and staff by ensuring daily check-in protocols are observed, including wanding and securing of personal items.
• Responsible for overseeing and training Instructional Facilitators who deliver the classroom and Extended Services components of the program, while also providing direct instructional support as needed to train staff or cover service gaps.
• Conduct intake/registrations, welcoming participants to the YEP classroom by providing a tour and answering questions.
• Communicate with parents on any issues needing attention and update on student progress as appropriate.
• Cooperate with Safer’s internal Quality Assurance Team in ensuring client files are up to date and the necessary proof of eligibility and other required documentation is present.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Stakeholder Outreach and Recruitment

• Act as liaison with Juvenile Court Services administration and individual Juvenile Court Officers/Juvenile Court School Liaisons to accept referrals, update on participant progress and keep abreast of any new program developments
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with external agencies, funding sources, and community organizations that support the programs mission, vision and values as they relate to the clients served.
• Prepare and conduct presentations with community groups, service organizations, funders, etc. Prepare for United Way site visits and take the lead with panel presentations.
• Promote Safer in the larger community and recruit candidates for the services that Safer provides.

Tracking, Document and Reporting

• Establish and maintain programmatic files that accurately record the outcomes of enrolled students including attainment of high school equivalency diploma, job placement, completion of community service hours, and follow-up information.
• Prepare month end items including collating statistical information, reviewing expense reports, completing student roster and compiling demographic and referral data.
• Maintain accurate and timely data entry in Salesforce for both classroom and Extended Services participants. Ensure all relevant program information is entered promptly and verify that staff are maintaining the same level of accuracy and consistency in their data entry.
• Prepare program Discharge Summaries and End of Session reports for submission to Juvenile Court Services.
• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Quality Assurance Plans to ensure that services and programming are delivered consistently and in keeping with Safer’s policies and procedures.

Fiscal Reporting and Accountability

• Ensure files are audit ready at all times. Oversee audit process with Juvenile Court Services (Contract Administrator), ensuring continual compliance with files and other record keeping.
• Prepare monthly billing to submit for payment, ensuring that it is error-free and accurately reflects monthly attendance.

Supervision of People

• Assist in the recruiting, assessment, and selection of staff.
• Conduct regular supervision with individual team members and facilitate staff meetings after the completion of each class session. Maintain supervision notes and document performance issues. Prepare Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) as warranted to improve performance.
• Provide coaching, guidance, instruction and oversight of assigned team members in order to accomplish overall programmatic goals and contractual outcomes. Train and evaluate the performance of staff at scheduled intervals.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of teaching and instruction for individuals and groups and measuring the effects of training.
• Knowledge of and experience teaching a variety of student-centered approaches in a range of subjects.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests, learning and motivation
• Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to the particular learning needs and employment barriers faced by justice impacted individuals, including awareness/knowledge of trauma-informed care/CBI.
• Skilled in critical thinking, judgment and decision making
• Knowledge of community resources and wrap around supports available to participants
• Hands-on experience and self-sufficiency with Microsoft productivity tools, including Outlook (for email), Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and online collaboration tools (video conferencing, Zoom/Teams, messaging).
• Excellent written and verbal communication; excellent interpersonal skills.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline
• Experience teaching and facilitating groups
• Prior experience working with justice impacted individuals
• Prior supervisory/management experience preferred

Licenses and or Certifications: No special licensure or certification required

Safer Foundation is a drug-free workplace

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Minorities/Females/Veterans

No Phone Calls Please