Head of Events & Programmes

Estimated 6–10 hours per week

DT CARES is a community-rooted organization dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders through mentorship, structured support, and meaningful opportunity. Our work centers on student-athletes from underserved communities — young people who are often defined by their sport and rarely given the space, guidance, or resources to discover who they are beyond it. Through programs grounded in identity development, leadership, and postsecondary readiness, DT CARES works to close the gap between potential and pathway.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM — MORE THAN AN ATHLETE (MTA)

MTA is a comprehensive, 4-year mentorship and development pipeline that pairs Hartford County scholar-athletes with trained MTA Coaching Fellows — current college athletes and young professionals committed to guiding the next generation.

The program begins with student identification in 8th grade and runs through all four years of high school. Scholars enter as part of a cohort and progress together year over year, building relationships, accountability, and growth over time. Each scholar is surrounded by a personalized coaching staff — their parent or guardian, a school representative, their athletic coach, and an MTA Coaching Fellow — all activated and aligned from Day 1.

MTA is structured around four developmental stages: Foundation (9th grade), Growth (10th grade), Development (11th grade), and Launch (12th grade). The program culminates each year in the MTA Leadership Summit — our annual flagship event where scholars lead, present publicly, and demonstrate the growth they've built. Across all four years, scholars are exposed to college campuses, corporate environments, career pathways, and community experiences designed to expand their world and deepen their identity beyond sport.

MTA is designed to produce scholars who leave high school with confidence, a clear postsecondary plan, strong communication and leadership skills, and a network of coaches, mentors, and peers invested in their success.

DT CARES is seeking a Program Director to lead the day-to-day execution, relationship management, and operational integrity of the More Than an Athlete program. The Program Director will be responsible for ensuring every phase of the program runs with consistency, quality, and accountability, from the initial student identification conversations in May through the summer kickoff and into full school-year implementation.

The person in this role sits at the center of four critical relationships: scholars, families, MTA Coaching Fellows, and school partners. We are looking for someone with the organizational capacity to manage multiple moving parts, the interpersonal skills to build trust with students and families, and the leadership presence to hold a high-functioning program to a high standard.

This role is being filled to support spring onboarding and the 2026 summer launch cycle.

Program Implementation & Operations

Lead full-cycle execution of MTA, from spring onboarding through summer launch and school-year programming

Manage cohort logistics, scheduling, communications, and program flow

Ensure program milestones are met with consistency and quality at every stage

Lead family onboarding and alignment conversations, building trust and commitment from Day 1

Support the scholar interview and selection process for incoming freshman cohorts

Serve as a consistent, reliable point of contact for scholars and their coaching staff

MTA Coaching Fellows Management

Support the recruitment, onboarding, and preparation of MTA Coaching Fellows

School & Community Partnerships

Serve as the primary liaison between DT CARES and partner school districts

Support the planning and full execution of key program experiences, including the summer kickoff, the annual MTA Leadership Summit, and college and career exposure visits

Ensure logistics, communications, and scholar preparation are managed with precision ahead of each event

Data, Tracking & Continuous Improvement

Track scholar attendance, engagement, and progress against program milestones

Utilize NEON CRM and other organizational systems to monitor outcomes and document impact

Collect and synthesize feedback from scholars, families, fellows, and partners

The right person for this role brings a genuine passion for youth development and a track record of building trust with young people, families, and community partners. They are operationally strong — able to manage complexity without losing quality — and they carry themselves with the kind of presence and credibility that earns confidence from all sides of the table.

Highly organized and reliable, with the ability to manage multiple work-streams simultaneously

Grounded in community-centered values and aligned with the mission of developing young people holistically

ROLE STRUCTURE & COMMITMENT

To preserve program quality and accountability, the Program Director role is structured as an annual appointment tied to each program cycle, with the possibility of renewal based on performance, organizational needs, and mutual alignment.

The selected candidate will be expected to lead program implementation through the 2026 to 2027 cycle, including spring onboarding, summer launch, and school-year execution. This is a part-time, hybrid role based in the Greater Hartford, CT area. Hours and scheduling will be tied to program phases, with increased engagement during spring onboarding, summer launch, and key event periods.

If you are mission-aligned, operationally strong, and ready to play a central role in building something that matters for young people in Hartford County — we want to hear from you.

Flexible schedule

Application Question(s):

This is a part-time, hybrid Program Director role requiring 6–10 hours per week from May 2026 through May 2027, including youth/family engagement, school partner communication, and key program events. Have you held a leadership role where you were responsible for managing a program, coordinating people, overseeing logistics, or maintaining accountability across multiple stakeholders?

youth/family program leadership: Work Location: Hybrid remote in East Hartford, CT 06108