Program Manager

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Job Summary

This Program Manager (PM) is responsible for coordinating 7th - 9th programming including managing our math, science, and literacy opportunities, advancing our tutoring efforts, developing high school readiness workshops, and sustaining success coaching and advising for the grades in question. This Program Manager also coordinates WP's virtual and in-person recruitment activities. Meeting these responsibilities involves developing and sustaining relationships with schools and capitalizing upon University and community partnerships.

WP seeks a self-starter with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the capacity to engage and collaborate with varied age-cohorts, audiences and constituencies. The ability to attend to detail, plan with clear logics and timetables, and engage in big-picture thinking are also essential as is the ability to coordinate and supervise the work of others.

WP is a hybrid work environment with required in-person days weekly, for annual events, Saturday programming, and summer enrichment.

Responsibilities*

Administrative Oversight, Management, & Logistics 65%

  • Manage WP's math programming for 7th - 9th graders and R12 summer including coordinating the hiring, supervision, and professional development of math instructors; contracting and supervising curriculum developers; and confirming the scope and sequence of math programming in consultation with math experts and Associate Director.
  • Administer all other academic and cultural programming for 7th through 9th graders (i.e., 2 week core summer programming and field trips for rising 8th and 9th graders; 9th grade summer intensive opportunities; in-person Saturday programming; educational or cultural events that capitalize upon unanticipated invitations or opportunities).
  • Coordinate programming that supports scholars in their socio-emotional development and in developing high school readiness skills, knowledge, and efficacy that support a successful transition from middle school to high school.
  • Advance and supervise WP's tutoring services, integrating part-time staff and volunteers from student organizations as would be appropriate to establish a corps of tutors to support students in need.
  • Capitalize upon school, community, corporate and campus partners (U-M colleges, departments and units, and also individual faculty) requisite for administering assigned program areas and ensure that administrative efforts are consistent with WP's commitments to increase prospects of admission and successful transition to selective colleges.
  • Collect data and conduct formative and summative assessments to evaluate impact and support continuous improvement and donor development.
  • Provide fiscal oversight for and daily management of all assigned areas
  • Ensure transportation is coordinated for all in-person fall and winter programming for 7-9th scholars and work with Associate Director to confirm 7-9th grade transportation needs for summer programming, including field trips.
  • Complete other administrative responsibilities as assigned by Associate Director to support the execution of WP programming overall.


Success Coaching and Advising 20 - 25%

  • Serve as the primary academic advisor and success coach for 9th grade scholars.
  • Coordinate programming that supports scholars in their socio-emotional development and in developing high school readiness skills, knowledge, and efficacy that support a successful transition from middle school to high school.
  • Support rising 9th graders in evaluating talents, interests, and goals pertinent to identifying and pursuing co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities (within and outside of WP) that they might pursue in high schools and begin envisioning opportunities for deep engagement and leadership.
  • Monitor scholars' academic progress consistent with WP's mission and objectives and follow up with scholars and families as needed to ensure WP's receipt of requisite documents for supporting and guiding the college preparation and application process (e.g., academic transcripts, SAT scores, extracurricular engagements, outcomes of advising sessions and next steps)
  • Monitor and facilitate scholar referral and utilization of tutoring services.


Scholar/Family Recruitment 10% - 15%

  • Coordinate, in consultation with Associate Director, in-person and virtual recruitment activities for southeastern Michigan sites (i.e., Detroit, Southfield, and Ypsilanti). These duties include:
    • Scheduling recruitment visits at schools and events and drafting staff recruitment assignments
    • Collaborating with VPAO marketing and communications personnel, WP Data, Technology, and Media Manager, and other WP staff members as would be appropriate to generate and improve upon marketing content and materials for hard copy, email, Zoom, and social media distribution/sharing.
    • Leading application support efforts for schools/sites that are especially underrepresented in WP's application pool.
    • Identifying opportunities to support WP's year-round visibility for prospective applicants.

Required Qualifications*

  • Minimum of a Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years relevant experience (including with administration/management)
  • Demonstrated knowledge or experience in program management and college advising/coaching or youth mentoring and advocacy. guidance counseling, college coaching, and/or life coaching.
  • Knowledge of or experience with program evaluation and assessments, survey development and descriptive analysis, qualitative interviewing and analysis, and/ or program assessments.
  • Experience or capacity for functional supervision
  • Able to work on Saturdays and evenings
  • Available for in-person summer programming the entire month of July and also the first week in August.

Desired Qualifications*

  • Knowledge or experience with Excel, Mail Merge, SalesForce, Badgr, CANVAS.
  • Proficiency in Spanish

Modes of Work

The work requirements allow both onsite and offsite work and an employee has an expected recurring onsite presence. On occasion, the employee may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by unit leadership or their designee and/or the job requirements.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.