Director of Programs

Foundation For CHOICE; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E. seeks a Director of Programs to lead the planning, execution, and growth of its school-based programming. You will supervise Program Coordinators, manage relationships with school partners, mentors, and corporate supporters, and ensure alignment with curriculum, grants, and annual goals.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, collaboration, data-driven oversight, and scalable program delivery across campuses, with a focus on impact and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit programming, education, youth development, mentoring, program management, or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience directly supervising employees is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple programs, staff members, partnerships, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience working with schools, students, corporate partners, mentors, or community organizations preferred.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership, coaching, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Ability to hold staff accountable while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to follow-through.
• Proficiency with common technology and data-tracking platforms.
• Ability to travel locally to schools, corporate partner locations, meetings, and program events as required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of all Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E. programs.
• Ensure programs follow approved curriculum and models.
• Maintain master program calendars and timelines.
• Monitor progress and address challenges, staffing needs, or leadership gaps.
• Ensure consistency and quality across campuses and coordinators.
• Coordinate program launches, mentor/student matching, workshops, and events.
• Prepare and distribute program materials and communications.
• Directly supervise Program Coordinators and set priorities.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development.
• Support Executive Director with evaluations and staffing decisions.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on performance and priorities.
• Collaborate with leadership on grants, reporting, and expansion.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Program management

Communication

Project management

Strategic planning

Travel willingness

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

The Director of Programs is a key leadership position responsible for overseeing the successful implementation, management, and growth of Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E. programs. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director of Programs provides day-to-day leadership to the Program Coordinators and ensures programs are delivered consistently, professionally, and in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, approved curriculum, partner commitments, grant requirements, and annual goals.

This position serves as the primary bridge between organizational leadership and the program team. The Director of Programs translates organizational expectations into clear action plans, timelines, accountability, and measurable results. The Director personally owns key recurring communications with school partners and mentors while ensuring Program Coordinators successfully execute their assigned program responsibilities.

The ideal candidate is an experienced people manager and program leader who can manage multiple programs, staff members, school and corporate relationships, deadlines, data, and operational details while maintaining a high standard of execution.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Oversight

• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of all Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E. programs.
• Ensure programs are executed according to approved curriculum, program models, calendars, grant requirements, partner commitments, and organizational expectations.
• Maintain master program calendars, implementation timelines, and key deadlines.
• Monitor program progress and proactively identify challenges, delays, staffing needs, or areas requiring leadership attention.
• Ensure consistency and quality across campuses, programs, and Program Coordinators.
• Coordinate program launches, orientations, mentor/student matching periods, workshops, special events, career experiences, and year-end activities.
• Ensure required program materials, communications, logistics, and resources are prepared and distributed on schedule.

Program Team Management

• Directly supervise and manage Program Coordinators.
• Establish clear weekly priorities, deliverables, deadlines, and expectations for each team member.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and program team meetings.
• Monitor staff performance and hold team members accountable for assigned responsibilities and deadlines.
• Provide coaching, feedback, training, and professional development.
• Review staff workloads and redistribute responsibilities when necessary.
• Support the Executive Director with performance evaluations and personnel decisions related to program staff.
• Build a culture of ownership, communication, professionalism, collaboration, and follow-through.

Curriculum Implementation & Weekly Mentor Communication

• Ensure Founder-developed and approved curriculum is implemented accurately and consistently across programs.
• Send mentors a weekly curriculum email prior to each upcoming program session.
• Provide practical tips, reminders, facilitation guidance, preparation information, and session expectations to help mentors successfully implement that week’s approved curriculum.
• Ensure mentors receive all necessary curriculum materials, worksheets, resources, agendas, and session instructions with sufficient time to prepare.
• Highlight important discussion points, potential student challenges, facilitation recommendations, and other information mentors need for the upcoming session.
• Coordinate with Program Coordinators to identify mentor questions, implementation challenges, or areas where additional guidance is needed.
• Gather mentor feedback regarding curriculum implementation and communicate relevant observations and recommendations to the Founder and Executive Director.
• Ensure mentor guidance supports the approved curriculum and does not independently change, replace, or develop program content.
• Ensure Program Coordinators, facilitators, and other program participants receive the appropriate approved materials and instructions before each session.

School Partnerships & Monthly Reporting

• Serve as a senior program contact for school administrators, counselors, teachers, and designated campus contacts.
• Prepare and distribute monthly program reports to each participating school/campus.
• Ensure monthly reports provide clear updates on program activity, student participation, mentor engagement, attendance, progress, upcoming activities, challenges, and action items, as appropriate.
• Ensure monthly school reports are accurate, professional, and distributed according to established organizational timelines.
• Maintain consistent communication with school partners throughout the program year.
• Follow up with school partners regarding student attendance, participation concerns, scheduling needs, consent requirements, and other program-related matters.
• Address program-level concerns before they escalates and involve the Executive Director when appropriate.
• Provide the Executive Director with visibility into significant campus concerns, participation issues, or partnership needs.
• Participate in partner meetings and planning sessions as needed.

Corporate & Community Partnerships

• Maintain strong, professional relationships with corporate and community partners involved in program delivery.
• Coordinate with partners regarding program schedules, mentor participation, events, career experiences, and other program needs.
• Support the development and implementation of new program partnerships and pilot opportunities.
• Represent Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E. professionally at meetings, events, presentations, and community activities.

Mentor & Student Experience

• Oversee mentor recruitment, onboarding, training, placement, communication, engagement, and retention processes.
• Ensure mentor/student matching is completed accurately and on schedule.
• Monitor mentor participation and student engagement throughout the program year.
• Ensure Program Coordinators promptly follow up regarding absences, disengagement, scheduling challenges, or other participation concerns.
• Maintain a high-quality experience for students, mentors, families, schools, and corporate partners.

Data, Tracking & Reporting

• Ensure Program Coordinators maintain accurate and timely program records.
• Oversee tracking of attendance, mentor participation, student participation, program milestones, surveys, outcomes, and other required data.
• Review program data regularly to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure information needed for grants, partner reports, board updates, and impact reporting is complete and accurate.
• Work with the Executive Director to evaluate program performance against organizational goals, partner commitments, and grant deliverables.

Operations & Compliance

• Ensure student, mentor, family, school, and partner information is handled confidentially and appropriately.
• Oversee completion of required applications, consent forms, background checks, training requirements, and other program documentation.
• Ensure staff follow organizational policies and established program procedures.
• Coordinate with organizational leadership regarding transportation, facilities, food, supplies, technology, and other program logistics.
• Identify operational improvements that increase efficiency without compromising program quality.

Leadership & Organizational Support

• Participate as a member of the Foundation’s leadership team.
• Provide the Executive Director with regular updates regarding program performance, staffing, challenges, and upcoming priorities.
• Help translate organizational goals into actionable program plans.
• Assist with annual program planning, budgeting, staffing projections, and program expansion.
• Collaborate with development and leadership staff to provide program information needed for grants, fundraising, donor engagement, and partner stewardship.
• Perform other leadership responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.

Recurring Director Deliverables

• Weekly: Review Program Coordinator priorities, upcoming sessions, student/mentor concerns, deadlines, and outstanding program needs.
• Monthly: Prepare and distribute a program progress report to each participating school/campus.
• Monthly: Review program participation, attendance, mentor engagement, student concerns, and program data with Program Coordinators.
• Monthly: Provide the Executive Director with a consolidated program update identifying accomplishments, concerns, upcoming priorities, and areas requiring leadership attention.
• Throughout the Program Year: Ensure Program Coordinators complete required communication, tracking, follow-up, logistics, and program implementation responsibilities.
• Weekly: Send mentor curriculum preparation emails with approved curriculum materials, implementation tips, session expectations, and reminders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit programming, education, youth development, mentoring, program management, or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience directly supervising employees is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple programs, staff members, partnerships, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience working with schools, students, corporate partners, mentors, or community organizations preferred.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership, coaching, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Ability to hold staff accountable while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to follow-through.
• Proficiency with common technology and data-tracking platforms.
• Ability to travel locally to schools, corporate partner locations, meetings, and program events as required.