Manager, Student Leadership Development & Scholarship Programs

Big Shoulders Fund; Merrillville (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Shoulders Fund is seeking a Manager, Student Leadership Development & Scholarship Programs in Merrillville, IN. You will coordinate leadership initiatives, manage events, and collaborate with schools and families to deliver high-quality learning experiences across Northwest Indiana.

The role requires strong project management, communication, and program facilitation with evening/weekend event availability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Experience planning and executing large student-facing events.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in education, youth development, student programming, curriculum development, program management, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success working with students, schools, educational programs, youth-serving organizations, or comparable learning environments.
• Experience coordinating programs, projects, events, or learning experiences from planning through implementation.
• Experience developing or facilitating curriculum, training, workshops, or other learning experiences.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to participating schools and program sites throughout Northwest Indiana.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend programs and events.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the planning, implementation, and evaluation of student leadership programs and initiatives.
• Oversee program timelines, schedules, deliverables, communications, logistics, and follow-up across multiple projects.
• Lead the planning and execution of signature events, including the Art Gala, the Leadership Retreat, ceremonies, field experiences, and other student-centered events.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen program implementation and recommend improvements based on program data, participant feedback, and stakeholder needs.
• Support the Managing Director curriculum facilitation, learning materials, activities, and facilitator resources, including materials aligned to the Leader in Me (LiM) framework.
• Monitor and report back on leadership programs, workshops, trainings, and other learning experiences to the Managing Director.
• Support Teacher Sponsors in preparing for and delivering lessons and activities at school sites.
• Track student feedback and perspectives.
• Participate in the design of engaging learning experiences that reflect the varied backgrounds, strengths, experiences, and needs of participating students.
• Partner with Managing Director to evaluate curriculum and program experiences. Recommend improvements/enhancements.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with school partners.
• Conduct school visits and coordinate program activities with school leaders, educators, students, and other school-based stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with students, families, school partners, and other program stakeholders.
• Coordinate outreach and follow-up to support student participation and engagement.
• Serve as a point of contact for routine program questions and concerns, collaborating with Managing Director to address matters appropriately.
• Provide administrative coordination for the scholarship interview process, including scheduling, school and parent communications, interview logistics, documentation, and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate scholarship interview records, applicant information, and required documentation.
• Support family and school communications related to scholarship processes.
• Research and contribute to the development of new programs and enhancements to existing initiatives.
• Support coordination of the Franklin Covey partnership implementation, including scheduling, materials, communications, and logistics.
• Identify potential program mentors, volunteers, and community resources aligned with program objectives.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of an internship program that supports program priorities while providing meaningful learning experiences.
• Maintain accurate program records, schedules, student information, participation data, and required documentation.
• Gather and help analyze participant feedback, assessments, participation information, and other program data.
• Use program data and feedback to evaluate implementation and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare/support written communications, reports, presentations, and program materials for internal and external audiences.
• Use Microsoft Office and other digital tools to support program planning, communication, documentation, and execution.
• Balance multiple projects and priorities while meeting established timelines.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Event planning

Public speaking / facilitation

Spanish language

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Title: Manager, Student Leadership Development & Scholarship Programs

Reports to: Managing Director, Scholarships & Student Leadership Development

Based in: Merrillville, Northwest Indiana

Date: Fall 2026

BIG SHOULDERS FUND

Big Shoulders Fund is an independent tax-exempt charitable organization that provides support to schools with demonstrated need which provides a quality, values-based education for children. We serve 25,000 students and 90 schools in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions. Each school is a vital community-based organization and an anchor to its surrounding neighborhoods.

For forty years, Big Shoulders Fund has helped Chicago’s children achieve their dreams through access to high-quality education. Of the 25,000 students we serve, 83% identify as people of color and 69% reside in low-income households. We expand access and outcomes by investing more than $40 million annually in scholarship support and enrichment programming for students; operational improvements for schools; cultivation of talent pipelines for school personnel from new teachers through veteran principals; and professional development and support for educators and leaders – all with the goal of not just strengthening schools, but whole communities, while preparing students for life-long success. To that end, 80% of scholars matriculate to college, and students earn a degree at two times the national average. Latino and Black scholars graduate at three-times and four-times their counterparts, respectively, and graduates go on to vote, contribute, and participate at greater rates than local and national outcomes.

In 2019, Big Shoulders Fund began an exciting new chapter in Northwest Indiana by making a long-term commitment to The Region. Since then, we have worked to bring our unique approach to building the capacity of local school communities to best serve students and families of Northwest Indiana, with special focus on areas of greatest need: Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago. The long-term goals of our efforts include elevating the quality of values-based schools in Northwest Indiana through: academic investments, instructional and data coaching; marketing and outreach efforts; and enrichment and summer programs to expand opportunities for students. While some roles on our staff focus exclusively on Northwest Indiana or Chicago, all Big Shoulders Fund team members contribute to the success of our work across both sites.

Big Shoulders Fund has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of nonprofits, for 18 consecutive years, a distinction held by less than one percent of nonprofit organizations nationally.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Manager, Student Leadership Development & Scholarship Programs supports the Managing Director of Scholarships and Student Leadership Development by coordinating the many details, moving pieces and bodies of data pertaining to student leadership development and scholarship programs such that the delivery and high-quality learning experiences are afforded to students across Northwest Indiana. Working in collaboration with the Managing Director of Scholarships and Student Leadership Development, this role supports key initiatives from planning through implementation, on-going execution, operations, and evaluation, for programs including the Junior Leadership Journey, Leader in Me (LiM) programming, signature events, school engagement, scholarship program administration.

The ideal candidate is a student-centered professional with exceptional attention to detail in the facilitation of programs, as well as a strong communicator with relationship-building skills who is able to translate ideas into engaging, well-executed learning experiences.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Program Management and Implementation

• Coordinate the planning, implementation, and evaluation of student leadership programs and initiatives, including the Junior Leadership Journey and Leader in Me (LiM) programming.
• Oversee program timelines, schedules, deliverables, communications, logistics, and follow-up across multiple projects.
• Lead the planning and execution of signature events, including the Art Gala, the Leadership Retreat, ceremonies, field experiences, and other student-centered events.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen program implementation and recommend improvements based on program data, participant feedback, and stakeholder needs.
• Support the Managing Director curriculum facilitation, learning materials, activities, and facilitator resources, including materials aligned to the Leader in Me (LiM) framework.
• Monitor and report back on leadership programs, workshops, trainings, and other learning experiences to the Managing Director.
• Support Teacher Sponsors in preparing for and delivering lessons and activities at school sites.
• Track student feedback and perspectives.
• Participate in the design of engaging learning experiences that reflect the varied backgrounds, strengths, experiences, and needs of participating students.
• Partner with Managing Director to evaluate curriculum and program experiences. Recommend improvements/enhancements.

School and Family Engagement

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with school partners.
• Conduct school visits and coordinate program activities with school leaders, educators, students, and other school-based stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with students, families, school partners, and other program stakeholders.
• Coordinate outreach and follow-up to support student participation and engagement.
• Serve as a point of contact for routine program questions and concerns, collaborating with Managing Director to address matters appropriately.
• Provide administrative coordination for the scholarship interview process, including scheduling, school and parent communications, interview logistics, documentation, and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate scholarship interview records, applicant information, and required documentation.
• Support family and school communications related to scholarship processes.

Program Development and Partnerships

• Research and contribute to the development of new programs and enhancements to existing initiatives.
• Support coordination of the Franklin Covey partnership implementation, including scheduling, materials, communications, and logistics.
• Identify potential program mentors, volunteers, and community resources aligned with program objectives.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of an internship program that supports program priorities while providing meaningful learning experiences.

Program Operations and Evaluation

• Maintain accurate program records, schedules, student information, participation data, and required documentation.
• Gather and help analyze participant feedback, assessments, participation information, and other program data.
• Use program data and feedback to evaluate implementation and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare/support written communications, reports, presentations, and program materials for internal and external audiences.
• Use Microsoft Office and other digital tools to support program planning, communication, documentation, and execution.
• Balance multiple projects and priorities while meeting established timelines.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• This role requires availability to work some evenings and weekends for Big Shoulders Fund events.
• The Manager, Student Leadership Development & Scholarship Programs must also work cooperatively with Big Shoulders Fund staff in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, performing other duties as assigned.
• As a member of the Big Shoulders Fund staff, the Manager, Student Leadership Development & Scholarship Programs will attend and support the facilitation of fundraising events, service days, and other programs that further the mission of Big Shoulders Fund through its outreach to donors, communities, and schools. Additionally, the individual in this role will attend all required team and organization wide meetings.
• As this is a new role, this job description is not exhaustive and will continue to evolve over time, and will include other duties as assigned.

QUALITIES OF THE CANDIDATE WE SEEK

Required

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Fluency in Spanish preferred
• Experience successfully planning and executing large student-facing events preferred
• 3+ years of relevant experience in education, youth development, student programming, curriculum development, program management, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated success working with students, schools, educational programs, youth-serving organizations, or comparable learning environments
• Experience coordinating programs, projects, events, or learning experiences from planning through implementation
• Experience developing or facilitating curriculum, training, workshops, or other learning experiences
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to build effective working relationships with students, families, educators, colleagues, and community stakeholders from varied backgrounds and experiences
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn and use digital program-management and productivity tools
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to participating schools and program sites throughout Northwest Indiana
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend programs and events

Preferred

• Familiarity with Franklin Covey, Leader in Me, or comparable school-based leadership frameworks
• Experience supporting scholarship or financial aid program administration

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization and the students/schools it serves.