Manager, Youth Program Operations

careers-bgca; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Boys & Girls Clubs of America, based in Atlanta, GA, seeks a Manager, Youth Program Operations to design scalable operational systems that enable consistently high-quality youth programming across Clubs nationwide.

You will partner with Youth Development leadership to translate strategy into practical tools, frameworks, and implementation approaches, coaching leaders and building organizational capacity through ongoing consulting and capacity-building efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Seven or more years of progressive experience in youth development, organizational operations, program operations, consulting, or related fields.
• Experience developing strategy alongside senior leaders and translating strategy into operational execution.
• Experience supporting, consulting with, or building capacity within youth-serving organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority across multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Translate Youth Development priorities, quality standards, and field insights into actionable Program Operations strategies.
• Design and refine operational frameworks for consistent implementation of youth programming across diverse Club environments.
• Ensure Program Operations strategies align with broader Youth Development and Quality Improvement initiatives.
• Develop standardized planning systems, tools, and routines that support Clubs nationwide.
• Strengthen staffing models and operational practices to enable high-quality program delivery.
• Coach leaders through systems-level improvements and continuous capacity building.
• Collaborate with internal partners to align programming, quality improvement, and operational strategies.

Skills

Systems thinking

Strategic execution

Consultative partnership

Organizational influence

Continuous improvement

Communication & facilitation

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

Overview

Help Build the Systems That Enable Great Youth Experiences Every Day.

At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we believe great outcomes for young people don't happen by chance. They happen because Clubs have the right people, systems, and operational practices in place to consistently deliver high-quality experiences.

We're creating a new Program Operations function within Youth Development to strengthen the operational foundations that make great programming possible across the Boys & Girls Club Movement. This is an opportunity to help shape how hundreds of organizations plan, staff, implement, and continuously improve youth programming nationwide.

We're looking for a leader with deep experience in youth development and out-of-school time programming who understands what it takes to build the operational systems that enable high-quality experiences for young people across multiple sites. Whether you've led programming across a national out- of - school program, parks and recreation system, or another youth-serving organization, you know that strong programming begins with strong operational systems.

If you're energized by solving complex organizational challenges, designing scalable systems, and partnering with leaders to turn strategy into sustainable practice, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

As Manager, Youth Program Operations, you'll serve as a strategic consultant and systems builder, partnering with Youth Development leadership to strengthen the operational infrastructure that supports high-quality programming across Clubs nationwide.

Rather than focusing on delivering individual programs, you'll help organizations improve how programming is planned, staffed, implemented, and continuously improved.

You'll collaborate closely with colleagues across Youth Development Programs and Quality Improvement & Youth Impact to translate strategy into practical tools, frameworks, and implementation approaches that increase organizational capacity and improve outcomes for youth.

What Success Looks Like

Successful candidates will be able to:

• Design scalable operational systems that help Clubs consistently deliver high-quality youth programming.
• Translate organizational strategy into practical frameworks, tools, and implementation routines.
• Consult with local organizations to identify systemic operational challenges and develop sustainable solutions.
• Build organizational capacity through coaching, facilitation, and strategic consultation rather than solving individual operational issues.
• Partner across teams to ensure programming, quality improvement, and operational strategies work together to strengthen the overall Club experience.
• Use data, assessments, and field insights to continuously refine operational approaches and improve implementation across the Movement.

Responsibilities

Program Operations Strategy

• Translate Youth Development priorities, quality standards, and field insights into actionable Program Operations strategies.
• Design and refine operational frameworks that enable consistent implementation of youth programming across diverse Club environments.
• Ensure Program Operations strategies complement and strengthen broader Youth Development and Quality Improvement initiatives.

Systems Design & Implementation

• Develop standardized planning systems, operational tools, and implementation routines that support Clubs nationwide.
• Strengthen staffing models and operational practices that enable high-quality program delivery.
• Guide Clubs in adopting systems that improve execution and long-term organizational effectiveness.

Organizational Consulting & Capacity Building

• Partner with local Clubs to assess operational challenges affecting program quality.
• Provide strategic consultation that helps organizations build sustainable operational capacity.
• Coach leaders through systems-level improvements rather than one-time solutions.
• Identify recurring implementation challenges and inform future organizational strategy.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate closely with Youth Development Programs, Quality Improvement & Youth Impact, and other internal partners.
• Align operational systems with evidence-based programming, curriculum design, and quality standards.
• Translate research, assessments, and operational data into scalable practices that improve implementation across the Movement.

Qualifications

What You Bring

We're looking for someone who combines operational excellence with strategic thinking and enjoys helping organizations solve complex challenges.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Seven or more years of progressive experience in youth development, organizational operations, program operations, consulting, or related fields.
• Experience developing strategy alongside senior leaders and translating strategy into operational execution.
• Experience supporting, consulting with, or building capacity within youth-serving organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority across multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Experience

Ideal candidates may have experience:

• Designing systems that support consistent, high‑quality programming across multiple sites.
• Building operational frameworks for out‑of‑school time or youth‑serving organizations.
• Applying Continuous Quality Improvement, Improvement Science, Lean, or similar methodologies.
• Developing staffing models, operational processes, or implementation systems.
• Using data and quality assessments to identify systemic challenges and drive organizational improvement.
• Designing and facilitating professional learning experiences for adult practitioners.
• Coaching organizations through systems‑level change and continuous improvement.

Core Competencies

Success in this role requires:

• Systems Thinking: Sees the connections between strategy, operations, people, and outcomes while designing sustainable solutions.
• Strategic Execution: Translates organizational priorities into practical systems and scalable implementation plans.
• Consultative Partnership: Builds trusted relationships that help organizations strengthen capacity and improve performance.
• Organizational Influence: Guides change through collaboration, credibility, and thoughtful facilitation.
• Continuous Improvement: Uses data, field insights, and feedback to refine systems and improve organizational effectiveness.
• Communication & Facilitation: Communicates complex ideas clearly while leading productive conversations across diverse audiences.
• Problem Solving: Synthesizes information, diagnoses root causes, and develops practical, sustainable solutions.

Work Environment

• This position is based in Atlanta, Georgia and follows a hybrid schedule, working two days in office and offers three remote days.
• Travel of approximately 30–40% is expected, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Our headquarters is located in the vibrant Midtown district, steps away from museums, shops, and dining.
• Covered parking is one of the many benefits that employees enjoy.

Why Boys & Girls Clubs of America?

Every day, Boys & Girls Clubs create opportunities that help young people reach their full potential. Behind every great Club experience are strong systems, thoughtful operations, and leaders committed to continuous improvement.

In this role, your work won't just improve processes. You'll help strengthen the operational foundation that enables Clubs across the country to deliver life‑changing experiences for millions of young people.