Program Director

VOiCEup Berks; Reading (Berks County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

VOiCEup Berks in Reading, PA seeks a Program Director for the Youth Volunteer Corps Reading (YVC Reading). You will lead day-to-day operations, plan goals, manage staff and volunteers, and strengthen partnerships to meet VOiCEup Berks' mission.

You will develop annual work plans, ensure program standards, and oversee logistics, communications, and budget development. This role requires proactive leadership and strong collaboration with schools and community partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education/experience.
• Experience independently managing programs from planning to execution.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities with strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of day-to-day management and long-term development of YVC Reading.
• Develop and implement annual program goals and work plans aligned with strategy.
• Identify challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Monitor progress toward goals and adjust plans as needed.
• Ensure programming reflects community needs and national standards.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Organization

Leadership

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Associate degree or equivalent

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Calendar management tools

Job description

Organization

VOiCEup Berks, established in 2016, creates opportunities for young people to volunteer, learn, and lead in their communities. Our flagship youth education and engagement program, Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading (YVCR), focuses on team-based service-learning opportunities for students aged 11-18 that teach leadership, career, and 21st Century skills while instilling a lifelong commitment to service. For young adults aged 18-24, VOiCEup Berks provides service opportunities through our Generation Impact Initiative aimed at promoting personal growth and maintaining participants connection to the community and to each other. Over the past ten years, VOiCEup Berks has consistently grown, engaging thousands of young people in over 68,000 cumulative hours of service to benefit Berks County.

Position Objective

The YVC Reading Program Director is responsible for the overall leadership, management, growth, and day-to-day operation of the Youth Volunteer Corps Reading program at VOiCEup Berks. The Program Director independently plans and coordinates program activities, manages staff and volunteers, develops partnerships, oversees program logistics and communications, and ensures that YVC goals, standards, and commitments are consistently met. The successful candidate is a proactive, highly organized leader who anticipates needs, follows through on commitments, and takes ownership of the program from planning through execution and evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the day-to-day management and long-term development of YVC Reading.
• Develop and implement annual program goals, work plans, and strategies aligned with VOiCEup Berks' strategic plan.
• Anticipate program needs, identify potential challenges, and proactively develop solutions.
• Monitor progress toward program goals and adjust plans as needed.
• Ensure that YVC Reading programming reflects current community needs and YVC national standards

Program Operations & Event Management

• Own the planning and execution of all YVC service-learning opportunities, ensuring that each event is fully staffed, prepared, communicated, and ready to deliver a high-quality experience.
• Maintain a comprehensive calendar of YVC activities, deadlines, staffing assignments, and program commitments.
• Develop and consistently use systems and checklists to ensure that critical details are not missed.
• Confirm event logistics, staffing, supplies, transportation, participant information, partner expectations, and other details sufficiently in advance of each event.
• Ensure that a minimum of two VOiCEup staff members are assigned to every YVC volunteer opportunity.
• Communicate proactively with staff, volunteers, parents, schools, and community partners regarding upcoming activities.
• Ensure that all public-facing YVC events and activities are professional, organized, and consistent with VOiCEup Berks' standards.

Supervise YVC Program Coordinators

• Supervise, support, and develop YVC Program Coordinators, including establishing clear responsibilities, priorities, deadlines, and performance expectations.
• Delegate appropriately while maintaining accountability for program outcomes.
• Create a collaborative team culture that encourages initiative, communication, and shared responsibility.

Administrative

• Develop the annual YVC program budget in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Manage program registrations, purchasing, reimbursements, and other administrative requirements.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of required YVC, organizational, grant, and program documentation.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with schools, youth-serving organizations, community partners, funders, parents, and other stakeholders.
• Proactively identify and cultivate new school and community partnerships that expand YVC's reach.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for YVC community partners and ensure that partners receive timely, professional communication.
• Represent VOiCEup and YVC professionally at community meetings, events, and networking opportunities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; associate's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing programs, projects, or initiatives from planning through execution.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple deadlines, priorities, and projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships with schools, community organizations, families, youth, and other stakeholders.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or coordinating staff and/or volunteers.
• Strong judgment, initiative, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to anticipate needs, identify potential problems, and develop solutions proactively.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with a small team.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and digital project/calendar management tools.
• Reliable transportation and valid driver's license.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and school holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, nonprofit management, social work, youth development, communications, or related field.
• Experience working with youth ages 11–18.
• Experience with service-learning.
• Experience working with schools and school administrators.
• Experience developing and managing program budgets.
• Familiarity with YVC or another national youth service organization.