Program Director, Appalachian Center for Equality (ACE)

AFSC job board; Charleston (WV); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

American Friends Service Committee in West Virginia seeks a Program Director for the Appalachian Center for Equality (ACE). The role leads youth-focused, state-level advocacy programs, supervises staff, collaborates with partners, and drives fundraising and budget oversight.

The position is full-time, hybrid, with travel to Charleston and southern areas of the state, and requires strong leadership in community organizing and program management.

Qualifications

• Education: High School or GED is required. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum three years of experience in community organizing, advocacy, program development, or other work advancing social justice or social change.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff, volunteers, or teams.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with community partners, organizations, coalitions, and other stakeholders.
• Experience with program management, including program planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a viable program that focuses on young people and seeks to improve their opportunities and conditions in the southern West Virginia coalfields through youth-led community and policy advocacy and organizing projects.
• Engage in effective program planning to include the development and implementation of clearly stated and observable goals and objectives.
• Supervise program staff and fellows/interns in program implementation activities.
• Maintain good working relationships with school and community partners, and statewide advocacy / coalition partners.
• Ensure consistent program communication, including partner email updates, website / blog development, and maintaining and growing ACE’s online social media presence.
• Obtain and monitor the human and fiscal resources needed to achieve program goals and objectives; budgeting, fundraising coordination, and grant reporting.

Skills

Community organizing

Advocacy

Fundraising

Program management

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Program Director, Appalachian Center for Equality (ACE)

Job Category : Program

Requisition Number : PROGR001744

• Posted : October 26, 2026
• Full-Time
• Hybrid

Locations

Showing 1 location

Charleston, WV 25311, USA

Description

The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker religious organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, we nurture the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems.

Join Our Team! Make A Difference.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Program Director, Appalachian Center for Equality (ACE)

STATUS: Full-Time

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Regular

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Regional Director

REGION/UNIT: US/ South Region

LOCATION: West Virginia - Hybrid: in-office with (frequent travel to Charleston and southern areas of the state)
Application Deadline: November 6, 2026

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION

The aim of the Appalachian Center for Equality (ACE) is to improve the economic opportunities and conditions for young people in the southern West Virginia coalfields and throughout the state via systemic changes influenced by youth-led community and policy advocacy projects. Key responsibilities include the planning and evaluation of all projects and activities related to the program; supervision of program staff; participation in fundraising activities; and development and oversight of program budgets and finances.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Maintain a viable program that focuses on young people and seeks to improve their opportunities and conditions in the southern West Virginia coalfields through youth-led community and policy advocacy and organizing projects, including: Supporting recruitment activities and convening / facilitating meetings when needed in collaboration with the Program Coordinator; planning, implementation and evaluation of state-level policy and advocacy campaigns, and national and global organizing campaigns.
• Engage in effective program planning to include the development and implementation of clearly stated and observable goals and objectives.
• Supervise program staff and fellows/interns in program implementation activities.
• Maintain good working relationships with school and community partners, and statewide advocacy / coalition partners.
• Ensure consistent program communication, including partner email updates, website / blog development, and maintaining and growing ACE’s online social media presence.
• Obtain and monitor the human and fiscal resources needed to achieve program goals and objectives. This includes budget creation and management, working with the grants department to plan and evaluate funding requests and reports, maintain relationships with current funders and supporters / research and build relationships with prospective funders; review budgets annually and mid-year with regional leadership; work with program staff and finance / grants departments to ensure grant expenditure tracking; support program staff where appropriate with monthly expense reporting.
• Design, establish and maintain an ongoing process of program assessment, learning and evaluation for program work, supervising staff in utilizing youth-led program best practices for reporting and data monitoring.
• Recruit and maintain a local program committee of volunteers who will help to (a) season ideas related to program work, (b) network with a cross-section of the community, especially with persons where programs are offered, and (c) assist in carrying out program work as volunteers.
• Assist in planning and supporting outreach to Friends and inter-faith groups in the region.
• Serve on local, regional and national committees and participate in AFSC organization-wide initiatives, particularly youth-focused networks and campaigns and initiatives involving structural change work most relevant to youth in West Virginia.
• Coordinate, train and supervise volunteers and youth leaders, and in collaboration with the program coordinator facilitate event / trip planning and assist with chaperoning.
• Participate as a team member through regular attendance at staff meetings and by working in collaboration with co-workers throughout the organization. Identify and create opportunities for collaboration with other AFSC programs, including programs in the youth network and in relevant thematic areas. Work to facilitate ACE youth participation in national and international advocacy and organizing opportunities.
• Keep abreast of regional and national policies and procedures, youth program best practices, and ensure staff attendance at relevant youth safety and skill-building trainings.
• Participate in thematic-based meetings and convenings related to the development and implementation of collaborative and synergistic work within each of the themes in which the program is engaged.
• Participate in and support the implementation of strategic, theme-based, collaborative and synergistic efforts that intersect and/or are complementary with ongoing local program work.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Regional Director or Associate Regional Director as requested.
• Provide administrative support as needed.
• Regular attendance and punctuality are required.
• Operates safely in all conditions and follows policies and procedures.
• Other duties and projects assigned.

SUPERVISORY / MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Directly or indirectly supervises employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training and engaging employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: High School or GED is required. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum three years of experience in community organizing, advocacy, program development, or other work advancing social justice or social change,including paid or significant volunteer experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff, volunteers, or teams.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with community partners, organizations, coalitions, and other stakeholders.
• Experience workingin a nonprofit, community-based, advocacy, or social justice organization is preferred
• Experience with program management,including program planning,implementation, evaluation, and reporting is preferred.
• Experience developing and monitoring program budgets and providing financial oversight is preferred.
• Experience supporting fundraising, grant management, and grant reporting is preferred.
• Initiative, creativity, patience, drive, energy, ability to listen and a sense of humor.
• Valid driver's license or independent ability to travel within West Virginia and to occasional regional and organizational meetings. (This position is a hybrid role with both in-person and remote work).
• Ability to work in the evenings and/or weekends and to travel, as required.
• Ability to work effectively independently and within a team environment.
• Experience with standard Microsoft Office and related technology.
• Must be capable of working under tight time constraints in a high-volume environment with multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
• Respect for Quaker values and testimonies. Knowledgeable and supportive of the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
• Respect for and sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, racial, gender and religious diversity and familiarity with non-violent approaches to problem solving.
• Ability to organize, plan ahead and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated dedication to the principles of fairness, equity and inclusion in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPENSATION The AFSC offers a competitive Total Rewards package. This position is Exempt, Salary Family: Programs, Job Code: Program Director I, Minimum Starting Salary $62,000 or Salary Family Range. Comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, Short Term Disability & Long-Term Disability, defined benefit pension plan, 403b match, plus other benefits including vacation, Paid Time Off, sabbaticals, extended leaves, holidays.

The American Friends Service Committee provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sec, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The policy applies to all terms and conditions or employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

AFSC’s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S. are unionized workplaces. This position is represented.

AFSC maintains a deep commitment to a mandate of care for our staff and communities. The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This position is an at-will employment, meaning that the employment relationship can be terminated by either the employer or the employee at any time, for any reason, with or without notice. In addition, position duties and expectations change over time. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exclusive or exhaustive list of the job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time. The employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. If there is ever a time that you are unsure what is expected of you, you are expected to meet with your manager and ask questions. If you are unsure how to perform a certain task, ask your manager before performing.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.