Program Manager

Spirit League; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Transform is seeking a Program Manager to lead the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools program and related community outreach. You’ll plan projects, manage staff and volunteers, and coordinate with schools, districts, and community partners to advance safe, active transportation for students and families.

This hybrid Bay Area role combines field work at schools across Alameda County with virtual coordination, regular in‑person check‑ins, and occasional weekend events, contributing to

Qualifications

• 2+ years of program management experience in nonprofit environments.
• 2+ years supervisory experience with direct reports.
• 2+ years experience engaging elementary/middle school staff or parents as contributors.
• 4+ years of experience engaging volunteers in organizing events and campaigns.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize multiple priorities and adapt to changing tasks.
• Deep commitment to Transform’s mission and a strong desire to advance racial and economic justice through transportation, housing, and climate justice.

Responsibilities

• Define project goals based on deliverables, develop work plans, and determine timelines for SR2S program.
• Oversee budgets, timelines, and reporting; ensure progress and accountability.
• Supervise program staff and provide team guidance and development.
• Coordinate with schools, districts, and community organizations to implement activities.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteers including school champions and leaders.

Skills

Program management

Volunteer engagement

Team leadership

Community outreach

Budget management

Public speaking

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Transform is California’s leading advocate for healthy, connected communities with affordable transportation and housing choices. For almost three decades, we’ve worked to ensure that people of all incomes thrive in a world safe from climate chaos.

We envision vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods transformed by sustainable mobility options and affordable housing, where communities historically impacted by racist disinvestment have power and voice. Our approach is to empower communities of color, innovate solutions, and advocate for policies and funding – all with the aim of helping people thrive and averting climate disaster.

Our Work Includes:

• Winning transformative investments in climate and equity: by pushing for much greater investment in sustainable transportation and affordable housing, Transform is creating a future that enables people to live closer to jobs that makes transit, biking, and walking/rolling the easy choice.
• Normalize transit, biking, walking, and rolling: Transform builds people’s knowledge and resources, and shifts how they feel about mobility options, so that they begin to see transit, biking, walking, and rolling as viable choices, and, eventually, as completely normal and expected.
• Housing as a climate strategy: Transform creates innovative housing and parking solutions that encourage sustainable transportation and healthy, active communities so that suburban and urban residents alike can rely less on driving.

Transform is a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive organization. Our team works closely with partners at the local, regional, and state levels to create healthier, more connected, and equitable communities. We value work‑life balance, personal well‑being, and a supportive team culture.

We are a team of 12 staff committed to diversity, equity, and justice, both within our organization and through our work. Our values include collaboration, listening, creativity, transparency, equity, trust, excellence, and shared leadership.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you passionate about motivating communities to create positive environmental and social change? Are you a highly organized team player skilled in tracking deliverables, developing workplans, and supervising implementation? Do you thrive in community engagement, volunteer coordination, and event planning? Transform seeks a collaborative and detail‑oriented individual who has experience with project management and community outreach to join our Programs Team. We are dedicated to developing creative solutions that help communities reduce car dependence, elevate local voices, and drive a sustainable shift toward walking, rolling, and taking transit. The Programs Team leads several community engagement initiatives, including our award‑winning Safe Routes to Schools Program and our West Alameda Mobility for All Needs Assessment.

Safe Routes to Schools Program

Transform has led the implementation of the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Program for nearly 20 years. The SR2S Program coordinates with over 300 K–12 public schools to encourage and support safe, active, and sustainable transportation for students and families.

This role will focus on project management and site coordination for the SR2S program. The Program Manager will work closely with the Program Director to oversee project planning, implementation, and reporting. They will be responsible for staff management, site coordination at K‑8 schools, recruiting and supporting volunteer parents and school staff to organize educational and encouragement events. This position will also support the broader goals of Transform and the Programs Team to empower communities to reshape housing and transportation decision‑making. This work includes collaborating with community stakeholders such as partners at affordable housing sites, attending neighborhood events, and participating in other community‑driven initiatives that help to normalize walking, biking, and transit.

Work Environment & Location

Transform has a hybrid, virtual‑first work environment with no central office. This role will require a combination of working from home, regular in‑person field work at sites across the Bay Area, weekly in‑person check‑ins, and in‑person all‑staff work days at least twice a month. This schedule may change. Please note, we cannot consider any fully remote candidates for this position.
Field Work: This role involves working in schools across Alameda County, and at community events and housing sites around the Bay Area. It will require occasionally working early mornings, evenings and/or weekends. Staff should expect to be ‘in the field’ one to two days a week.
Work‑Life Balance: We are committed to a healthy balance that’s responsive to the needs of our staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management

• Program Planning: Define project goals based on deliverables, develop work plans, and determine timelines.
• Execution and Oversight: Delegate with consideration for team workloads and strengths, assign tasks through program management software, and track team progress to ensure goals are met. Resolve issues as they arise.
• Budget Management: Submit expense requests and manage direct expense budgets, ensuring funds are used appropriately.
• Team Leadership: Supervise 1–2 program team staff, facilitate team discussions and decision‑making, and foster a positive, inclusive, and productive team culture.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Maintain up‑to‑date administrative records using database and spreadsheet software. Use reflective feedback processes to inform continuous improvement.
• Contract Reporting: Prepare progress reports and presentations for internal and external audiences.

Site Coordination & Community Outreach

• Event Planning: Collaborate with team members to plan educational and encouragement activities and events, including mobility fairs, Walk and Roll to School Days, and Bike to School Day.
• Community Outreach: Lead community engagement efforts by organizing stakeholder meetings, developing outreach plans, and finding creative solutions to encourage walking, biking, and transit use.
• Partnership Development: Develop stakeholder partnerships with city agencies, school districts, and community‑based organizations to facilitate program implementation. Maintain strong, trust‑based relationships.
• Volunteer Management: Recruit, train, and meet with K‑12 school champions and leaders with a focus on volunteer leadership development.
• Public Presentations: Facilitate age‑appropriate educational presentations on active and shared transportation (from K‑12 students to senior citizens). Attend occasional early morning, evening, and weekend events as necessary.

Organizational Support

• Support the implementation of organizational fundraising strategies and collaborate with leadership to develop programming that supports Transform’s broader strategic goals.
• Uphold and model Transform values through our external and internal work.
• Contribute to hiring processes and staff development plans.
• Represent Transform at meetings with consultants, funders, and clients.
• Support Transform‑wide priorities such as leadership development, policy advocacy, and communications.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated sensitivity and understanding of issues facing low‑income communities of color; ability to work comfortably in diverse communities and settings, with high level of cultural competency.
• 2+ years of program management experience in a nonprofit or similar environment, including contract and/or grant oversight: deliverables, budgets, reporting, and external relationships.
• 2+ years supervisory experience with direct reports.
• 2+ years experience implementing a program that engages and empowers elementary and/or middle school staff or parents as valuable contributors and decision‑makers.
• 4+ years of experience engaging volunteers in organizing events and campaigns, conducting outreach, and building support for an ongoing program. Strong interpersonal skills with a proven track record of team building and effective delegation.
• Ability to organize multiple priorities and support team members in adapting to changing tasks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to adapt to a variety of audiences.
• Open‑minded and solutions‑focused approach to problem‑solving.
• A deep commitment to Transform’s mission and a strong desire to advance racial and economic justice through transportation, housing, and climate justice.

Great to also have

• Proficiency in Google Suite (i.e., Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Slides and Documents).
• 4+ years of program management experience in a nonprofit or similar environment, including contract and/or grant oversight, and/or management of large government contracts.
• 4+ years supervisory experience with direct reports.
• 5+ years working in a school environment and/or experience engaging volunteers in organizing events and campaigns, conducting outreach, and building support for an ongoing program.
• Grantwriting/Fundraising experience.
• A deep commitment to equity and social justice issues.
• Work or lived experience within underserved or marginalized communities.
• A strong working knowledge of the diverse populations and communities within Alameda County.
• Bilingual in English and another language commonly spoken in Alameda County.