Program Manager - Be Next

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation is seeking a Be Next Program Manager to lead daily implementation, coordination, and continuous improvement of the Be Next neighborhood-based workforce program. You will ensure a coordinated participant services pathway, launch new Be Next sites, and drive improvements across cohorts.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of program-management experience in workforce development, with strong facilitation, communication, planning,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in workforce development, human services, public administration, business, education, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of program-management experience involving participant services, partners, workforce development, community programs, or multiple service components.
• Demonstrated experience with program launches, performance tracking, participant documentation, budgets, vendors or partners, and outcome reporting.
• Strong facilitation, communication, planning, problem-solving, data-quality, and Microsoft Office skills; CRM or case-management systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage Be Next operations across approved sites, cohorts, and program phases, including orientation, Foundations, assessments, career coaching, mentoring, financial coaching, digital literacy, training, work experience, employment, supportive services, retention, and celebration activities.
• Maintain the program calendar, cohort plans, staffing and partner assignments, participant workflow, milestones, budgets, deliverables, risks, and operating procedures.
• Launch new Be Next sites by coordinating partner selection and onboarding, staffing, recruitment and referrals, space and logistics, communications, readiness reviews, and startup service.
• Coordinate with career centers, community partners, training providers, employers, coaches, mentors, vendors, and internal teams around participant needs, service commitments, and deadlines.
• Monitor enrollment, attendance, engagement, service completion, training, work experience, employment, starting wages, and retention; intervene when performance or progress falls behind.
• Ensure accurate and timely input of participant-file, partner, fiscal, and program documentation; review records for eligibility, approvals, quality, confidentiality, and audit readiness.
• Prepare monthly reports, dashboards, presentations, success stories, corrective actions, and recommendations for the Director and leadership.
• Lead Be Next meetings, staff and partner communication, participant events, graduations, employer activities, and continuous-improvement efforts.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Case management systems

Job description

Description

The Be Next Program Manager is fully responsible for the daily implementation, coordination, performance, and continuous improvement of the Be Next neighborhood-based workforce program. The manager ensures that participant services operate as one coordinated pathway and leads the launch and stabilization of new Be Next sites.

Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage Be Next operations across approved sites, cohorts, and program phases, including orientation, Foundations, assessments, career coaching, mentoring, financial coaching, digital literacy, training, work experience, employment, supportive services, retention, and celebration activities.
• Maintain the program calendar, cohort plans, staffing and partner assignments, participant workflow, milestones, budgets, deliverables, risks, and operating procedures.
• Launch new Be Next sites by coordinating partner selection and onboarding, staffing, recruitment and referrals, space and logistics, communications, readiness reviews, and startup service.
• Coordinate with career centers, community partners, training providers, employers, coaches, mentors, vendors, and internal teams around participant needs, service commitments, and deadlines.
• Monitor enrollment, attendance, engagement, service completion, training, work experience, employment, starting wages, and retention; intervene when performance or participant progress falls behind.
• Ensure accurate and timely input of participant-file, partner, fiscal, and program documentation; review records for eligibility, approvals, quality, confidentiality, and audit readiness.
• Prepare monthly reports, dashboards, presentations, success stories, corrective actions, and recommendations for the Director and leadership.
• Lead Be Next meetings, staff and partner communication, participant events, graduations, employer activities, and continuous-improvement efforts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in workforce development, human services, public administration, business, education, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of program-management experience involving participant services, partners, workforce development, community programs, or multiple service components.
• Demonstrated experience with program launches, performance tracking, participant documentation, budgets, vendors or partners, and outcome reporting.
• Strong facilitation, communication, planning, problem‑solving, data‑quality, and Microsoft Office skills; experience with CRM or case‑management systems is preferred.

Core Competencies

• Participant-centered leadership
• Program execution
• Site launch management
• Partner accountability
• Performance reporting
• Continuous improvement and follow-through

Work Requirements

• Full-time position. Regular local travel among Be Next sites, partners, training locations, and employers is required.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary.
• Reasonable accommodation is available as required by law.

Licenses:

• Valid State of Michigan Driver’s License and Vehicle Insurance.

Other:

• Background check and drug screen required. Salary commensurate with experience.
• Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications.