Program Manager, Education & Career Pathways

Pivotal; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off (vacation)

Paid holidays

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Family leave

Job summary

Pivotal in San Jose seeks a Program Manager to lead planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs supporting scholars, with oversight of grant-funded initiatives and partnerships. The role spans College Access, Career Readiness, Alumni Engagement, and external relations to advance Pivotal’s mission through data-informed programming.

Reporting to the Vice President, Programs, you will collaborate across teams, manage complex projects, and ensure measurable outcomes while guiding continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field.
• 7-10 years of professional experience, with four of those in a team management role.
• Experience working directly with clients from underserved populations.
• Strong ability to synthesize complex information and communicate it succinctly.
• Superior presentation, writing, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with exceptional attention to details.
• Demonstrated success developing and evaluating program models.
• Strong project management skills overseeing complex, multifaceted projects resulting in measurable successes and program growth.
• Strong track record in building and stewarding partnerships with community organizations to enhance initiatives and objectives

Responsibilities

• Own the successful execution of multiple county and grant-funded programs by ensuring contract deliverables, reporting requirements, and compliance obligations are met accurately and on schedule
• Lead the development of compelling, data-informed reports, narratives, and presentations that communicate program outcomes, organizational impact, and return on investment to funders, partners, and leadership
• Establish systems for tracking program performance, outcomes, and scholar engagement, using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement and strategic decision-making
• Anticipate, identify, and resolve operational and programmatic challenges to ensure effective service delivery and achievement of organizational goals
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of college tour experiences that increase scholars' exposure to post-secondary opportunities and support college readiness goals
• Develop and maintain partnerships with colleges, universities, and educational stakeholders to expand access to meaningful educational experiences for scholars
• Design college exploration opportunities that align with organizational priorities and support scholars in making informed decisions about their educational pathways
• Oversee the organization’s Career Coaching Program, driving program design, implementation, participant engagement, and outcome achievement
• Build and strengthen partnerships with employers, workforce development organizations, and career readiness providers to expand career exploration and employment opportunities for scholars and alumni
• Develop and execute recruitment, engagement, and retention strategies that maximize participation and successful completion of career coaching and workforce development programs
• Evaluate program effectiveness and participant outcomes, implementing enhancements that increase program impact and participant success
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the PIVOTAL Alumni Council to foster alumni engagement, support programmatic goals, strengthen alumni networks, and identify opportunities for mutual collaboration and impact
• Cultivate and steward strategic partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, employers, and other stakeholders to expand resources and opportunities for scholars and alumni
• Represent PIVOTAL with external partners and stakeholders to advance the organization's mission, visibility, and community impact
• Serve as the primary program liaison to the Development team, providing timely and accurate program data, impact stories, scholar outcomes, and other information necessary to support fundraising and donor engagement efforts
• Partner with Development staff to successfully execute donor, funder, scholar, alumni, and community engagement events that advance organizational goals and strengthen stakeholder relationships
• Translate program outcomes and impact into compelling stories and presentations that support grant applications, donor stewardship, community engagement, and organizational visibility
• Lead the ongoing management of the Community Health Worker (CHW) pilot program, ensuring achievement of program objectives, compliance requirements, and reporting obligations
• Oversee program operations, systems, and partner coordination to ensure accurate service tracking, documentation, credentialing, and scholar support
• Monitor program performance and emerging trends, providing recommendations to improve effectiveness, sustainability, and long-term program success
• Design, facilitate, and oversee professional development opportunities, workshops, and trainings that build knowledge, skills, and engagement among scholars, alumni, staff, and community partners
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align programming, share best practices, and contribute to organization-wide initiatives and strategic priorities
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation through leadership, knowledge sharing, and active participation in organizational planning efforts

Skills

Project management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Synthesis of information

Partnership building

Attention to detail

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field

Job description

Pivotal in San Jose seeks a Program Manager to lead planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs supporting scholars, with oversight of grant-funded initiatives and partnerships. The role spans College Access, Career Readiness, Alumni Engagement, and external relations to advance Pivotal’s mission through data-informed programming.

Reporting to the Vice President, Programs, you will collaborate across teams, manage complex projects, and ensure measurable outcomes while guiding continuous