Program Manager - Second Chance Stipends

RISE; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

RISE seeks a Program Manager to oversee a pilot of reentry cash assistance, serving 200+ participants. You will manage day-to-day operations, onboarding, recruitment, and stakeholder coordination, ensuring timely delivery and strong community engagement.

This temporary, full-time role is funded through December 31, 2027. The position requires travel between Lincoln and Omaha, occasional evenings and weekends, and a deep commitment to equity and social justice work within Nebraska communities.

Qualifications

• Experience in program implementation or project leadership.
• Strong knowledge of the local community and relationships.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to equity, social justice, and economic inclusion.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; delivers on time.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite; adaptable to new systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to engage eligible participants.
• Lead in-person onboarding and travel to meet participants.
• Serve as primary liaison providing client-centered support and troubleshooting.
• Ensure adherence to timelines and milestones.
• Provide program updates to partners, funders and stakeholders.
• Liaise with research team to support evaluation.
• Manage financial partner relationships and coordinate payments.
• Identify risks and opportunities to improve program delivery.
• Other duties as agreed.

Skills

Program management

Community relationships

Multitasking

Communication skills

Equity and inclusion

Office software proficiency

Job description

Program Manager - Second Chance Stipends

(This position is a temporary full-time benefited position funded through December 31, 2027.)

Position Description

RISE is seeking a highly motivated and mission-driven Program Manager to oversee the implementation and lead the day-to-day operations of a pilot program designed to study the impacts of reentry cash assistance. The Program Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for 200+ program participants, oversee recruitment strategies, lead onboarding efforts, manage day-to-day operations, develop operational processes and support the achievement of programmatic goals. This role also involves building strong relationships with both program participants and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a skilled project manager with a deep understanding of the local community and a strong commitment to advancing equity and social justice.

About RISE

RISE is the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship, family programming and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways and lower recidivism. The mission of RISE is to break generational cycles of incarceration.

RISE has received a “Best Places to Work in Omaha” award from Baird Holm and the Greater Omaha Chamber. RISE is a recipient of the Non-Profit Association of the Midlands Catalyst Award, honoring non-profits that inspire action, advance excellence and innovation, and drive transformation while making a meaningful impact. In 2025, RISE received the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU of Nebraska.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to engage eligible participants in the program application process.
• Lead in-person participant onboarding, including travel to meet with participants, and ongoing communication throughout the program.
• Serve as the primary liaison for program participants, providing client-centered support, guidance, and troubleshooting as needed.
• Ensure the program adheres to established timelines and milestones.
• Provide program updates that RISE can use to update community partners, funders and other stakeholders as needed.
• Liaise and collaborate with the research team to support evaluation efforts.
• Manage financial partner relationships, coordinate payment logistics, ensure program compliance, and clearly communicate financial processes to diverse participants.
• Proactively identify and address risks, challenges, and opportunities to improve program delivery.
• Other duties as agreed upon.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in program implementation, project management, or related leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge and relationships with the local community and its members.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize competing demands, and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and build trust with program participants.
• Commitment to advancing equity, social justice, and economic inclusion.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, ensuring all program deliverables are met on time.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite or other comparable office software. Comfortable learning new software and client-management systems.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
• Scrappy, adaptable, entrepreneurial and innovative
• Ability to remain in a stationary position, including sitting or standing, for extended periods while working at a computer, driving, or attending meetings.
• Ability to move about the office and community sites, including program locations, events, and partner organizations.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move program materials and supplies weighing up to 10 pounds.

Other

• Please note: This position is currently funded through December 31, 2027.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including working evenings and weekends.
• Must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
• This position requires traveling between Lincoln and Omaha 1-2 times per week. Mileage will be reimbursed.
• RISE is a background-friendly employer and seeks to employ those with lived experience within the system we serve; however, this job is contingent on receiving approval to enter correctional facilities following a security check. Additionally, background checks may be run on final candidates as a compliance measure.