Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives – PLA

ALA Brand; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 67,500 - 82,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Medical and dental coverage

Paid time off

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

35-hour work week

Retirement annuity

Job summary

The American Library Association (ALA) seeks an experienced Program Manager to support strategic initiatives for its Public Library Association (PLA) division. This grant-funded role will work with the Deputy Director, staff, partners, and consultants in Chicago to manage programs, budgets, and evaluations.

ALA offers a hybrid schedule; this full-time position is based in the Chicago office with some travel.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated project management experience with on-time and on-budget results.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Expertise in relationship building and collaboration.
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail.
• Excellent judgment, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated grant-writing and grant-management experience.
• Excellent budget development and management skills.
• Nonprofit or association management experience, or work with volunteer membership organizations.
• Ability to work independently and in a team; familiarity with matrixed workplaces.
• Experience with project management and productivity tools, including Microsoft Office365.
• Travel up to 5% may be required.

Responsibilities

• Creating processes, procedures, and workplans for PLA programs, grants, and initiatives.
• Developing content for special projects and initiatives with partners and staff.
• Communicating the value of PLA engagement to diverse stakeholders.
• Managing complex contracts, RFPs, workflows, and relationships.
• Developing, managing, and tracking budgets.
• Grantwriting and reporting.
• Developing and executing evaluation and impact strategies.
• Overseeing work of internal and external stakeholders to meet deadlines.
• Researching and reaching out to potential new partners to grow programs and resources.
• Serving as liaison to stakeholder groups, including volunteer management and funder engagement.

Skills

Project management

Written communication

Verbal communication

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Strategic thinking

Grant writing

Grant management

Budget development

Nonprofit/association experience

Team collaboration

Microsoft Office365

Tools

Microsoft Office365

Job description

The American Library Association (ALA) isseekingan experienced,organized Program Manager to supportstrategic initiatives forits Public Library Association (PLA) division.Working with the Deputy Director and with staff, external partners,and consultants, thisgrant-funded position will manage a range of programs for PLA’s expanding program/partnership portfolio. Programs address ongoing and emerging public library service areas, helping public libraries become more responsive to and reflective of community needs.

At ALA, you will play a key role in delivering impactfulprogramsthat supportpubliclibraries and communities nationwide. This position offers the opportunity to grow yourstrategic and organizationalexpertise,while contributing to a mission-driven organization.

Responsibilities include:

• Creatingprocesses, procedures, and workplans forexisting and emerging PLA programs,grants, and initiativesasassigned
• Developingcontent for special projects, presentations,and initiatives in coordination with members, staff, external partners, and consultants
• Effectively communicating the value of engagement with PLA and public libraries to advance shared goalswith diverse stakeholders
• Managingcomplex contracts,RFPs,workflows,andrelationships
• Developing, managing, and trackingbudgets
• Grantwriting andreporting
• Developing and executing evaluation and impact assessment strategies
• Overseeing the work of internal and external stakeholders to meet deadlines
• Researching,identifying, and reachingout to potential new partners to grow programs, resources, and membership
• Serving as liaison to stakeholder groups as assigned, including volunteer management and funder engagement

This is a regular full-time position based in our Chicago office.

ALA staff are currently working on a hybrid schedule. Please note that although we have a generous telecommuting policy for our employees, we do not have fully remote positions outside of our workplace sites.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check and proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Salary & Benefits

Starting salary range is negotiable from $75k based on relevant experience.

• flexible work schedules
• medical and dental coverage
• generous paid time off
• a retirementannuity
• a 35-hour work week
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

For Consideration

Requirements

• Demonstrated project management experiencewith on-time and on-budget results
• Outstandingwritten and verbal communication skills
• Expertiseinrelationship building and collaboration
• Strong organizational abilitiesandattention to detail
• Excellent judgment, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skillsthatdemonstrateaproactive and curiousapproachtoworkplacechallenges
• Demonstratedgrantwritingand grant managementexperience
• Excellentbudget development and managementskills
• Nonprofitor association managementexperience, or experienceworking with volunteer membership organizations
• Ability to work independently and within a team; familiarity with matrixedworkplace structure
• Experience with a variety ofproject management and productivitytools, includingproficiencyin Microsoft Office365
• Up to 5% travel may be required for this position

Preferred but not Required

• Supervisory experience
• Publicspeakingexperience
• Experience with donor engagement/funder management tools such asFoundant
• Knowledge and understanding of public librarianship and education trends

Additional Information

• This position is funded through a grant that enables the Association to expand and enhance its programs and services. We are seeking a candidate who is passionate about our mission and excited to contribute to the long-term success of this initiative. Employment is contingent upon the continued availability of grant funding.

The American Library Association is an equal opportunity employer: Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran