Program Manager, Youth Entrepreneurship Programs

Gray Matter Experience; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Gray Matter Experience seeks an experienced and highly organized Program Manager to manage the day-to-day execution of TGME’s entrepreneurship programming and ensure a consistently high-quality experience for students.

The Program Manager is responsible for turning established program plans and curriculum into strong execution across programs, instructors, facilitators, schedules, logistics, participant engagement, and reporting.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in program management, youth development, education, entrepreneurship programming, or related field.
• Experience managing programs from planning through execution.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or leading staff, instructors, facilitators, or volunteers.
• Strong organizational, project-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills with young people and adult stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience collecting and using program data and participant feedback.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends based on the program calendar.

Responsibilities

• Owns day-to-day program delivery, scheduling, logistics, and recruitment execution.
• Own day-to-day execution of assigned programs from planning and recruitment through cohort selection, delivery, events, data collection, and program closeout.
• Plan and coordinate programs from preparation through closeout, ensuring timelines, staffing, materials, communications, and program requirements are in place.
• Lead the program application and cohort-selection process in collaboration with the Program Coordinator, including applicant review, interviews, selection, and enrollment decisions.
• Ensure established curriculum, learning objectives, and program standards are implemented consistently across programs.
• Coordinate core programs, partner programming, workshops, special program experiences, and program events.
• Serve as the programmatic lead for assigned school and partner programs, owning delivery expectations, implementation, and day-to-day program needs once the partnership has been established.
• Resolve routine program-delivery challenges and escalate significant issues or risks appropriately.
• Manages approved program resources and delivery-related budget activities
• Facilitate or step into program delivery as needed to support staffing coverage, special sessions, or program needs.
• Monitor program delivery to ensure students receive an engaging, supportive, and consistent experience.
• Gather feedback from students, instructors, facilitators, and partners and use it to strengthen program implementation.
• Observe program sessions and provide instructional staff with feedback and support.
• Identify recurring program challenges and recommend practical improvements to processes or delivery.
• Ensure appropriate student concerns or issues are addressed and escalated when necessary.

Skills

Program management

Youth development

Education programming

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Staff coaching

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education, youth development, nonprofit management, business, social sciences, or related field

Job description

The Gray Matter Experience seeks an experienced and highly organized Program Manager to manage the day-to-day execution of TGME’s entrepreneurship programming and ensure a consistently high-quality experience for students.

The Program Manager is responsible for turning established program plans and curriculum into strong execution across programs, instructors, facilitators, schedules, logistics, participant engagement, and reporting.