Residential Program Lead for Solar Training Cohorts

Knobelsdorff Enterprises; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer-paid health and dental

HSA contributions

Company-paid life insurance and long‑/

401(k) with company match

Performance-based incentives

Paid weekly with competitive wages

PTO, six paid holidays, and education 

Employee discounts

Job summary

Evolution Solar, in partnership with Knobelsdorff Electric, Inc., seeks a Residential Program Manager to lead day‑to‑day execution of the 1 MW solar training program at the Oglesby, IL site. You will coordinate with instructional and facilities teams, uphold residential standards, and maintain culture, accountability, and cohesion essential to participant success.

The role emphasizes safe, structured oversight, community building, and effective program coordination to prepare participants for

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in residential program management, workforce development, social services, education, correctional reentry, or related fields.
• Strong ability to build rapport and maintain professional boundaries with adult learners from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience managing residential or group‑living environments (e.g., campus housing, job corps, workforce camps, transitional housing, etc.).
• Exceptional communication, de‑escalation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to maintain structure, accountability, and safety while fostering an encouraging environment.
• Comfortable working in a setting that includes physical labor training and industrial construction culture.
• Experience working with system impacted or equity eligible populations.

Responsibilities

• This position will be onsite in our Oglelsby location for the duration of each cohort.
• Manage daily residential operations during training cohorts, ensuring a safe, clean, respectful, and well-functioning environment.
• Oversee participant orientation, check-in, schedules, house rules, residential expectations, and housing‑related records.
• Coordinate facility maintenance, safety checks, and residential needs with appropriate support teams.
• Build a positive cohort culture focused on teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and career readiness.
• Serve as a primary resource and mentor for participants, providing one‑on‑one coaching, conflict resolution, behavior redirection, and non‑clinical support.
• Partner with Evolve Foundation staff to integrate life skills, financial coaching, barrier‑removal resources, and alumni support into the participant experience.
• Coordinate with instructors and operational teams to support technical training, scheduling, attendance, transportation, logistics, and communication throughout each cohort.
• Support and enforce safety protocols, residential policies, behavioral expectations, and incident reporting requirements.
• Partner with trainers and subject matter experts to evaluate curriculum, capture lessons learned, and continuously improve training content and delivery.
• Serve as the central point of continuity across cohorts, ensuring best practices, program improvements, and participant feedback are carried forward.

Job description

Evolution Solar, in partnership with Knobelsdorff Electric, Inc., seeks a Residential Program Manager to lead day‑to‑day execution of the 1 MW solar training program at the Oglesby, IL site. You will coordinate with instructional and facilities teams, uphold residential standards, and maintain culture, accountability, and cohesion essential to participant success.

The role emphasizes safe, structured oversight, community building, and effective program coordination to prepare participants for