Residential Program Manager - Solar Training & Cohorts

Knobelsdorff Electric Inc.; Oglesby (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Evolution Solar, a program run in partnership with Knobelsdorff Electric, Inc., seeks a Residential Program Manager to lead day‑to‑day operations, coordinate with instructional and facilities teams, uphold residential standards, and maintain the culture essential to preparing participants for industrial solar fieldwork.

This role emphasizes safe, structured, and supportive environments with ongoing coaching, cross‑functional collaboration, and continuous program improvements.

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

• 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.

Skills

Residential program management

Workforce development

Social services

Education

Correctional reentry

Adult learners

Communication

De-escalation

Conflict resolution

Residential housing

Industrial construction

Equity eligible populations

Job description

Evolution Solar, a program run in partnership with Knobelsdorff Electric, Inc., seeks a Residential Program Manager to lead day‑to‑day operations, coordinate with instructional and facilities teams, uphold residential standards, and maintain the culture essential to preparing participants for industrial solar fieldwork.

This role emphasizes safe, structured, and supportive environments with ongoing coaching, cross‑functional collaboration, and continuous program improvements.