Youth Program Manager

CoolWorks.com - Jobs in Great Places; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Alaska Native Heritage Center is seeking a Youth Program Manager to coordinate after-school programs and summer camps, supporting academic success and cultural connection for Alaska Native youth in Anchorage.

You will develop curriculum, manage schedules and budgets, supervise staff, and partner with schools, culture bearers, and educators to deliver culturally grounded learning experiences and meaningful community engagement.

Qualifications

• Two to three years of experience in youth programming or a similar role.
• Bachelor’s degree in education, management, or related field.
• Experience working directly with youth and families.
• Experience developing or delivering educational, cultural, or community-based programming.
• Alaska Native cultural education experience preferred.
• Experience coordinating projects from planning through implementation and reporting.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet program and grant reporting deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships with youth, families, schools, partners, culture bearers, artists, educators.
• Ability to develop and manage schedules, work plans, budgets, and program activities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee day-to-day delivery of ANHC’s After School Program and Summer Camps.
• Work directly with youth to support academic success, cultural connection, learning, and engagement.
• Build out academic and cultural programming incorporating Alaska Native arts, dance, and language.
• Develop and implement program curriculum with the Director of Cultural Programs and partners.
• Support youth and families relocated to Anchorage following the 2025 typhoon.
• Build and maintain relationships with families and identify ongoing engagement opportunities.
• Supervise the Youth Program Coordinator and provide day-to-day direction.
• Coordinate with schools and partners to support participation, data collection, and reporting.
• Develop and maintain community partnerships to strengthen resources for youth.
• Coordinate activities, schedules, transportation, meals, and other program needs.
• Safely transport youth in ANHC vehicles when required.
• Select and contract culture bearers, artists, educators, and contractors and oversee deliverables.
• Manage work plans, timelines, budgets, grant requirements, and deliverables.
• Monitor progress and address challenges, risks, and opportunities.
• Maintain accurate program participation, expenditure, and outcome records.
• Prepare and submit grant and program reports by deadlines.
• Collect information and stories showing program impact.
• Assist youth with enrollment forms and paperwork.
• Maintain confidentiality of youth and family information.

Skills

Youth program experience

Education/degree

Communication skills

Time management

Relationship building

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education/management

Comparable education/experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Youth Program Manager will coordinate and oversee the Alaska Native Heritage Center’s After School Program and Summer Camps, helping build a strong program that supports academic success and creates meaningful opportunities for youth to connect with Alaska Native cultures through dance, Native games, arts, language, cultural knowledge, and other hands-on learning. Working closely with the Director of Cultural Programs, the Manager will develop curriculum and program plans, manage schedules, budgets, grant deliverables and reporting, supervise the Youth Program Coordinator, and coordinate with culture bearers, artists, educators, contractors, schools, and community partners. The Manager will work directly with youth and families to understand their needs, build relationships, and support cultural connection, belonging, learning, and engagement, including supporting Alaska Native youth and families who relocated to Anchorage following the 2025 typhoon. To succeed in this role, applicants should have a passion for working with youth, excitement for sharing cultural knowledge, excellent time management and scheduling skills, strong verbal and written communication skills, the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively, and the ability to tell the story of their work while meeting program and grant reporting deadlines. This position requires regular direct engagement with youth, with typical hours of 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. during the school year and 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. during the summer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordinate and oversee the day-to-day delivery of ANHC’s After School Program and Summer Camps.

Work directly with youth to support academic success, cultural connection, learning, and engagement.

Build out academic and cultural programming that incorporates Alaska Native dance, Native games, arts, language, cultural knowledge, and other hands-on learning opportunities.

Develop and implement program curriculum in partnership with the Director of Cultural Programs, ANHC staff, culture bearers, artists, educators, and community partners.

Support Alaska Native youth and families who have relocated to Anchorage following the 2025 typhoon as part of program outreach and delivery.

Build and maintain strong relationships with participating youth and their families and identify opportunities for continued engagement.

Supervise the Youth Program Coordinator and provide day-to-day direction and support.

Coordinate with the Anchorage School District and other partners to support student participation, academic success, data collection, and program reporting.

Develop and maintain community partnerships that strengthen opportunities and resources available to participating youth.

Coordinate activities, schedules, transportation, resources, equipment, meals, and other program needs.

Safely transport youth in an ANHC vehicle as required.

Coordinate the selection and contracting of culture bearers, artists, educators, and other contractors and oversee completion of their deliverables.

Manage program work plans, timelines, budgets, expenditures, grant requirements, and deliverables.

Monitor program progress and identify and address challenges, risks, and opportunities.

Maintain accurate program participation, activity, expenditure, and outcome records.

Prepare and submit grant, program, and other required reports by established deadlines.

Collect information, outcomes, and stories that demonstrate the impact of the After School Program and Summer Camps.

Assist youth and families with enrollment forms, permissions, and other required program paperwork.

Maintain confidentiality and security of youth and family information and program records.

Meet regularly with the Director of Cultural Programs and program team to review participants, upcoming activities, program needs, and progress toward goals.

Communicate program progress, needs, outcomes, and challenges to ANHC leadership, families, funders, and partners as appropriate.

Support a safe, welcoming, culturally grounded, and engaging environment for participating youth.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Two to three years of experience working in youth programming, education, program management, or a similar role.

Bachelor’s degree in education, management, or a related field, or comparable education and professional experience.

Experience working directly with youth and families.

Experience developing or delivering educational, cultural, or community-based programming.

Alaska Native cultural education experience preferred.

Experience coordinating projects or programs from planning through implementation and reporting.

Strong organizational, scheduling, multitasking, and time-management skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet program and grant reporting deadlines.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to build strong relationships and work collaboratively with youth, families, coworkers, schools, community partners, culture bearers, artists, and educators.

Ability to communicate the impact and story of program activities through written reports, presentations, and other communications.

Ability to develop and manage schedules, work plans, budgets, and program activities.

Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel.

Ability to prepare program and grant reports and maintain accurate program records.

Comfortable communicating and speaking with youth, families, partners, funders, and community members.

Valid driver’s license and ability to meet ANHC requirements for transporting youth.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of Alaska, Alaska’s history, and Alaska Native peoples, cultures, and communities.

Knowledge of or interest in Alaska Native cultural practices, arts, dance, Native games, languages, and cultural education.

Understanding of culturally grounded approaches to working with Alaska Native youth and families.

Understanding of the importance of working respectfully with culture bearers, Elders, artists, families, and community partners.

Knowledge of ANHC’s mission, programs, and history, or willingness to learn through training and engagement with ANHC staff and community.

ABILITIES

Build positive and respectful relationships with youth and families.

Work directly with youth in an active program environment.

Create a safe, welcoming, engaging, and culturally grounded environment for participating youth.

Receive direction and guidance from the Director of Cultural Programs.

Supervise and support program staff and contractors.

Work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Problem-solve independently and seek guidance when appropriate.

Communicate clearly and professionally with youth, families, staff, partners, and community members.

Adapt programming based on the needs and interests of participating youth and families.

Balance direct youth engagement with administrative, supervisory, budget, grant, and reporting responsibilities.

Maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive youth and family information.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Additional duties as assigned based on program and organizational needs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires regular direct engagement with youth and families.

Typical hours are 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. during the school year and 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. during the summer.

Some evening, weekend, or special event work may be required based on program activities.

Indoors: Primarily in an environmentally controlled office and program environment, on or off-site.

Outdoors: Ability to participate in and support programming in a variety of Alaska weather conditions.

Quiet to moderate in an office environment, with periods of increased noise during youth programs, cultural activities, Native games, performances, events, and camps.

Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, use hands and fingers, talk, hear, see, and carry materials as necessary to support youth programming and activities.

Ability to actively participate in and supervise youth programming in indoor and outdoor environments.