At Focus Fairies Mentoring, we believe every young girl deserves the opportunity to discover their potential, build confidence, and thrive. We are seeking a passionate, strategic, and relationship-driven Program Manager who is committed to transforming lives through high-quality, school-based mentoring programs. This is more than a program management role. It is an opportunity to lead with purpose, cultivate meaningful partnerships, develop exceptional teams, and create lasting impact for students, families, and communities. If you are an organized leader who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys building systems that drive excellence, and is passionate about empowering youth, we invite you to join us in shaping the next generation of leaders.
Position Summary:
The Program Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day implementation and quality of Focus Fairies Mentoring's school-based programs. This role provides leadership to program staff, manages school partnerships, supports family engagement efforts, and ensures programs are delivered with consistency, excellence, and fidelity to the organization's model. The Program Manager works closely with leadership to monitor program outcomes, strengthen community partnerships, support organizational growth, and identify opportunities that advance the mission of Focus Fairies Mentoring.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Management and School Implementation
- Oversee the day-to-day implementation of programming across assigned school sites.
- Ensure fidelity to the Focus Fairies Mentoring program model and curriculum.
- Manage program schedules, school calendars, and program logistics.
- Collaborate with school administrators, counselors, and teachers to support student success.
- Monitor program quality, participant engagement, and outcomes, implementing improvements as needed.
- Support the launch and implementation of new program initiatives and school partnerships.
Staff Leadership and Development
- Supervise Program Coordinators and other assigned program staff.
- Provide coaching, guidance, and ongoing performance support.
- Support staff onboarding, training, and professional development.
- Foster a positive, accountable, and mission-aligned team culture.
- Address performance concerns and team challenges as needed.
Student and Family Engagement
- Ensure a safe, structured, and engaging environment for all participants.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with students and families.
- Support family engagement activities and communication efforts.
- Address student concerns, incidents, and behavioral challenges in accordance with organizational policies.
- Ensure proper documentation of student participation and incidents.
School and Community Partnerships
- Serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day coordination with partner schools.
- Support the onboarding and integration of new school partners.
- Participate in school meetings and partnership discussions as needed.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community stakeholders that support program success.
Program Operations and Data Management
- Maintain accurate program records, attendance, participation, and outcome data.
- Ensure timely completion of required reports and documentation.
- Monitor program performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Support organizational planning, evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts.
- Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and child safety requirements.
Resource Development Support
- Identify and share potential funding, sponsorship, partnership, and in-kind support opportunities with leadership.
- Support fundraising, community engagement, and organizational visibility efforts as requested.
- Serve as an ambassador for Focus Fairies Mentoring within schools and the community.
Compliance and Safety
- Ensure programming adheres to child safety policies and organizational standards.
- Maintain a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for participants.
- Support incident reporting and compliance requirements.
Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, Psychology, Nonprofit Management, or a related field required.
Experience
- Three to five years of experience in youth development, mentoring, education, or school-based programming.
- 2 years of experience managing programs and supervising staff.
Schedule Requirements:
- This is a remote position that requires regular travel between assigned school sites and partner locations.
- Must be available during program hours to support school-based programming and staff.
- Occasional evening and weekend availability may be required to support organizational events, meetings, training, and family engagement activities.
- Schedule flexibility is required to meet program and organizational needs.
Skills:
- Knowledge of youth development principles, social-emotional learning, and school-based programming.
- Knowledge of family engagement, community partnerships, and program implementation best practices.
- Strong leadership and team management skills, including the ability to coach, support, and hold staff accountable.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with students, families, school personnel, community partners, and other stakeholders.
- Ability to collect, track, and analyze program data to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Ability to adapt, prioritize, and operate with flexibility is essential.
- Ability to identify challenges, develop solutions, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive information.
- Proficiency in Google Workspace and program tracking or data management systems.
- Demonstrated commitment to youth development, educational equity, and community impact.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout school sites for extended periods.
- Ability to lift and carry materials up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to travel between multiple school locations as needed.
- Ability to participate in program activities, events, and occasional outdoor engagements.
Work Environment:
- Regular presence within school sites during program hours.
- Operates in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment where priorities may shift based on organizational needs.
- Exposure to a school-based environment, which may include moderate noise levels, high student activity, and potential exposure to common communicable illnesses.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $53,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Are you able to work occasional evenings and weekends to support organizational events, meetings, training, and family engagement activities?
- Do you have experience collaborating directly with K–12 schools, administrators, teachers, or counselors?
- Describe a program you managed from planning through implementation. What was your role, and what outcomes were achieved?
- Are you able to travel between multiple school locations as needed?
- Are you a current member of the Focus Fairies Mentoring team (employee, facilitator, or mentor)?
Education:
Experience:
- youth development or school-based programming: 3 years (Required)
- managing programs and supervising staff: 2 years (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60609
