Program Manager
Rebels for PeaceLocation: Chicago, ILPosition Type: Full-TimeReports to: Executive Director
About Rebels for Peace
Rebels for Peace is a youth-centric organization providing social-emotional learning, leadership development, and violence prevention programming for young people in Chicago. Our programs help students and youth leaders build emotional regulation, communication, conflict resolution, resilience, decision-making, and leadership skills from the inside out.
We work primarily with elementary schools, high schools, youth leaders, families, and community partners across South and West Side communities. Rebels for Peace is rooted in the belief that young people are not problems to be fixed, but leaders to be supported, developed, and trusted.
Position Summary
The Program Manager will oversee the coordination, implementation, and day-to-day operations of Rebels for Peace programming. This role is responsible for supporting school-based SEL programming, youth leadership initiatives, staff coordination, school partnerships, data collection, reporting, and internal systems.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, relational, detail-oriented, and comfortable working directly with youth, schools, staff, funders, and community partners. This person must be able to move between program delivery, team support, partner communication, and operational follow-through.
The Program Manager will help ensure that the program team understands what outcomes we are working toward, what each person is responsible for, and how success is measured.
Key ResponsibilitiesProgram Coordination and Implementation
- Oversee the coordination, development, and implementation of Rebels for Peace programming, providing guidance and support to staff, facilitators, contractors, and interns.
- Plan, implement, and help evaluate social-emotional learning programming with youth at assigned schools.
- Manage program calendars, implementation timelines, school schedules, staff assignments, deadlines, and internal work plans.
- Organize the summer youth leadership program from planning through execution and evaluation, including recruitment, logistics, staffing, communication, and follow-up.
School, Community, and CPS Partnership Coordination
- Build and maintain strong relationships with partner schools, including principals, teachers, support staff, parents, Local School Council members, and community partners.
- Support the expansion of Rebels for Peace programming by developing new elementary and high school partnerships in South and West Side communities.
- Serve as a primary point of communication for assigned school partners, coordinating schedules, classrooms, student groups, materials, forms, and program expectations.
- Support CPS vendor processes, including communication with CPS departments, Task Orders, Purchase Orders, school agreements, invoicing documentation, and contract-related follow-up.
Evaluation, Data, and Reporting
- Track attendance, program outputs, participant engagement, school feedback, staff notes, pre/post surveys, and other evaluation data.
- Support program evaluation by helping measure student growth, facilitator effectiveness, school satisfaction, and program outcomes.
- Generate monthly, quarterly, and annual reports as requested by leadership, funders, CPS, board members, or partners.
- Maintain organized documentation to support reporting, learning, accountability, and continuous program improvement.
Operations, Systems, and Team Coordination
- Manage day-to-day program operations to ensure smooth implementation across schools, youth leadership programming, trainings, and events.
- Maintain organized systems for program documents, school contacts, attendance records, surveys, reports, materials, calendars, and internal communication.
- Lead regular program check-ins to review progress, troubleshoot challenges, clarify next steps, and ensure staff accountability.
- Identify workflow gaps and recommend improvements that strengthen program quality, staff coordination, documentation, and sustainability.
Qualifications
- Experience managing youth programs, school partnerships, nonprofit programs, community-based initiatives, or social-emotional learning programs.
- Strong understanding of youth development, leadership development, SEL, violence prevention, or trauma-informed programming.
- Experience supporting or supervising staff, youth workers, interns, contractors, or facilitators.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, relationships, and moving parts.
Preferred Experience
- Experience with program reporting, data collection, budgets, grants, or compliance.
- Experience working with CPS, schools, or youth-serving organizations.
- Comfort using shared systems such as Google Drive, spreadsheets, calendars, project management tools, and CRM or reporting platforms.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trust with young people, school staff, community members, and partner organizations.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is both relational and operational. They can walk into a school and build trust with a principal, support a young facilitator after a difficult day, organize a program calendar, follow up on a purchase order, collect survey data, and make sure the whole team knows what needs to happen next.
This person is not only a program implementer, but a systems builder. They bring structure without losing heart. They understand that strong operations create stronger programs, and that young people deserve consistency, care, preparation, and excellence.
Salary.
- Compensation of $47-58K based on experience and qualifications
- Work/life integration
- Generous paid time off
- Gym Membership
- Gas stipend
- 4 weeks PTO
- 4 sick d
- Travel Stipend
- 401k after one year employment
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume and a brief cover letter describing their experience with youth programming, school partnerships, program operations, and team leadership.
Job Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Program Manager to lead and coordinate community-focused initiatives that promote health, wellness, and social engagement. This paid position offers an exciting opportunity to drive impactful programs, foster community partnerships, and empower diverse populations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership, organizational skills, and a commitment to serving underserved communities through innovative program development and community outreach efforts. Join us in making a meaningful difference by inspiring positive change and strengthening community bonds.
Duties
- Develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive community programs aligned with organizational goals, ensuring they meet the needs of diverse populations.
- Lead volunteer management efforts by recruiting, training, supervising, and recognizing volunteers to support program activities effectively.
- Collaborate with community partners, local organizations, and stakeholders to enhance program reach and impact through strategic partnerships.
- Conduct public speaking engagements to promote programs, raise awareness, and foster community engagement across various platforms including social media.
- Collect and analyze data related to program participation, outcomes, and community feedback to inform continuous improvement strategies.
- Manage social media accounts and marketing campaigns to increase visibility, engagement, and participation in programs.
- Provide leadership in grassroots community organizing efforts aimed at empowering underserved populations and promoting social equity.
Requirements
- Proven experience in volunteer management, supervising teams, or leading community initiatives.
- Strong public speaking skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences confidently.
- Demonstrated success in program development, project management, and community outreach activities.
- Knowledge of social media management tools and marketing strategies for community engagement.
- Experience working with culturally diverse communities and individuals from underserved backgrounds.
- Familiarity with data collection methods, social work principles, addiction counseling (CPR certification preferred), public health practices, and grassroots organizing.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
- Bilingual abilities are highly desirable to effectively serve multilingual communities.
- Leadership qualities including team leadership, collaboration skills with community partners, and experience in youth programs or teaching are valued assets.
- Strong written communication skills for report writing, grant applications, and client correspondence.
- Administrative experience in fundraising or recruiting is advantageous for program sustainability efforts.
Join us as a Program Manager dedicated to fostering vibrant communities through innovative programming! Your leadership will inspire change, empower individuals from all walks of life, and create lasting positive impacts across neighborhoods.
Pay: $47,000.00 - $58,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
