To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Position Summary
The Community Education Program Manager is a dynamic and versatile leader responsible for advancing the District's Community Education mission through resource development, youth programming, leadership development, strategic partnerships, and continuous program improvement. Serving as a critical bridge between district strategic priorities and community-centered initiatives, this position provides strategic leadership and operational oversight across multiple Community Education program areas, including but not limited to Full-Service Community Schools, youth development programs, community partnerships, and emerging departmental initiatives.
The Program Manager directly supervises Community Education Coordinators and other assigned staff who lead and implement programs at school and community sites. Through coaching, collaboration, and performance management, the Program Manager ensures the consistent delivery of high-quality, equitable, and impactful programs across multiple locations while supporting staff development and organizational effectiveness.
The Program Manager plays a key role in securing and managing external funding, developing and evaluating high-quality youth and community programs, supporting student leadership opportunities, and implementing data-driven strategies to measure impact and inform decision-making. This position requires a collaborative and adaptable leader who can effectively balance strategic planning, staff leadership, program oversight, partnership development, and operational execution while responding to evolving community and district priorities.
Reporting Relationship
Reports to the Executive Director of Community Education.
Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following fundamental duties:
Leadership and Supervision
- Provide direct supervision, leadership, coaching, and performance management for assigned Community Education Coordinators and other designated staff responsible for implementing programs and services at school and community sites.
Recruit, hire, onboard, train, develop, and retain Community Education Coordinators and assigned staff in alignment with district goals and Community Education priorities.
- Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures for site-based coordinators, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance across programs and locations.
- Conduct performance evaluations, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and support professional growth and leadership development for coordinators and assigned staff.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that promotes employee engagement, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Lead regular meetings with Community Education Coordinators to communicate departmental priorities, share best practices, address operational challenges, and ensure alignment across sites.
- Provide guidance and support to coordinators in program planning, implementation, participant engagement, partnership development, and problem resolution.
- Monitor program performance across sites and work with coordinators to identify opportunities for improvement, innovation, and increased community impact.
- Collaborate with principals, district administrators, and site-based coordinators to align Community Education programs and services with school and district priorities.
- Assess staffing needs and make recommendations regarding staffing allocations, organizational structures, and resource deployment to support effective service delivery.
- Promote and model equity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and community engagement in all aspects of supervision and program operations.
- Address employee relations concerns, performance issues, and workplace conflicts in accordance with district policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable laws.
- Lead and support implementation of new initiatives, grant-funded programs, strategic priorities, and organizational changes across multiple sites.
- Utilize data, performance metrics, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate site effectiveness, improve program outcomes, and support continuous improvement efforts.
- Model professionalism, ethical leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to exceptional service for students, families, staff, and community partners.
Resource Development, Grant Management, and Fiscal Oversight
- Research, identify, prepare, and submit grant applications to secure funding for Community Education programs, youth initiatives, Full-Service Community Schools, and other district priorities.
- Manage awarded grants throughout the grant lifecycle, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, local, and private funding requirements.
- Monitor grant budgets, expenditures, timelines, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
- Develop sustainability strategies to maximize program effectiveness and long-term funding opportunities.
- Cultivate and maintain partnerships with businesses, nonprofit organizations, foundations, governmental agencies, and community stakeholders to leverage financial and in-kind resources.
- Coordinate and maintain required grant documentation, match contributions, and in-kind reporting.
- Prepare and submit all required district, local, state, federal, and grant-related reports.
Youth Programming and Leadership Development
- Design, implement, coordinate, and evaluate high-quality, inclusive, and equity-centered youth enrichment, leadership, and recreational programs.
- Establish, facilitate, and support youth leadership councils and advisory groups that promote student voice and engagement in program planning and decision-making.
- Supervise and provide leadership, coaching, and performance support to assigned Community Education staff, program leaders, and volunteers.
- Ensure programs operate in compliance with district policies and maintain high standards for safety, quality, accessibility, and participant engagement.
- Support the development and implementation of curriculum, learning experiences, and program resources aligned with program goals and student needs.
- Foster positive relationships with students, families, schools, and community partners to strengthen participation and program outcomes.
Data, Evaluation, and Strategic Planning
- Collaborate with the Executive Director to develop, implement, monitor, and refine departmental strategic goals and priorities.
- Design and maintain systems for collecting, analyzing, and reporting program participation, outcome, and equity data.
- Develop surveys, assessment tools, and evaluation methodologies to measure program effectiveness and community impact.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
- Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for district leadership, advisory councils, community stakeholders, and the Board of Education.
- Utilize data to support continuous improvement efforts, program innovation, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making.
- Maintain accurate program records and data management systems to ensure compliance, accountability, and effective reporting.
Community Engagement and Program Support
- Participate in and support the Community Education Advisory Council and other stakeholder engagement efforts.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with district departments, schools, families, community organizations, and governmental agencies.
- Assist in developing communication materials and outreach strategies that promote Community Education programs and services.
- Provide operational and programmatic support across Community Education initiatives as departmental priorities evolve.
- Serve as a representative of Community Education at meetings, events, and community engagement activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of Community Education principles, youth development practices, and program administration.
- Ability to lead, coordinate, and evaluate multiple programs and initiatives simultaneously while adapting to changing priorities.
- Ability to supervise, coach, and support staff, volunteers, and program leaders.
- Knowledge of grant research, proposal development, grant administration, compliance requirements, and budget management.
- Ability to secure funding through successful grant writing and partnership development.
- Skill in monitoring grant performance, outcomes, and fiscal accountability.
- Knowledge of program evaluation methodologies and continuous improvement practices.
- Skill in developing data collection systems, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and interpreting findings.
- Ability to use data to inform decision-making, improve programs, and support strategic planning efforts.
- Ability to prepare comprehensive reports, presentations, and recommendations for diverse audiences.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships with schools, community organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals representing diverse cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and access.
- Strong verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work independently with minimal supervision.
- Knowledge of effective supervision, coaching, and performance management practices for site-based program leadership staff.
- Ability to lead and support multiple Community Education Coordinators across diverse program sites while maintaining consistency in program quality and service delivery.
- Ability to build capacity in site-based leaders through coaching, mentoring, training, and professional development.
- Ability to foster collaboration and alignment among coordinators working in different schools, communities, and program areas.
- Skill in conflict resolution, team development, change management, and facilitating productive working relationships.
- Ability to balance strategic priorities with the operational needs of multiple sites and programs.
- Ability to effectively influence and lead through others in a decentralized, community-based service delivery model.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Community Education, Education, Public Administration, Social Services, Parks and Recreation, Nonprofit Management, Youth Development, or a closely related field.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in Community Education, youth development, community engagement, or related programming.
- Two (2) years of successful grant writing and grant management experience.
- Three (3) years of experience developing, implementing, and evaluating programs.
- Three (3) years of experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting program data.
- Experience supervising staff, volunteers, program leaders, or community partners.
- Experience managing program or grant budgets.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Community Education, Educational Leadership, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
- Minnesota Community Education Director License or eligibility to obtain licensure.
- Experience working in a large urban, culturally diverse school district.
- Experience managing federal, state, and foundation grants.
- Experience developing curriculum, youth leadership initiatives, or community-based educational programming.
- Experience supporting Full-Service Community Schools or similar community partnership models.
- Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical and mental demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in a standard office environment, including prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and using a computer and other office equipment.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone.
- Ability to travel between district sites, schools, community locations, and external partner organizations as required.
- Ability to attend meetings, trainings, community events, and program activities conducted during daytime, evening, or weekend hours.
- Ability to occasionally lift, carry, transport, or move materials, supplies, equipment, or presentation materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to access and navigate school facilities, community centers, meeting locations, and event venues.
- Ability to operate standard office technology, including computers, printers, presentation equipment, and mobile communication devices.
Mental Requirements
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, deadlines, and competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to analyze complex information, evaluate data, identify trends, and develop strategic recommendations.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and independent decision-making in a variety of situations.
Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail while managing complex program, grant, budget, and reporting requirements.
- Ability to develop creative solutions to programmatic, operational, and funding challenges.
- Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, grant requirements, regulations, and organizational priorities.
- Ability to effectively communicate complex information to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
- Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities, evolving program needs, and shifting organizational demands.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed primarily in an office, school, and community-based environment. Position may experience periods of increased workload associated with grant submission deadlines, program launches, reporting cycles, budget development, strategic planning efforts, and community engagement initiatives. Position requires a flexible work schedule, including attendance at occasional evening and weekend meetings, events, trainings, community engagement activities, and program functions. May require attendance at off-site conferences, professional development activities, partnership meetings, and grant-related events.
Frequent interaction with students, families, staff, community partners, volunteers, funders, and governmental agencies. Work is performed in a culturally diverse educational environment committed to equity, inclusion, and community engagement. Regular travel between district locations and community sites may be required.
Work involves managing multiple projects, timelines, funding requirements, and stakeholder expectations simultaneously. Responsibilities may require responding to changing program priorities, funding opportunities, compliance requirements, and community needs.
