Senior Program Director

Job Title
Senior Program Director
Job ID
27702159
Work Hybrid
Yes
Location
Bronx,  NY 10451
Other Location
Description

 

Start Date: Summer 2023
Employment Type: This is a full-time position
Location:  New York City (strongly preferred), Atlanta, Los Angeles, or Newark
Reports to: CEO
 
General Overview

The Knowledge House’s mission is to empower and sustain a talent pipeline of technologists, entrepreneurs, and digital leaders, who will lift their communities out of poverty.
 
The Knowledge House (TKH) approach is to (1) close gaps in the education­-to-­employment pipeline in underserved communities in the Bronx, NY, Newark, NJ, Atlanta, GA, and Los Angeles, CA, neighborhoods by teaching young adults aged 16­-24 skills to launch careers or ventures in technology, and (2) support links between local youth, tech innovation, and business development that bring positive community impact.
 
Headquartered in the South Bronx, the poorest congressional district, TKH has served more than 1,900 students since 2014. Current core programs include our Innovation Fellowship, focused on software engineering, cybersecurity, and digital design for adult job trainees, and our Karim Kharbouch Coding Fellowship for high school students learning computational thinking and web design.

TKH team members value the opportunity to: apply their skills while giving back to low-income youth and other underrepresented communities; lead innovation in the emerging tech movement in the Bronx, Newark, Atlanta, and Los Angeles; and join a scaling nonprofit where every team member is expected to contribute to strategy, create solutions and helps shape improve organizational culture.

Job Summary
 
Reporting to the CEO and serving as a senior leader at TKH, the Senior Program Director (SPD) leads the Program Department, ensuring the success of TKH fellowships, digital literacy programs, and fee-for-service partnerships. Responsible for the entire participant lifecycle from recruitment & enrollment through successful job placement, the SPD oversees the recruitment, student success,  instruction, and career success teams in the program department. Additionally, the SPD partners with the leadership team to effectively scale core programs and pilot new programs nationwide.
 
Specifically, the SPD: manages a program budget of approximately $4M; leads a team of ~20 program staff; oversees the recruitment, student persistence, career success, and curricula design of TKH programs; designs and executes the strategy to scale all TKH programs; leads the planning and decision-making for the Programs Team; and serves as a role model internally and externally when representing TKH.
 
Successful candidates will be outcomes-oriented, entrepreneurial program leaders who understand how to move a team and a diverse range of stakeholders forward. The ideal candidate will bring excitement about the challenge and opportunity to lead TKH programs to the next stage; experience leading a performance-based team through change; an ability to create the structure for a growing organization to succeed; a flexible mindset;  and a commitment to continuous improvement.
 
Key Areas of Responsibility

Program Strategy and Design (45%)
  • Partner with the Senior Director of Development and Advancement (SDDA) and the Senior Director of Operations and Administration (SDOA) to successfully launch satellite program sites in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Newark and implement a national scale strategy.
  • Set monthly goals around continuous improvement and share out progress during monthly stepback meetings and quarterly Board meetings.
  • Develop the teams in the program department:
    • Outreach & Recruitment: Enhance TKH admissions strategy to increase national enrollment, including piloting digital literacy and career exploration workshops for the general public.
    • Student Success: Enhance hybrid program offerings by improving the facility, technology, and site operations.
    • Instruction:  expand TKH course offerings based on tech labor market demand and feasibility.
    • Career Success: Oversee the enhancement of internship and bridge employment support systems and processes that lead to full-time placement.
  • Help facilitate cross-functional teamwork among senior leadership, the operations, and development/advancement teams to regularly maintain all data reporting dashboards, marketing materials, and grant reports, and assist in completing reports.
  • Partner with TKH co-founders to create a fee-for-service program strategy and systems to manage pilot programs.
Team Leadership (35%)
  • Build and motivate a high-performing program team with an impact-focused mindset to get TKH participants jobs.
  • Lead a team of ~20 program staff across the recruitment, teaching and learning, student success, and career success teams.
  • Supervise 2 direct reports (moving to 4 in the near future): (1)  the Associate Director of Program Design and Implementation (ADPDI), who supervises two program managers and one manager of curricula and instruction, and (2) the Manager of Recruitment and Community Engagement (MRCE) who supervises four community engagement specialists who supervise four program assistants.  
  • Set annual goals and metrics for the programs department in line with organizational goals, and support the team in cascading those goals to clarify key priorities.
  • Attract, recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, and retain key members of the program team;  conduct individual performance evaluations, provide ongoing coaching, and design professional development opportunities.
External Partner Engagement (20%)
  • Engage and convene partners, including, but not limited to CUNY, employers, learning communities, and supportive service partners.                   
  • Develop key collateral in collaboration with the Advancement team that amplifies our program and attracts resources.          
  • Represent TKH at national and local convenings and conferences to intentionally engage and cultivate new partnerships and supporters.
  • Engage potential funders and fee-for-service partners to negotiate costs, shared resources, and mutual benefits.
Qualifications

Experience
  • 8+ years of leadership experience in program or product design, program operations, nonprofit administration, or academia roles; experience overseeing multiple programs or products is a plus.
  • At least 5 years of demonstrated experience managing and leading a high-performing diverse team in a multi-site structure: building team culture, as well as supervising and coaching team members to exceed their goals and develop professionally.
  • Comprehensive working knowledge of program planning, organizational structure, budgeting, and program site operations.
  • Expertise in at least two areas: education, youth development, workforce development, employment, or adult education.
  • Prior work experience serving low-income participants in the workforce development and/or education field is a plus.
 
Skills & Approach to Work
  • Ability to independently produce high-quality work, delegate, and problem-solve.
  • Ability to collaborate with teammates to drive results.
  • A passion and love for our students and their genius. A tenacious desire to smash all barriers in the way of our students accessing rewarding, high-paying careers in technology.
  • Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines in a constantly changing and fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent interpersonal communication and persuasive communication skills, including public speaking abilities.
  • Ability to travel occasionally and participate in frequent evening and weekend activities for work-related purposes.
  • Computer proficiency, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Drive (esp. Sheets, Docs, Classroom), social media, and Salesforce.
  • Commitment to contributing to positive organizational culture and living core values.

Compensation
 
  • $125,000-$160,000/year salary
  • Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 2% 401k match
  • A $100/month tech stipend
  • Unlimited paid time off

How to Apply

Please log onto our HR system here to submit a complete application package including:
  • Resume
  • A cover letter outlining your management philosophy, as well as how your skills and qualifications meet the position requirements
  • Any salary requirements
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It is the policy of The Knowledge House, Inc. to promote and provide equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic predisposition, or carrier status.
 

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