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Manager of Young Adult Programs Job Description

About Us 

The Collective Blueprint is helping Memphis become a city where all young adults can thrive. Founded in 2017 to support the ~45,000 local young adults out of work and school, we are increasing socioeconomic mobility through:

• Career-Focused Training: As Memphis’ go-to model for supporting opportunity youth, we facilitate young adults’ entry into in-demand careers via school-readiness training, ongoing coaching, monthly stipends, free therapy, internships, employment support, and lifelong access to a well-connected network. At our founding, the local community college completion rate was around 5%, with limited economic outcomes. We now have a 70% completion rate, and our alumni have achieved 150% wage growth—with zero debt.
   
• Innovation: The current employment and education systems fail many young adults. We build coalitions to address inequities and transform the city’s landscape—leading citywide economic development planning and driving a visionary policy agenda with hundreds of nonprofit partners.
   
• Advocacy: We are igniting a movement toward economic justice in Memphis. We position young adults as leaders and advocates by training them in participatory democracy and supporting their campaigns for policy agendas that create lasting change.

Our work uniquely focuses on both individual support and systemic change. We were founded by and for young adults, and we center those most proximate to the challenges we address. In just five years, we have reached hundreds directly and impacted thousands more. This blueprint is becoming a model for national change.

Position Responsibilities 

The Manager of Young Adult Programs oversees the development and execution of training programs that enhance the socioeconomic mobility of young adults. This role is instrumental in setting a supportive culture with high expectations and professionalism. Reporting to VP of Programs, the Manager of Young Adult Programs also provides facilitation and curriculum training to program staff and manages the admissions process to ensure a seamless experience for all participants. Responsibilities include: 

Program Administration (30%)

Program Leadership & Culture

• Foster a culture of high expectations, belonging, accountability, and participant success across all programs.
• Develop and continuously improve participant policies, procedures, and program standards that support positive outcomes.
• Model professional excellence and reinforce organizational values with staff, participants, and external partners.

Program Operations

• Lead planning and execution of all program logistics, including schedules, staffing, calendars, special events, and learning experiences.
• Determine effective instructional delivery models (in-person, virtual, hybrid) based on program goals and participant needs.
• Serve as the primary coordinator for external facilitators, guest speakers, school visits, and other program collaborations.
• Ensure seamless day-to-day program operations through proactive planning, communication, and problem-solving.

Program Quality & Continuous Improvement 

• Monitor key program performance indicators, including enrollment, retention, completion, participant satisfaction, and professional skills attainment. 
• Analyze data and participant feedback to identify trends and drive program improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen participant experience and organizational effectiveness.
• Support annual program planning, goal setting, and implementation of new initiatives.

Staff Training & Management (30%)

• Directly supervise and develop instructional and admissions support staff.
• Build a high-performing team through regular coaching, performance feedback, professional development, and accountability.
• Conduct weekly one-on-one meetings and ongoing performance observations with direct reports.
• Train staff in instructional excellence, facilitation strategies, classroom management, and participant engagement aligned with The Collective Blueprint model.
• Establish consistent instructional standards and ensure high-quality implementation across all programs.
• Foster collaboration and communication across program, coaching, admissions, and employer partnership teams.

Instruction & Curriculum (20%)

• Serve as the organization's instructional leader by modeling exceptional facilitation and participant engagement.
• Lead select program sessions while regularly observing instruction to ensure consistent quality and fidelity.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of curriculum across programs.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts and internal stakeholders to design engaging, outcomes-driven learning experiences.
• Develop instructional resources, lesson planning tools, evaluation rubrics, and facilitator guides.
• Support career readiness programming through the design of workshops, bootcamps, and employment preparation content.
• Use participant feedback and program data to continuously strengthen curriculum effectiveness.

Admissions (20%)

• Oversee the end-to-end admissions process, ensuring an efficient, equitable, and participant-centered experience.
• Manage admissions timelines, applicant events, staffing plans, communications, and workflow.
• Develop and refine admissions policies and procedures that support organizational goals and participant success.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align admissions strategies with program capacity and participant needs.
• Monitor admissions metrics and applicant data to inform decision-making and improve recruitment and selection processes.

Other relevant duties, as assigned

Qualifications

The successful candidate should meet the following qualifications: 

• Master's degree strongly preferred in Education, Educational Leadership, School Administration, Organizational Leadership, Nonprofit Management, or a related field
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in education, workforce development, youth development, or the nonprofit sector
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and professional development of instructional or program staff
• Experience overseeing complex programs or initiatives, with responsibility for planning, execution, staffing, quality assurance, and continuous improvement
• Strong instructional leadership with experience designing, evaluating, or improving curriculum, instructional practices, and learning experiences
• Demonstrated ability to build a culture of high expectations, accountability, collaboration, and belonging for both staff and program participants
• Proven ability to lead through influence, build cross-functional partnerships, and collaborate effectively across departments and external stakeholders
• Strong strategic planning, project management, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Experience using data and performance metrics to monitor program effectiveness, inform decision-making, and drive continuous improvement
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, facilitate large groups, and communicate effectively with staff, participants, partners, and senior leadership
• Demonstrated commitment to equitable, participant-centered programming and a passion for supporting young adults in achieving educational and career success
• Highly organized, adaptable, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and lead teams through change

Benefits and Compensation

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to assume a pivotal role in the evolution of a fast-growing organization. We are seeking an individual of outstanding quality, with a proven track record and a passion for young adults.

The Collective Blueprint offers: