Operational Program Manager Jobs in Louisiana (NOW HIRING)

About this Job Northwestern State University seeks qualified applicants for the position of Title IV-E Program Manager. To apply: Please submit the following: Cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in the position Curriculum vitae or resume Official copies of college transcripts Contact information (name, address, phone, and email) for three professional referenceAll application materials should be submitted electronically to Dr. Andrew Fultz at fultza@nsula.edu

Mailed applications will not be processed. For questions, contact Dr. Fultz by email or 318-357-4103.

Position Overview and Summary: Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) has served as the lead institution for the Louisiana Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholar Program for over 25 years, coordinating a statewide alliance of universities dedicated to preparing the next generation of child welfare professionals. The program currently administers a $9.9 million grant cycle in partnership with eight universities, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and the Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy (LCWT A). The Statewide Title IV-E Program Manager plays a central leadership role in advancing the mission of the Scholar Program by overseeing day-to-day operations, supporting scholar recruitment and retention, coordinating curriculum alignment and evaluation efforts, and ensuring high-quality collaboration across university and agency partners

This position reports directly to the Title IV-E Executive Director and is responsible for managing core components of the statewide initiative, including student support systems, internship and field coordination, professional development, and communication with institutional stakeholders. The Program Manager is a dynamic and strategic position that requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and a commitment to workforce development in child welfare and social work education. As the program enters a significant expansion phase - growing scholar enrollment, adding new academic disciplines, and developing new training and onboarding infrastructure - the Program Manager will serve as a primary driver of implementation, systems management, and cross-institutional coordination.

Northwestern State University is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) agency. The successful candidate will be subject to a background check, as a condition of employment. NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION (FULL DISCLOSURE) Northwestern State University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. All complaints or inquiries related to Title IX should be directed to the Director of Title IX Compliance and Title IX Coordinator, Julie Powell (318-357-5570), Room 306 of the Friedman Student Union or email obannonj@nsula.edu. In accordance with Section 35.106 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all participants, applicants, organizations, and interested individuals are advised and notified that the ADA Coordinator for Northwestern State University for facilities is the Director of University Affairs, Jennifer Kelly (318-357-4300), located in New Fine Arts, 104 Central Avenue, Ste

102 or email andersonje@nsula.edu. For student academic services, contact the Director of Access and Disability Support, Crissey Smith (318-357-5460) located in Room 108-C Watson Memorial Library or email smithcr@nsula.edu. For faculty/staff accommodations and services, contact Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Human Resources, Veronica M

Biscoe (318-357-6359), Room 111 Caspari Hall or email ramirezv@nsula.edu. *Inquiries regarding employment application status should be emailed to apply@nsula.edu. Minimum Qualifications Master's degree in social work, psychology, child and family studies, public administration, business, or a related social services field (Required) Post-master's experience in child welfare, higher education, program management, or a related area Experience drafting or managing contracts, scopes of work, or interagency agreements Experience leading multi-site or multi-institutional initiatives Demonstrated ability to design systems and operational processes Experience supervising staff or coordinating contractors Demonstrated leadership in program planning, coordination, and implementation Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with minimal supervision Comfort and competency working with technology platfonns and digital project management tools Working knowledge of Title IV-E funding, federal grant compliance, and child welfare workforce development initiatives (preferred) Experience working within or alongside public child welfare systems, academic institutions, or statewide collaboratives (preferred) Experience with Monday.com or comparable project management platforms (Required) Familiarity with interdisciplinary academic environments and multi-institutional program coordination Experience supervising staff or coordinating contractor relationships Job Duties and Other Information Program Coordination and Staff Supervision: Oversee implementation and progress of statewide Title IY-E initiatives by supervising and supporting project staff and contractors Serve as the primary day-to-day supervisor for program operations, ensuring accountability and clarity of assignments across the statewide team Contribute to grant proposals, renewals, and expansion efforts through planning, narrative development, and implementation designProgram Technology & Systems Management Serve as the primary internal architect and administrator of the program's Monday.com project management platform, which manages scholar data, recruitment pipelines, invoicing, task assignments, and contractor coordination across all program components Collaborate with the program's Monday.com development consultant to design, build, and refine system workflows as program needs evolve Design and implement scalable operational systems, workflows, and standard operating procedures to support statewide program growth Lead process improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, accountability, and data accuracy across institutions Translate program goals into actionable systems and tools that support staff, scholars, and partners Identify technology needs and recommend solutions to the Executive Director as the program expandsInterdisciplinary Expansion & University Partner Coordination Support the expansion of the scholar program into new academic disciplines, including psychology, child and family studies, human services, criminal justice, and general studies Build and maintain relationships with faculty, department heads, advisors, and field instructors across disciplines and partner institutions Provide guidance and technical assistance to new university departments on program requirements, eligible coursework, and field placement alignment Coordinate with the Title IV-E Executive Director on university alliance expansion planning and implementationInteragency Liaison Serve as a central point of contact between NSULA, DCFS, Southeastern Louisiana University/LCWTA, and partner universities to facilitate communication and collaborative problem-solving Support the Executive Director in managing the DCFS relationship, including preparation of materials, data, and documentation for state agency communications Coordinate across the University Alliance to ensure consistent program delivery and partner accountabilityScholar Recruitment & Support Lead the development and implementation of a standardized, inclusive recruitment and application process for student scholars and DCFS employees pursuing advanced education Manage and further develop systems to track educational, professional, and licensure progress for all scholars and Employee Educational Support Program (EESP) recipients Organize statewide support groups, peer mentorship, and networking opportunities to ensure long-term student engagement and professional identity developmentIntern Bootcamp & Field Onboarding Oversee the statewide implementation and ongoing refinement of the Title IV-E Intern Bootcamp, a structured onboarding experience developed for scholars entering field placements Coordinate with NSULA program staff and field contractors to ensure consistent bootcamp delivery across partner institutions Assure quality, consistency, and support in internship experiences across institutions, including field orientation and intern materialsCurriculum & Professional Development Collaborate with faculty and program leadership to support curriculum alignment with child welfare best practices, student needs, and Title IV-E allowable training requirements Design and facilitate trainings for DCFS supervisors, university liaisons, and field educators involved in Title IV-E scholar support Support planning and delivery of professional development activities connected to workforce retention and scholar successMeetings, Reporting & Documentation Plan and coordinate quarterly University Alliance and LCWT A meetings; prepare agendas, record outcomes, and follow up on action items Write and compile detailed reports, updates, and policy recommendations to maintain compliance with grant and agency expectations Contribute to the Annual Program Service Report (APSR) and other federal and state reporting requirements under the direction of the Executive DirectorResearch Integration & Evaluation Collaborate with the Title IV-E Executive Director and Research Associate to support ongoing program evaluation, survey administration, and data collection Assist in documenting program outcomes, scholar progress, and intervention effectiveness to support both compliance reporting and scholarly disseminationPublic Engagement & Representation Represent the program through outreach presentations, community engagement, and educational sessions that promote child welfare workforce development Attend and present at state and national conferences to represent Louisiana's Title IV-E program and stay current on best practicesContracting, Compliance & Fiscal Coordination Draft, revise, and manage program contracts, MOUs, scopes of work, and service agreements for university partners, consultants, and contractors Coordinate with universities to ensure contracts align with institutional policies and federal Title IV-E regulations Monitor contractor deliverables, timelines, and performance expectations Support budget planning and align contractual expenditures with grant requirements and allowable costs Maintain documentation to ensure audit readiness and compliance with federal and state funding 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