POSITION DESCRIPTION
Program Manager
Program Team • Franklin, Tennessee
REPORTS TO
EVP of Strategic Partnerships
DIRECT REPORTS
Program Coordinator (matrixed)
LOCATION
Franklin, Tennessee
TRAVEL
~25%, nationally
ABOUT FOR OTHERS
For Others raises awareness and empowers best-in-class organizations to end the child welfare crisis in America. We partner with donors, nonprofits, businesses, churches, and government agencies to form a Collective that addresses the crisis on every front. Through the power of the Collective, we believe this crisis can end within our lifetime.
Our strategy keeps families together before government intervention is needed, recruits and retains ideal foster families, and empowers communities. Together, we help children and families move from crisis to stability to thriving.
A QUICK ORIENTATION TO OUR LANGUAGE
We use a few terms throughout this description that are specific to how For Others works. Here is what they mean.
The Collective - For Others' network of donors, nonprofits, businesses, churches, and government agencies, working together so no single group carries the child welfare crisis alone.
Well-Being Support Ecosystem™ (WBSE™) - Our state-by-state 8 step approach for solving the child welfare crisis with coordinated support, helping states move from disjointed crisis to coordinated collective thriving.
Common Agenda Development Tool™ (CADT™) - Our proprietary diagnostic tool that measures the health of a state's child welfare ecosystem and surfaces the strengths and weaknesses and the gaps needing to be closed.
Three Tier Partnership Framework - How we organize partner organizations into roles based on what they do and how they do it and reach within a state's ecosystem. This role stewards our Tier 2 and Tier 3 partners - generally the scalable and repeatable programs/models and community-level organizations delivering services on the ground - and aligns them under a measurable framework.
The eight key system Indicators - The measurable results we track through the CADT™ to judge whether a state's child welfare system is improving. Partners across the ecosystem are aligned around these shared outcomes.
Asset map - A clear picture of who is doing what, where, and with what impact across a state - used to spot gaps and match the right partners to them.
MOU = Memorandum of Understanding, a written agreement defining what a partner will do and how progress is measured.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Program Manager builds on the current structure and capacity For Others needs to scale the Well-Being Support Ecosystem™ (WBSE™) across states through our Three Tier Partnership Framework - aligning Tier 2 and Tier 3 partners under one unified, measurable approach.
This role leads the day-to-day stewardship of those partners: maintaining and the standardization of how they are classified, how they report, and how their work aligns to shared outcomes. As For Others uses the Common Agenda Development Tool™ (CADT™) to diagnose the health of each state's child welfare ecosystem, the Program Manager makes sure those insights turn into action - aligning Tier 2 and Tier 3 organizations around the eight key system indicators and mapping the right partners to close the gaps the assessment reveals.
The Program Manager also stewards the Tier 2-3 granting budget, ensuring funds are deployed strategically under the oversight of the EVP of Strategic Partnerships. In short, this is the person who turns data and research into aligned partnerships that strengthen systems, drive measurable results, and create real synergy among partners within each state's WBSE™. This role needs someone who can work within a developed system while also being able to help iterate to continually improve the system we work in. They must be highly relational and desire the thriving of others while at the same time able to hold leaders accountable to deliverables in agreements. Must be highly collaborative and able to work in a fast pace changing environment.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
In this role, you are succeeding when:
- All MOUs, grants, and deliverables are completed on schedule with accurate documentation.
- CADT™ insights are translated into clear Tier 2-3 alignment strategies in each active state.
- Nationwide and State asset maps are created and maintained, identifying who does what, where, and with what impact.
- The Tier 2-3 granting budget is tracked accurately and aligned to WBSE™ priorities and CADT™ eight rates.
- Research and due-diligence processes are completed on time and to standard.
- Partner satisfaction and retention trends stay positive.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
PARTNER STEWARDSHIP & ALIGNMENT
- Lead the day-to-day stewardship of Tier 2 and Tier 3 partners across states, ensuring each is classified, managed, and aligned to WBSE™ priorities and CADT ™ key system indicators.
- Maintain strong partner relationships with regular communication, documented deliverables, and early escalation of issues.
- Standardize MOUs, deliverables, and reporting templates tied to WBSE™ measures and key system indicators.
TURNING DATA INTO STRATEGY
- Translate each state's CADT™ data into actionable partnership strategies that close system gaps and strengthen outcomes.
- Use the Partner Classification Assessment and Three Tier Assessment to identify each organization's capabilities and alignment.
- Use these assessment tools to develop state-level asset maps showing who does what, where, and with what impact.
- Adapt current assessment tools when needed and create new ones when appropriate, working with the EVP to determine what's required.
- Develop and oversee a rolling research agenda focused on state-level needs, policy landscapes, and ecosystem partners.
GRANTS, BUDGET & COMPLIANCE
- Manage and track the Tier 2-3 granting budget, ensuring fiscal alignment with WBSE™ goals under EVP oversight.
- Direct the Program Coordinator's workflow for research, due diligence, and grant compliance.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with finance and program leadership to ensure timely payments, reporting, and compliance.
COMMUNICATION
- Prepare concise weekly, monthly and quarterly briefings and summaries for the EVP, the Leadership Team, donor relations, marketing, and state partners.
REPORTING & TEAM
This position reports to the Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. It also provides direction to the Program Coordinator, a matrixed role: the Coordinator gives administrative support to the EVP while reporting to the Program Manager for research, grants, and partner operations.
WHAT YOU BRING
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in program management, partnership management, or grant administration in the nonprofit or public sector.
- Demonstrated success managing multi-partner initiatives with measurable outcomes.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects at once.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with attention to detail and clarity.
- Experience with due diligence, data tracking, and performance reporting.
- Knowledge of systems-change, collective-impact, and child welfare frameworks preferred.
- Willingness and ability to travel nationally to meet with churches and partners (about 20% travel).
- Willing to learn and develop new skill sets in this fast paced constantly changing technology and ai environment.
WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT
You go for it. You follow through on every request, no matter how big or small. You stay composed under pressure and know how to prioritize.
You own it. You see what needs to be done and take action. You bring solutions, look for better ways to do the work, and ask questions to get clarity.
You check it. You review your work again and again, because you know accuracy is everything. You pay close attention to detail in all things.
You organize it. You prioritize well and manage important projects, schedules, and communications in an orderly, efficient way.
You pray about it. You know that the right and best path - for you and for For Others - is found only through God's wisdom and favor.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This role is primarily office- and computer-based, with national travel of roughly 25%. The work involves extended periods at a desk and on a computer, occasional stooping, bending, and reaching for files or supplies, and lifting of up to 30 pounds on occasion. It requires manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, computer, phone, and standard office equipment; vision correctable to 20/20; and hearing in the normal range for phone conversations. As with any role driving statewide change, the pace can be demanding and deadlines can run concurrently.