Director of Programs
About the role
Minds Matter Bay Area (MMBay) seeks a dynamic Director of Programs to independently lead, manage, and scale our successful college access programs for driven students from low-income families. This is a unique opportunity for a proactive builder who excels at translating high-level vision into well-executed plans with a strong sense of ownership.
Responsibilities
Supervise one Program Manager and lead a strong network of volunteer-led teams: Program Leadership (PLT), Mentee Recruitment, Volunteer Recruitment, Summer Programs, and College Advising & Financial Aid (CAFA).
This is a hands-on, player-coach role: the Director sets strategy and standards while working directly in the program every week — leading the weekly PLT meeting, driving program quality and evaluation, participating in recruitment interviews and selection decisions, and co-running summer programs planning.
Strategic Leadership & Infrastructure
Build and refine program infrastructure, processes, and KPIs to bring clarity, consistency, and measurable impact to all operations.
Serve as subject matter expert on all curriculum; design scope and sequence and ensure alignment across program delivery.
Oversee the SAT test prep program (provider relationship and success indicators) and lead the volunteer instructor team through structured observation and feedback.
Oversee the volunteer-led CAFA team, setting advising standards for consistent, equitable, high-quality guidance.
Develop and lead a culturally responsive caregiver and community engagement strategy.
Program Management & Operations
Oversee Saturday sessions — logistics, attendance, and volunteer readiness to facilitate the curriculum.
Manage end-to-end data collection and maintain accurate student records in Salesforce.
Oversee program budgeting, safety protocols, risk management, calendar, and communications.
Develop and facilitate onboarding and training for volunteer leaders, mentors, and staff.
Cultivate relationships with partner high schools, colleges, and community organizations.
Volunteer & Team Management
Manage the volunteer-led PLT across both sites; personally lead the weekly PLT meeting.
Lead the Summer Programs team, owning strategy and outcomes in partnership with the Program Manager, who drives logistics.
Own volunteer retention and culture — appreciation, belonging, and engagement year-round.
Lead two annual community orientations in partnership with the Program Manager.
Serve as primary point of contact for urgent student concerns.
Recruitment Strategy & Execution
Oversee volunteer-led Student and Volunteer Recruitment teams, ensuring all roles are filled ahead of each fall cohort launch.
Own recruitment strategy and goals; the division of execution between the Director and the Program Manager is defined collaboratively between the two roles.
Coach recruitment volunteers through influence, honoring their ownership while guiding strategy and continuous improvement.
Strengthen equitable, inclusive recruitment practices and analyze trends to improve outcomes year over year.
Qualifications
5+ years in a program leadership role with significant program-management and people-leadership responsibility within higher education, nonprofit college access, or workforce development.
Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset: takes initiative, absorbs information quickly, exercises sound judgment, and builds systems from the ground up in a fast-paced environment.
Strong project management, problem-solving, and organizational skills; balances strategy and execution and thinks critically to identify gaps.
Proven ability to coach and lead through influence.
Excellent written and verbal communication and relationship skills, with the ability to engage across lines of difference.
Flexible, collaborative team member willing to wear multiple hats.
Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices.
Proficiency navigating multiple technology platforms.
Benefits
To promote internal equity and transparency, MMBay offers a clearly defined salary for this role and does not negotiate compensation.
Benefits include unlimited paid time off (with manager approval), a health insurance stipend, and an employer 401(k) contribution of 3% of salary, provided regardless of employee participation.
Location and Work Arrangements
This is a Bay Area-based position requiring regular travel between our San Francisco and San Jose locations. The role blends in-person and virtual/remote work, with in-person time for meetings, site visits, staff collaboration days, and required Saturday program sessions. During the school year (August–May), the work week is Tuesday–Saturday. Saturdays are in person at either our San Francisco or San Jose program site, rotating between sites to maintain presence and relationships at both. Wednesdays are in person year-round at our San Francisco office in the Presidio for staff collaboration. Several additional partial days per month involve in-person visits to local high schools, corporate partners, and other community organizations. The role includes approximately four 30-minute evening meetings per week with volunteers who work full-time during the day; the Director designs this cadence and may shift meetings to Saturdays or a biweekly rhythm to reduce evening load. Team-building with volunteers is part of our culture, and staff are expected to attend periodic evening functions in both San Francisco and San Jose. Summer months (June–July) follow a standard Monday–Friday schedule, with Wednesdays remaining in person.
About Minds Matter Bay Area
Minds Matter is a national nonprofit connecting driven students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college and change the world. Since 1991, every Minds Matter student nationwide has been accepted to a four-year college. Founded in 2010, MMBay has graduated over 200 students — 100% accepted to four-year colleges, 75% attending some of the nation's most selective institutions, and 100% graduating within four years. Our free weekly programming is delivered by a powerful network of volunteers who mentor, teach, and walk alongside students on their journey to — and through — college. Learn more at www.mindsmatterbay.org.
Core Values
- We Show Up
- We Do the Hard Work
- We Believe and Persist
- We Prioritize Communication
- We Practice Emotional Courage
- We Are the Culture
Equal Opportunity
Minds Matter Bay Area is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment for all employees and volunteers. Individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds — including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and first-generation college graduates — are strongly encouraged to apply.