Manager of Young Adult Programs

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, innovation, and advocacy. Our work uniquely focuses on both individual support and systemic change, centering those most proximate to the challenges we address. In just five years, we have reached hundreds directly and impacted thousands more, achieving a 70% community college completion rate and 150% wage growth for alumni—with zero debt.

About the role

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 the VP of Programs, the Manager also provides facilitation and curriculum training to program staff and manages the admissions process to ensure a seamless experience for all participants.

Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements

• 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

• Competitive compensation with starting salary of $65,000, commensurate with experience
• Health benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Vacation benefits
• Relocation assistance for applicants 100+ miles from Memphis

Schedule

This role is primarily in-person, and all programming is conducted on-site.