Job Details
Position Summary
The Elite & Leadership Program Manager is responsible for the planning, management, and delivery of high-quality programming for Elite & Leadership participants (8th - 9th graders). Programming includes activities and experiences in nature that aim to build outdoor skills, deepen youth connection to the unique history, environment and culture of the places they live and visit, and that teach youth the critical skills to thrive to, through, and beyond high school.
Schedule and Work Locations
Programs occur during out of school time periods. Specifically School Closure Dates, including holidays and select after school week day hours, select weekends and summer break for students. In addition to leading DC-based programming during the school year, the Elite & Leadership Program Manager will spend ~1 week leading a multi-day trip to South Carolina as well as ~4 weeks (in July/August) in Jackson Hole, WY at City Kids Broken Arrow Ranch to run summer camp programming for Elite (8th grade) & Leadership (9th grade) participants.
Key Responsibilities
Program Delivery
School Year Program Management (Sept - Jun)
- Manages, leads, and implements all programmatic experiences for 8th and 9th grade
- City Kids participants (e.g., single and multi-day outdoor adventure trips, DC local excursions, family engagement activities, incident management)
- Manages, leads, and implements all operational aspects of 8th and 9th grade participant programs (e.g., creating Emergency Response Plans (ERP) and Trip plans in accordance with City Kids protocols and curriculum, administering first aid, selecting gear, meal planning, liaising with contracted guides, arranging transportation, post-trip cleaning, parent outreach & follow-up, attendance tracking, etc.)
- Maintains and updates program curriculum, with a goal to build consistency between school year and summer camp programming
- Supports the design and implementation of all family engagement (including, but not limited to family outdoor programs, information sessions, and partner-led programming)
Summer Camp (Jackson Hole, Wyoming at Broken Arrow Ranch)
- Manages general camp programming logistics, including overseeing daily programming, special events, leading Social Justice Week curriculum design and implementation, ensuring effective general curriculum implementation, supporting individual youth needs and youth group management
- Member of Ranch Summer Leadership Team, which includes responsibilities such as: on-call duty, evacuation support, crisis response, night duty, supervision support, 1:1 youth support, leading daily announcements and responding to staff needs
- Leadership role in summer staff training, including facilitating workshops & activities
- Leadership role in creating a positive camp culture for staff and campers
- Support in general camp operational logistics, including: pre and post-season camp set up / take down, activity set up, trip logistical support, medical response, vehicle maintenance, daily chores and maintaining facility systems at camp
Summer Programming (DC) - JET Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
- Work in collaboration with JET Program Team and DC Director of Programs to design and implement weekly programming for 10th-12th graders in DC, June - July
Youth and Family Communication
- Leads all family communication and outreach related to program activity and logistics, cohort enrollment, and youth follow-up for 8th and 9th grade program participants
- Designs, manages, and leads school-year and summer program orientations
- Connects students with community partners to provide opportunities, resources, and services to help address individual or family needs
Staff Management
- Supports the hiring and training process for summer seasonal staff
- Manages all volunteers and trip instructors attending 8th and 9th grade programs
- Liaises with all volunteers and trip instructors attending 8th and 9th grade programs to communicate trip programmatic and operational details
Program Operations
Program Administration & Evaluation
- Perform data entry in Salesforce, updating and monitoring youth records and attendance; creates reports as needed; maintains database skills through training and team meetings
- Ensures that youth records are properly maintained and files are complete and up to date
- Generates customized reports for program activity and youth participation
- Administers program evaluation surveys and solicits youth and family feedback
Fundraising and Budget Support
- Manages all program level expenses, including trip budget creation, assist with annual program budgeting and coordinate the completion of program level expense coding and receipt tracking
- Supports required grant reporting, as needed
- Assists with fundraising efforts, as needed
Job Requirements
- At least 4 years of professional experience in wilderness/outdoor program management including 2+ years in a role with responsibility for managing programs and teams
- Previous job experience working at a summer camp and/or in outdoor adventure or experiential education
- Previous job experience working in adolescent development and positive youth development
- Previous job experience with program / wilderness risk management and crisis management experience
- Previous job experience working in diverse communities
- A valid, clean driver s license (must have had a driver's license for at least 2 years)
- CPR and Wilderness First Responder Certifications, Mandated Reporter training, DCPS clearance, FBI background check, and NSO registry clearance (these may be completed or provided by City Kids if not already in place)
Other Qualifications and Attributes
- A personal commitment to and deep understanding of City Kids mission and values
- Cultural competency, the ability to work in diverse communities and a commitment to social justice, equity and inclusion
- A youth-centered, fun, collaborative and creative approach and spirit to the work.
- Flexibility, creativity, ability to manage multiple demands and to thrive in an evolving and dynamic environment
- Skill and experience in leading through change and ambiguity, demonstrating flexibility, resourcefulness, and calm temperament
- A strong project management and planning skill set
- Strong communication skills and an openness to communicate across roles and departments
- Personal qualities of maturity, humility, strong work ethic, and roll-up-my-sleeves attitude
- Experience building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse community stakeholders, such as schools and community partners
- Ability to stay within budgeted expenses, attention to cost and ability to negotiate discounts and in-kind donations
- Fluency in Spanish is preferred