Program Manager - Grow Detroit's Young Talent

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation•Detroit, MI

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About The Position

The Program Manager for Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT) is a senior-level leadership role responsible for the strategic planning, operational execution, and continuous improvement of Detroit’s flagship summer youth employment initiative. This position provides comprehensive oversight of program staff, systems, vendors, and cross-departmental partners to ensure high-quality service delivery, regulatory compliance, fiscal integrity, and equitable outcomes for Detroit youth. GDYT is a nationally recognized municipal youth employment program, seeking a manager who will oversee large-scale, time-bound operations while strengthening year-round infrastructure, workforce readiness pathways, and employer partnerships. This role requires a seasoned professional with deep experience managing complex youth employment programs in multi-stakeholder environments, familiarity with public funding, and contract management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Social Work, Education, Workforce Development, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience managing youth employment, workforce development, or large-scale human services programs.
Demonstrated experience supervising multi-disciplinary teams and managing complex operations.
Strong working knowledge of public funding streams, compliance requirements, and performance monitoring.
Proven ability to coordinate across departments and external partners in a municipal or public-sector environment.
Valid State of Michigan Driver's License and Insurance- Position requires field work.
Background check and drug screen required.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing summer youth employment programs or large, time-bound initiatives.
Familiarity with workforce data systems, payroll processing for stipend/wage earners, and positive youth development practices.
Experience working within or alongside city government, workforce boards, or large nonprofit systems.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the GDYT program cycle, including pre-program preparation, active service delivery, and closeout.
Ensure alignment with local, state, and federal workforce policies, including WIOA and State requirements.
Maintain standardized operating procedures, timelines, and tools to support consistent program delivery across teams and partners.
Prepare and compose correspondence and reports related to program activities, procedures, processes, and outcomes.
Actively engage with youth participants to ensure their voices are heard and their input is valued in the development and evaluation of the program, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment among them.
Provide direct supervision and leadership to GDYT program staff, including Project Leads, Coordinators, Worksite Monitors, and Administrative Support.
Establish clear performance expectations and support staff professional development.
Monitor and evaluate team effectiveness, investigate trends, and recommend modifications when necessary.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and solutions-oriented culture.
Oversee participant enrollment, eligibility verification, attendance tracking, payroll benchmarks, and performance reporting.
Ensure data accuracy, timeliness, and integrity across all program systems, address findings from monitoring and audits.
Support contractor/vendor performance and compliance monitoring.
Support budget development, expenditure tracking, and fiscal compliance in collaboration with the Fund Developer/Finance staff.
Manage vendor relationships related to payroll, evaluation, technology, and program support services.
Review invoices, reports, and deliverables to ensure contractual compliance.
Act as a central point of coordination with DESC departments, including Employer Engagement, HR, IT, Finance, Communications, and Compliance.
Collaborate with municipal partners, school districts, and community-based organizations.
Support presentations, briefings, and reporting for leadership boards, and public stakeholders.
Lead community engagement initiatives to promote extensive outreach and encourage participation from a wide range of youth groups, ensuring inclusivity and representation in the program.
Troubleshoot youth recruitment, placement, payroll, and monitoring issues in real-time, proposing remediation when required.
Analyze program data and participant outcomes to inform improvements and innovation.
Contribute to long-term planning efforts to strengthen GDYT’s sustainability and alignment with broader youth workforce strategies.
Identify risks, gaps, and opportunities, proposing solutions when required.
Establish and implement effective mechanisms to collect and evaluate feedback from staff, participants, and stakeholders to guide future enhancements and innovations, ensuring that the program continually meets the needs of those it serves.