Program Manager-Life & Workforce Readiness - Mary Ryan

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

NOTE: This is a grant-funded position that will provide support to the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) GEAR UP grant. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is a grant partner with MPS for this initiative. The GEAR UP Program Manager will be an employee of Boys & Girls Clubs. This is a grant-funded position. Employment is subject to the availability and continuation of grant funding and may be modified or discontinued if funding is reduced or eliminated. GEAR UP follows a cohort of students (spread across four grade levels) over the seven-year duration of the grant. The cohort will consist of 4th-7th graders in the 2025-26 school year, and the grant will end when these students are 10th grade-college freshmen in the 2031-32 school year. This position will be responsible for “staying with” these students and providing services to them as they matriculate through school, meaning job responsibilities and ages served will shift as the student population ages. The primary objective for this position is to ensure that students stay in school, and graduate high school on time with a plan for college and/or career. The GEAR UP Program Manager will provide both 1:1 case management services and small group after school instructional support for up to 60 at-risk students annually at up to 4 MPS GEAR UP schools. The GEAR UP Program Manager will rotate between schools on a daily basis, meeting with an assigned caseload of students in a 1:1 format during the school day to provide mentoring and coaching support, then transitioning to providing college and career-focused training and instructional opportunities to groups of students after school at a Boys & Girls Club Community Learning Center location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 2 years of non-profit youth programming experience including Tier 2 case management of beneficiaries and responsibility for program development, implementation and management working with urban youth.
At least 2 years of experience directly related to issues affecting urban middle/high school aged youth and youth programming. Emphasis on engaging youth in out-of-school time career development, post-secondary preparation, social emotional learning, and academic focused support programs.
Proven experience in motivating and accomplishing work through others, including teammates and peers as well as a degree of successful program partnership creation and maintenance.
Proven success in developing partnerships with community organizations, local businesses, neighborhood groups, and supporters.
High level knowledge of college and career readiness skills and programming for youth ages 12-18.
Highly organized with attention to detail.
Ability to relate effectively with diverse populations.
Experience in partnership development, internal customer service, leading through service, and providing resources to others.
High level of computer literacy and ability to utilize Excel and Access applications effectively for fiscal and other analysis and planning. Ability to learn and utilize new technologies and apply technology to programmatic and management applications critical. Familiarity and Ability to facilitate Career Cruising & Trek Mobile.
Ability to create and maintain high level community profile. Proven ability to garner support and request of peers and colleagues and interact effectively with individual stakeholders in a variety of roles.
Must have a valid WI driver’s license, good driving record, and meet state required automobile insurance minimums to be certified as a company van driver.
Adept at facilitating 1:1 and large group programming for youth

Responsibilities

Maintains a caseload of a minimum of 60 GEAR UP students.
Responsible for completing at least one cycle of the recommended Check-n-Connect evidence-based mentoring program with each student annually
Facilitate intake and needs assessments of youth through interviews with the youth, school guidance personnel and parent/guardian while documenting information gathered on required forms.
Assesses participant’s employment and education needs and keeps individualized academic and career plans up to date.
Determines eligibility and assists youth with enrollment into program services and maintains individual enrollment portfolios.
Provide timely case notes of all provided services, including but not limited to job readiness training, financial education, social-emotional development workshops, work experiences, career exploration interests via virtual reality, supportive service needs and more.
Create binders for all students, including membership forms, program attendance sheets, all Check-n-Connect related mentoring forms
Keep updated case management master list.
Program Manager will have a minimum of 1 touch point a week, preferably in person but communication may be via phone calls, emails, and text to students/families for reminders of paperwork, attendance to mandatory training/meetings, school attendance and academic information, and more.
Responsible for supporting after school programming for GEAR UP students at up to 4 BGCGM CLC locations
Schedules and facilitates the following programming: Career Launch (job readiness training), Money Matters (financial education training), Career Exploration experiences (including the use of virtual reality modules), Social Emotional Development Workshops, Academic and Career Planning workshops, worksite tours, and college tours, including an annual Washington DC trip (contingent on funding availability).
Coordinates and ensures student engagement in Occupational Skills Training classes.
Assists students with the following support: mock interviewing, resume-building, FAFSA completion, Trek Mobile academic & career planning, college applications, scholarship applications, and job applications.
Supervises ordering of program supplies, food, and approval of stipends. Maintains a budget to track expenses.
Implements and participates in programs, projects, and special events within Life & Workforce Development department.
Communicates the philosophy, objectives, standards, and programs of the Boys & Girls Club, through all methods available to members, their parents, and the public.
Generate weekly, or monthly reports as requested.
Must participate in training required by the Club, County, State, and/or funders
Tracks member participation in assigned program areas and documents results and progress of members; Upkeep daily, weekly attendance into the Club Hub, Cayen & ETO databases.
Build and maintain professional working relationships with other team members, school staff, and community service providers to ensure grant goals and objectives are met.