Program Manager (Office Of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement)

City of Columbia•Columbia, SC

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director, the Program Manager for the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) is responsible for managing the daily operations and implementation of the Office's violence prevention, intervention, outreach, and community engagement initiatives through a public health and community-centered approach. The Program Manager oversees the coordination of programs, grant-funded initiatives, community partnerships, and strategic projects designed to strengthen neighborhoods, support youth and families, and improve community safety. This position provides leadership in program planning, implementation, grant management, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal funding requirements. The Program Manager serves as a liaison between the City, community organizations, residents, schools, faith-based organizations, public safety agencies, and other stakeholders to advance the Office's mission. In the absence of the Director, the Program Manager provides operational oversight and ensures continuity of services, strategic initiatives, and daily operations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple projects, coordinate diverse partnerships, and implement innovative strategies that promote neighborhood safety and community well-being.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Sociology, Counseling, Social Work, Public Health, Public Administration, Criminology, or a closely related field.
Three (3) to five (5) years of prior relevant experience in program management, grant administration, community engagement, public administration, violence prevention, and/or coalition building.
Prior experience managing community-based initiatives, developing strategic partnerships, coordinating cross-sector collaborations, and administering local, state, or federal grant-funded programs is strongly preferred
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver's License
Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and managing community-based programs, strategic partnerships, grant-funded initiatives, budgets, and cross-sector collaborations.
Strong leadership, communication, organizational, public speaking, and strategic planning skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple projects, priorities, and initiatives simultaneously.
Demonstrated management or administrative experience in a government, public, or nonprofit organization, including experience supervising projects, coordinating teams, and managing operational activities.
Knowledge of grant administration, budget management, contract compliance, and program evaluation, including experience monitoring performance measures, reporting requirements, and funding deliverables.
Ability to utilize data-informed decision making by analyzing reports, interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, assessing trends, evaluating program outcomes, and preparing reports and recommendations for leadership and policymakers.
Demonstrated experience fostering community engagement through coalition building, stakeholder collaboration, and the development of strategic partnerships with residents, community-based organizations, schools, healthcare systems, faith-based organizations, and other public and private partners.
Knowledge of violence prevention, Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies, trauma-informed practices, restorative approaches, and community-centered engagement models.
Demonstrated cultural competency with the ability to effectively engage and build authentic relationships with individuals and communities from diverse racial, cultural, socioeconomic, gender, and lived-experience backgrounds.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain professionalism, and serve as a poised, tactful, and effective ambassador for the City of Columbia while representing the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other technology platforms used for program management, grant administration, reporting, presentations, and data analysis.

Nice To Haves

A graduate degree in one or more of the aforementioned fields is preferred

Responsibilities

Manages community engagement and neighborhood safety initiatives
Coordinates violence prevention and intervention programming
Assists with implementation of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies
Develops and maintains partnerships with nonprofits, schools, healthcare systems, faith-based organizations, residents, and City departments
Oversees daily program operations
Supervises staff, interns, volunteers, and contracted providers
Assists with grant implementation, compliance, reporting, and budgeting
Coordinates community meetings and public engagement activities
Represents ONSE at meetings, events, and collaborative initiatives
Utilizes data and performance measures to evaluate programs
Supports trauma-informed, restorative, and community-centered practices
Performs other duties as assigned
Assists in the development, implementation, and management of local, state, and federal grants that support violence prevention, community engagement, youth development, and neighborhood safety initiatives
Identifies and researches funding opportunities through public and private partnerships to support strategic ONSE priorities and long-term program sustainability and assists the Director with grant development efforts
Collaborates with City departments, community organizations, stakeholders, and funding partners to implement and strengthen grant-funded initiatives and community-based programs
Assists with monitoring grant compliance, reporting requirements, budgets, deliverables, and program outcomes to ensure accountability, effectiveness, and adherence to funding guidelines
Coordinates grant-related activities, maintains supporting documentation, and assists in evaluating program performance measures to ensure alignment with City goals, community needs, and funding objectives
Prepares, reviews, and submits grant reports, reimbursement requests, invoices, performance measures, and supporting documentation in accordance with funding requirements and established deadlines
Assists in the administration and monitoring of grant-funded contracts, scopes of work, and partner deliverables to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and City requirements
Collaborates with the Director to develop and implement sustainability strategies that strengthen ONSE programs and expand community resources through strategic partnerships
Maintains accurate grant files, financial records, and performance documentation to support audits, monitoring activities, and program evaluations
Performs other grant administration and program management duties as assigned