Residential Program Manager
About The Position
The Residential Program Manager leads day-to-day execution of Evolution Solar’s immersive semi-residential training program. The role coordinates with instructional and facilities teams, upholds residential standards, and helps maintain the culture, accountability, and cohesion needed to prepare participants for industrial solar fieldwork. The manager supports participant success by ensuring a safe, structured, and supportive environment through consistent oversight, community-building, and effective program coordination. The position is onsite in Oglesby, Illinois, for the duration of each cohort. Evolution Solar is a 10-week, 350-hour program in which participants live onsite Monday through Thursday and receive wraparound support, life-skills instruction, and hands-on technical training on a 1 MW solar training array at Knobelsdorff Electric, Inc. The Residential Program Manager also provides continuity across cohorts and supports ongoing improvements to training content and delivery. Travel is required up to 70%.
Requirements
- At least 3 years of experience in residential program management, workforce development, social services, education, correctional reentry, or a related field.
- Strong ability to build rapport and maintain professional boundaries with adult learners from diverse backgrounds.
- Experience managing residential or group-living environments, such as campus housing, Job Corps, workforce camps, or transitional housing.
- Exceptional communication, de-escalation, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to maintain structure, accountability, and safety while fostering an encouraging environment.
- Comfort working in a setting that includes physical labor training and industrial construction culture.
- Experience working with system-impacted or equity-eligible populations.
Responsibilities
- Manage daily residential operations during training cohorts and ensure a safe, clean, respectful, and well-functioning environment.
- Oversee participant orientation, check-in, schedules, house rules, residential expectations, and housing-related records.
- Coordinate facility maintenance, safety checks, and residential needs with appropriate support teams.
- Build a positive cohort culture focused on teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and career readiness.
- Serve as a primary resource and mentor for participants, providing one-on-one coaching, conflict resolution, behavior redirection, and non-clinical support.
- Partner with Evolve Foundation staff to integrate life skills, financial coaching, barrier-removal resources, and alumni support into the participant experience.
- Coordinate with instructors and operational teams to support technical training, scheduling, attendance, transportation, logistics, and communication throughout each cohort.
- Support and enforce safety protocols, residential policies, behavioral expectations, and incident reporting requirements.
- Partner with trainers and subject matter experts to evaluate curriculum, capture lessons learned, and continuously improve training content and delivery.
- Serve as the central point of continuity across cohorts, ensuring best practices, program improvements, and participant feedback are carried forward.
Benefits
- 100% employer-paid health and dental coverage for employees
- HSA contributions to support medical expenses
- Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
- 401(k) with competitive company match
- Performance-based incentives
- Paid weekly with competitive wages
- PTO
- Six paid holidays
- Education reimbursement
- Exclusive employee discounts through Working Advantage
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
