Youth Development Program Manager Little Village

Department Overview

Carole Robertson Center for Learning is a non-profit dedicated to educating, enriching, and empowering children and families through comprehensive child and family development programs. Our youth development programs offer high quality academic support and enrichment activities during the school year. Carole Robertson Center for Learning is seeking Program Managers for our growing Youth Development Out of School Time program that serves over 600 students ages 5 to 17 years. Programming takes place year-round at our three flagship centers and in multiple Chicago Public Schools in North Lawndale, Little Village and Albany Park.

Position Overview

The OST Program Manager is responsible for supervising the site instructors, assistants, and support staff, typically between 8-12 staff members, creating a culture of warmth, collaboration, inclusion, and high-quality programming. Program Managers oversee site logistics, partnerships with families, students, community members, and other critical aspects of the program such as, but not limited to grant deliverables, student recruitment and enrollment, site operations, implementing curricula, classroom support and student to teacher ratios, etc. Program managers are fully in person during the summer months for programming and in the afternoons during the school year for programming. Opportunity for hybrid work in the mornings at the discretion of your manager and OST leadership.

Job Duties

OST Program Manager (afternoons and summer)

Schedule & Logistics

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the program at your site(s) during the summer (about 9 weeks in the summer) and in the afternoons during the school year.
• Ensure that lessons and materials are ready prior to the start of student arrival and programming each day.
• Attend and implement a safe and orderly arrival and dismissal procedures for students each day as outlined by CRCL. Have all the necessary materials ready to ensure this runs smoothly.
• Follow safety and security procedures to create a safe and orderly learning environment. This includes all learning spaces such as classrooms, playgrounds, and common areas—ensuring they remain clean, safe, and ready for use at all times.
• Create and finalize campus calendars, schedule field trips, and secure busing in advance for your site with approval from your manager.
• Oversee and manage all OST events and community building opportunities in collaboration with OST leadership
• Order, organize, and distribute necessary supplies and materials for classrooms.
• Create and implement and supervise your site’s daily schedule on the assigned template and with the necessary details such as transitions, walk-over, and any safety expectations. Communicate this schedule to your team.
  
  

Students/Families

• Be responsive to student and family needs, concerns, and questions via email, phone calls, and other approved forms of communication.
• This role requires direct interaction and service with students, families, and teachers on a regular basis in a manner that reflects student centers practices and approach.
• Ensure that students are engaged in their classrooms in high quality programs as measured by the Youth Program Quality Assessment tool.
• Facilitate and resolve student conflicts using appropriate strategies and restorative practices.
• Maintain safety and create a welcoming environment for all youth and families using group- established expectations and best practice group/classroom management strategies, including strength-based group agreements
  
  

Staff/Supervision

• Confirm each day that assigned staff are at their assigned classrooms/posts on time and ready for students.
• Review lesson plans and confirm that instructors are adhering to the assigned curriculum for their class and are at an appropriate pacing.
• Ensure that attendance is marked and accurately documented.
• Regularly visit and model best instructional practices in all classrooms
• Appoint and train a team member to take the lead in cases of your absences or urgent circumstances, secure managers approval.
• Facilitate weekly staff supervision and staff meetings at your site with an approved agenda.
• Oversee and maintain a supportive and collaborative environment by actively supervising and providing ongoing feedback to you direct reports as it relates to: program quality, student/family/staff interactions, compliance, etc.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with school partners and key stakeholders
• Work with any clinicians, SEL Managers, and practitioner to support learning and SEL health of students, families, and staff.
• Support and work closely with all CRCL departments, especially eligibility, grants and finance as necessary.
  
  

Collaboration

• Attend regular meetings with local principals to build relationships and establish healthy rapport
• Collaborate with the data team and managers to participate in continuous program improvement based on the Youth Program Quality Assessment measures.
• Work with any clinicians, SEL Managers, and practitioner to support learning and SEL health of students, families, and staff.
• Support and work closely with .....grants....crc?
• Plan and collaborate with the OST program team to prepare for summer and school year programming which may include, but is not limited to: teacher recruitment and hiring, parent presentations, scheduling, ordering supplies and materials, etc.
  
  

Administration

• Maintain and organize all OST files, student data, and information as directed by CRCL and with confidentiality
• Work with your manager to effectively communicate with your families and respond to family concerns in a timely manner.
• Manage all student recruitment, enrollment, and registration as outlined by CRCL. Maintain full enrollment and complete all required documents, collect necessary information, etc by assigned deadlines.
• Review and ensure attendance and meal counts are accurate and submit data.
• Complete incident reports and communicate proactively with your manager regarding any unresolved or concerning conflicts between staff, students, parents, etc.
• Complete all program reports for grants and submit on time.
• In collaboration with your manager, ensure your site is fully staffed with instructors.
• Maintain a growth mindset and problem solving for unexpected challenges and manage crisis situations in accordance to our policies.
  
  

Other

• Adhere to professional standards and team norms as outlined in staff handbooks.
• Attend regular team meetings and prepare any items assigned prior to the meeting
• Work with CRCL to implement and create a contingency plan for staff absences and communicate that to your team.
• Read and review all emails, shared documents, maintain and update your calendar, and stay informed on CRCL information.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Passion for youth development and working in OST programs
• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to school-age child care, child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping or other related fields. Masters preferred.
• Five (5)+ years’ experience in youth development with at least 2 years of direct youth facilitation experience
• Available to work until 6PM M-F and occasional weekends.
• Experience with collaboration and partnership building inside school systems.
• Proven success in managing staff using strengths based approach
• Spanish Speakers advised to apply
  
  

Carole Robertson Center for Learning provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Fostering a safe environment for the children, families, and communities we serve, and our employees is of the utmost importance. In this spirit, please note that upon accepting an offer of employment, you will be required to share proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status. To be considered fully vaccinated, it must be at least two weeks since you received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or the only dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Accommodation requests will be considered in compliance with applicable laws.