Senior Program Manager

Company Description

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They serve people with disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, cerebral palsy, and others. Best Buddies aims to end the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with IDD by empowering them through various programs.

Job Qualifications – Qualified applicants must have:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3-4 years relevant experience in volunteer and committee management; Best Buddies program experience a plus
• Experience managing, driving, and motivating volunteers for the cultivation and solicitation of program development and special event support.
• Strong project management skills - including planning, analysis, decision making, and problem solving - and willingness to multitask
• Must be highly dependable, lead by example and be willing/able to adapt communication style to fit the situation
• Must be comfortable engaging with people with IDD, including youth and adults.
• Exhibit strong communication skills; Ability to adapt and convey, influence, and negotiate
• Ability to create new approaches; design processes & procedures; lead large-scale change. Exhibit strong initiative, drive for results, and self-assessment skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and database programs
• Must be willing and able to travel frequently, use personal cell phone, and work evenings and weekends as necessary to accomplish job responsibilities.
• Access to an automobile with applicable insurance or other reliable transportation

Job Duties (include but not limited to):

Programs

• Develop programmatic trainings and resources to promote awareness of and engagement in Best Buddies mission, including but not limited to corporate partner trainings, ambassadors, and e-Buddies trainings.
• Facilitates the rollout of new programmatic initiatives and changes to current initiatives
• Directly manages programs as needed
• Oversee volunteer committees to implement trainings, manage chapters and advance mission
• Determine state needs to expand Best Buddies programs in elementary, middle, and high schools, colleges, and at the citizen corporate level and through community buddy pairs.
• Work with the State/Area Director to identify schools and corporations to start Best Buddies chapters for youth and adults.
• Help develop a pipeline for growth in the region by making contacts with schools, community groups, corporations, etc.
• Evaluate and analyze chapter engagement data and utilize for long-term state goals and strategy.
• Serve as liaison for National Ambassadors Initiatives
• Set expectations for participation in all state events and programmatic initiatives.
• Supports recruitment efforts in school programs for transition and employment participants, where applicable

Marketing

• Strategize social media calendar that incorporates all program and development initiatives, and create content
• Represent Best Buddies programs through public speaking, presenting to groups, community involvement, and other initiatives.

Fundraising

• Identify and develop fundraising opportunities and partnerships to support regional events and/or programmatic support and expansion, including corporate Citizens partners, Ambassadors for events, and school districts
• Support programmatic participation in local and regional fundraising events as directed by the State/Area Director.

Operations

• Works with State Director on developing and managing the programmatic state plan initiatives. Understanding of standards on processes and be in compliance to the Best Buddies policies and procedures (i.e., incident reporting, etc.)
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive Best Buddies information and participant PII.
• Use Benevolence, Microsoft Outlook, social media, and Salesforce to appropriately communicate with participants and the community
• Maintain data integrity and tracking in all systems.
• Abide by all professional standards for staff when working with volunteers and program participants, as detailed in the Best Buddies Staff Policy Handbook, including the use of social media, office attire, and use of Best Buddies email accounts.
• Oversee data integrity and tracking in all systems.