Program Manager-Next Steps Life Skills

Position Title: Program Manager Next Steps

Department: Adult Programs

Reports To: Life Skills Academy Program Director

Status: Full-Time, some nights and Weekends Required. (Regular late nights on Tuesday and Thursday) A flexible schedule is available with Direct supervisor approval.         

Position Location: Raleigh, NC

StepUp Ministry provides pathways for people to overcome barriers and transform their lives." We value Transformation, Participant-Guided Services, Careful Stewardship of Resources, Equality, Diversity and inclusion with Accountability, and Joyful Celebrations.

Position Purpose/Summary: Next Steps Academy Program Manager creates safe spaces and appropriate programs for participants to transition in and out of StepUp Ministry Empower 48 Program.   The Program Manager is responsible for coordinating community development with new participants during StepUp Academy classes, developing a favorable transition from our Empower 48 Program their Next Steps towards success. 

Essential Functions:

Case Management

·       Develop and maintain strong working relationships with participants.

·       Expand the shared agency referral list.

·       Maintains a caseload of at least 35 to 50 individuals who need support to thrive. 

·       Develop individualized goals, educate participants on goal topics, and refer participants to community resources. 

·       Connects individuals to additional community resources, including but not limited to financial support, school personnel, immigration services, food pantries, mental health services, physical health services, etc.

·       Creates transition plans for the case management once they complete the program.

·       Develops and maintains positive relationships with community providers, volunteers, clients, program participants, and colleagues at all organizational levels. 

·       Stays informed and well-trained on various topics related to their field of work.

·       Assist participants with making progress with developing skills in our Program Core Competencies, along with growth and development on their Individual Development Plan (IDP)

·       Use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to assist participants in achieving transformation through goal attainment.

·       Work closely with the Youth and Young Adult Program Managers to ensure individuals with families are being engaged with our multi-generational approach. 

Program Coordination and Volunteer Management

·     Responsible for the cultivation of specific program initiatives, including but not limited to Skills Lab, Speaker’s Circle, and Ambassadors.

·     Cultivate participant engagement through piloting various program initiatives, targeted at goal attainment, and programmatic competency building.  (Core Competency: Communication, Confidence, Consistency, Community Building) and Next Steps Competencies (Leadership, Purpose, Career Development, Entrepreneurship)

·     Participate in the planning, coordinating, and delivery of weekly Program nights.

·     Ensure strong engagement and commitment from community volunteer co-partners, instructors, and general volunteers.

·     Communicate proactively and responsively to staff, participants, instructors, employers, volunteers, and partners to promote high engagement and effectiveness. 

·     Actively maintain strong engagement and commitment from community volunteer co-partners, instructors, and general volunteers.

·     Assist with responsively adapting curriculum, forms, assessment tools, and enrollment processes as needed. 

·     Plan and execute immersive activities.

·     Foster a positive, collaborative work environment.

·     Assist in marketing and outreach efforts.

·     Maintain consistent communication with external vendors and organizers

·     Responsible for quarterly tasks that ensure successful programmatic cohorts

Community Outreach 

·     Represent StepUp or delegate representation of StepUp at external committees and meetings. 

·     Serve as the primary contact and expert for at least two community referral relationships.

·     Support StepUp’s recruitment efforts by speaking at or attending community events to discuss the StepUp programs as needed.

·     Participate in identifying new community resources.

·     Regularly connects with community partners to communicate the network of services available to families. 

·     Participates in community meetings to stay connected to relevant offerings.  

Administrative

• Maintains proper records; prepares required reports as directed; any assessments, intakes or exit interviews, data input, record keeping, or reporting required by funders and relevant state or other regulatory authorities. 

·       Oversee and monitor timely and accurate input into the online CRM tool, Salesforce.

·       Assist with the creation of a detailed yearly calendar for all program activities.

·       Assist in creating accurate and descriptive reports for the board or program committee, including consent agenda components.

• Participate in ongoing staff meetings, training, and strategic planning processes.

Other Duties 

·       The ability to appropriately handle stress and interact with others is an essential function (EF) of this position.

·       Regular, timely, and punctual attendance is an essential function (EF) of this position, including the ability to work Tuesday and Thursday evenings as assigned.

·       All other duties as assigned.

Education/Training/Licenses/Certifications:

·       Associate’s degree with 2 years of relevant direct service experience; Bachelor’s degree with 1 year of relevant direct service experience; or an equivalent, relevant combination of education and experience.

·       Experience with Microsoft products and Salesforce preferred

• Valid NC driver's license

Physical & Mental Demands:

• This position requires

• • Lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds at a time.

• • Good use of the hands and fingers for repetitive hand-finger actions

• • Continuous talking and hearing (6 hours per day)

• • Frequent sitting (3 to 6 hours per day)

• • Occasional standing, walking, driving, climbing, balancing, crouching, lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, and reaching.
  • Attendance of outside events in various weather conditions
  • Attendance of multiple events per day when necessary

Mental Demands

·       Adaptability/Flexibility — The job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and considerable variety in the workplace.

·       Dependability — The job requires being reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

·       Initiative — The job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

·       Integrity — The job requires being honest and ethical.

·       Leadership — The job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

·       Curiosity — The job requires constant learning and adapting to change

·       Confidence — The job involves networking and interacting with a variety of people.

Work Equipment, Tools, & Safety Equipment:

●      Laptop computers

●      Printers/scanners/copiers/fax machines

●      Telephones

●      SalesForce

●      Microsoft Outlook

●      Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

●      Internet browser software

Soft Skills:

1. Customer Service - Involved with customers in areas such as meeting customer needs, wants & expectations.

1. Decision Making - The ability to make decisions that promote successful outcomes for employees, customers, and/or the organization.

1. Flexibility/Adaptability - The ability to successfully adapt (personally & professionally) to changes in the internal and external environment.

1. Goal Orientation - The ability to focus on and meet target goals and objectives.

1. Interpersonal Skills - The ability to build a relationship with another person or group through effective communication skills (listening, speaking & behaving).

1. Planning/Organizing - The ability to plan a project or goal and effectively organize the resources to accomplish the desired outcome.

1. Presenting - Communicating to a group or individual for purposes of educating and/or influencing a decision.

1. Self-Management - The ability to manage one's internal states, impulses, and resources.

1. Teamwork - Working effectively and productively on formal functional (departmental) and/or formal cross-functional teams as a team member.

1. Written Communication - uses clear & succinct written communication in the execution of this position to effectively transmit data, instructions, processes, procedures, etc.