Job Title: Program Manager

Salary Range: $66,600 to 68,000/year

Status: This is an at-will, full time position.

Work Remotely: No

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, between 8am-5pm for 40 hours/week with flexible work hours. Occasional nights and weekends as needed.

Reading and Beyond is a non-profit organization whose mission is “To empower children and families to achieve productive, self-reliant lives.” We operate a varietyofprograms in collaboration with organizations and schools who work with children and families to build a culture of achievement so that all youth graduate from high school ready for college. We are working to end mutigenerational poverty through education. Families and children move through a “cradle-to-career” pipeline that provides comprehensive support from pre-natal through college to career. The California Bridge Academies is an employment and training program headquartered in Fresno and founded in 2010. Bridge Academies provide holistic, wraparound case management and support to unemployed or underemployed residents seeking to improve their lives through education, increased skills, and living-wage employment.

REPORTS TO: Director of Family Success

ROLE: Under the direction of the Director of Family Success, the Program Manager will be responsible for managing multiple of the workforce programs under Reading and Beyond’s Bridge Academy.The Program Manager assigned to the Upward Mobility Pathways (UMP) program is responsible for adhering to the guidelines requirements of Cal Fresh (SNAP) Employment & Training (E&T) guidelines and regulations. In this role, the UMP Program Manager will be assisted by senior management at the organization as well as other partners. In addition to ensuring clients are recruited and placed into applicable programs, a CalFresh E&T program must also verify eligibility for CalFresh in partnership with the clients’ county of residence.

The Program Manager is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and realizing program goals, policies and procedures. This is accomplished through consultation with senior management and by directing subordinate staff responsible for executing activities essential to day-to-day program operations and outcomes. The Program Manager should come to the Bridge Academy with some experience in navigating educational institutions including local adult schools, the Fresno Workforce Development Board, and/or post-secondary institutions. The Program Manager will be responsible for developing the expertise of direct-reports in the following capacities: case management, job search and job retention strategies, education and training strategies, and financing education through state and federal grants as well as other scholarships.

The overall purpose of the Bridge Academy is to empower families to become self-sufficient through holistic and comprehensive mentoring and educational services. The goal is to help economically marginalized families living in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty to overcome barriers, increase their skills, and obtain higher wages. The Bridge Academies’ case managers (known as Career and Family Navigators) are trained to build rapport with their clients, assist in addressing barriers for the clients and their families, and assist clients in following pathways to education and employment that account for their interests and passions. Family and client barriers are often addressed by connecting the family with resources in the community or by providing supportive services directly from the program(s) of Reading and Beyond.

The Program Manager is crucial to the success of the organization. This position requires an entrepreneurial, high-energy individual with a collaborative approach to leadership and a passion for education, training, and helping others. Successful candidates will be able to identify and overcome challenges, and communicate well with peers, subordinates, and supervisors.

RESPONSIBILITIES: (The information listed below is meant to serve as a sample of job duties and responsibilities. This list is neither inclusive nor exclusive, but indicative of several types of duties performed.)

1. Plans, organizes and coordinates the activities of the program, including but not limited to recruitment, case management, wrap-around services, workshops, and retention.

2. Consults with peers and management regarding policies, procedures, personnel, and case management issues.

3. Confers with and advises subordinate staff regarding policies, procedures, and case management.

4. Assists subordinate staff in resolving complex and/or technical problems, eligibility determinations, and other issues according to laws, statutes, and funding policy.

5. Assists subordinate staff in verification of client eligibility for CalFresh Employment & Training services.

6. Prepares or reviews correspondence, records, and reports.

7. Participates in long-term planning. Analyzes and recommends policy modifications or improvements to meet changing operational requirements.

8. Reviews, analyzes, interprets, and applies regulations; confers with supervisors regarding legal and operational requirements of legislation, regulations, etc.

9. Plans, evaluates, and conducts staff development sessions, meetings, and conferences.

10. Conducts periodic performance evaluations with staff including the development of performance improvement plans and professional development plans as needed.

11. Interviews complainants and makes adjustments if appropriate and consistent with program and agency policies and procedures.

12. Represents the program in meetings with commissions, committees, community and regulatory agencies, and other public groups.

13. Coordinates program operations with other Reading and Beyond programs, outside agencies, and public and private organizations.

14. Oversees outreach activities to engage new referral sources and participants.

15. Develops and administers a network of providers/organizations to generate community resources for participants.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, Counseling, or Social Work preferred.

• Minimum two years’ experience working with low-income, working families, and disadvantaged populations.
• One or more years of management experience is preferred.

4. Exceptional at organizing, time-management, and multi-tasking.

5. Familiarity with Fresno area service providers and resources is preferred.

6. Bilingual preferred.

7. Experience with education, training, and/or job placement strategies preferred.

• Excellent community-building and communication skills: written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• Ability to evaluate, encourage, and coach others to meet performance objectives.

10. Experience with the public assistance system preferred (CalFresh, CalWORKs, MediCal, General Assistance, etc.).

• Strong ability to problem solve, work independently, multi-task, and set priorities to accomplish various instructional and operational tasks.
• Strong competency/experience with Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., and Internet skills.
• Demonstrated administrative experience including excellent organizational skills, work with a high degree of accuracy, and a willingness to adapt to changing situations.
• Candidate must demonstrate flexibility in working with others.

15. Passion for Reading and Beyond/Bridge Academy’s mission.

16. Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed, as well as some travel.

17. Maintain a valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, adequate auto insurance as required by State law, and insurability by agency carrier.

18. Must pass background investigation including TB clearance and fingerprint clearance.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS/ABILITIES TO:

1. Knowledge of principles and practices of program and personnel administration.

2. Knowledge of principles of management: planning, organizing, directing, coaching, and motivating staff.

3. Knowledge of case work objectives, principles, and methods.

4. Select, motivate, coach, and evaluate staff and provide for their training and professional development.

5. Identify operational problems and implement effective resolutions.

6. Analyze complex regulatory and administrative problems, evaluate and adopt effective courses of action.

7. Present ideas and complex material clearly, concisely, logically, and persuasively both verbally and in writing.

8. Exercise sound, independent judgment within policy guidelines.

9. Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels, with other agencies and the public.

10. Demonstrate leadership/business insight; integrate new ideas and approaches.

11. Maintain a high degree of maturity, integrity, loyalty, accountability, and exercise good judgment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Other work conditions include:

v Sitting for extended periods of time.

v Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other devices and objects.

v Physically able to participate in training sessions, presentations, and meetings.

v Some travel may be required for the purpose of meeting with clients, stakeholders, or off-site personnel/management.

Employment is conditional pending satisfactory results of all required tests and background checks mentioned above. Periodic TB clearances may be required if hired.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions.

BENEFITS:

Paid Time Off (PTO) and 14 paid holidays

Medical/Dental/Vision/Long Term Disability (LTD) & Life Insurance - Available at no cost to employee for single coverage

401(k) Retirement Plan with up to 4% matching

Note: Reading and Beyond maintains the right to alter the level of benefits with appropriate notice.

DISCLAIMER: This job description lists typical examples of work and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to a position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed in the job description provided that such duties are characteristic of the position.

Reading and Beyond is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $67,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience level:

• 2 years

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Fresno, CA 93721: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person