Program Manager - Corps for a Change

Organization Overview: Colorado Youth for a Change (CYC) is an educational nonprofit organization with a statewide scope. CYC addresses barriers to learning by providing individualized support throughout pivotal stages of students' education journeys. We provide a continuum of services from Prekindergarten through high school to help students find success through tutoring, case management, and outreach to help in-school youth remain in school or out-of-school youth return to school. We envision an equitable education system where each student has access to resources they need to maximize their own learning and growth. CYC's organizational values are growth, integrity, community, and systemic transformation.  

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

CYC started Corps for a Change (C4C) in 2015 to increase preventative programming within the organization, with a focus on increasing student engagement and attendance. Corps for a Change is an AmeriCorps program that supports high school and middle school students by addressing barriers to learning and helping students increase a sense of belonging at school and in their community. The Corps for a Change program places caring, service driven members in schools to support students, helping them navigate academic and non-academic needs, with an emphasis on connecting students to mental health resources. In 2024, C4C became a part of the national Youth Mental Health Corps initiative, meaning all members gain valuable on the job experience, receive a stipend, and earn a Behavioral Health Assistant credential to advance their careers.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Corps for a Change Program Manager is responsible for fully integrating Corps for a Change into CYC's culture and identity. This position is the C4C point person both externally and internally and guides the direction of the program as it grows while ensuring the detailed nuances of C4C funding regulations are met with thoroughness and integrity at every step. The C4C Program Manager is responsible for program reporting; ensuring CYC/C4C mission alignment; supervising two Corps for a Change Coordinators; coordinating and facilitating monthly member meetings; and supporting the annual grant reapplication process. The C4C Program Manager is responsible for ensuring successful partnership with Aurora Community College and managing member outcomes around the Behavioral Health Assistant credential progress and attainment. The chief duty in this position is to ensure CYC operates a successful Corps for a Change program - investing in the systems and service culture for the long-term growth of the partnership, while ensuring 100% administrative compliance. This position is full-time, Denver-based, with a salary of $60,000 annually with benefits.

Essential Functions

Member Support

• Manage member onboarding, including communication with incoming members.
• Ensure incoming members complete applications to Community College of Aurora and financial aid.
• Communicate all program policies to members and ensure policies are followed with integrity.
• Encourage a culture of service amongst members and reinforce C4C identity.
• Engage alumni and current members in recruitment efforts.
• Develop and facilitate virtual and in-person C4C member orientation, monthly in-person team meetings and any applicable additional training/professional development throughout the service term.
• Provide member resources and support around mental health.

Personnel Management

• Supervise, mentor, and support Corps for a Change Coordinators.
• Provide ongoing professional development and training opportunities for Corps for Change Coordinators.
• Facilitate in-person bi-weekly team meetings.
• With the assistance of Human Resources and agency Leadership, carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Program Management

• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders to ensure a strong launch and successful first year of Youth Mental Health Corps; these include Serve Colorado, Community College of Aurora, Schultz Family Foundation, and other participating Colorado programs.
• Ensure that all program goals are on-track and that contracted goals are met.
• Develop and manage tools and data systems to ensure effective program strategies.
• Manage service site recruitment, including facilitating a Site Supervisor training, as well as ongoing service site communication and relationship building.
• Liaise with Serve Colorado program officer.
• Attend Serve Colorado and Corporation for National Community Service trainings/events.
• Continually improve and update comprehensive C4C policies & procedures manual.
• Consistently gather and report on programmatic data utilizing CYC database and assessment tools.
• In collaboration with C4C Program Coordinators, ensure successful completion of mid-year and end of year member evaluations.
• Ensure CYC and AmeriCorps branding and gear is visible across all sites.
• Work collaboratively with other CYC Program Managers, CYC Recruitment team, Site Supervisors, and school staff to provide cohesive services among the programs.
• Create and manage the schedule of classes for the Behavioral Health Assistant credential and ensure credential attainment for 40 AmeriCorps members.
• Manage member timesheet information and ensure accurate tracking of member service hours.
• Facilitate restorative conversations with staff, members, and sites as needed.
• Support monitoring visits and communication with Serve Colorado.

Commitment to Organizational Culture and Values

• Commit to operate within a framework that centers CYC's organizational values of growth, integrity, community and systemic transformation.
• Contribute to an inclusive and equitable work environment and provide inclusive and equitable services to the community. This includes demonstrating:A commitment to learn and engage in anti-oppression trainings and conversations; including a willingness to unpack personal biases and identities.
• The ability to put anti-oppression framework into practice within specific role at CYC; including a willingness to interrupt systems of oppression to create more equitable, inclusive environments for staff, AmeriCorps members, and students.
• The ability to cultivate inclusive and equitable relationships with students, staff, AmeriCorps members, and community members with varied identities and life experiences.
• A desire to share the organizational responsibility of creating an environment that supports anti-oppression accountability.
• Support and evaluate your team to develop and meet goals around anti-oppression work.

Other Duties

• Attend and participate in staff and C4C related meetings as required.
• Speak on behalf of the organization when appropriate.
• Run errands as needed using personal transportation.
• Perform other duties, responsibilities, and special projects as assigned.
• Support CYC fundraising efforts when applicable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of current mental health resources and best practices.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel with an emphasis on the ability to create spreadsheets and tables to capture data in a useful and intelligible manner.
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Work independently and remain organized in multiple settings, while simultaneously keeping track of the results achieved.
• Contribute to a positive morale.
• Experience and comfort working with staff and students from diverse backgrounds as well as their families and support networks as it relates to education.
• Work collaboratively with internal staff and external partners.
• Find and stay informed about beneficial resources for youth and AmeriCorps members throughout the state of Colorado.
• Appreciation of clear and appropriate boundaries with youth, AmeriCorps members, and staff.
• A passionate and committed belief that students deserve access to quality education resources and support.
• Dependable transportation and insurable as a driver on the auto liability policy of Colorado Youth for a Change.
• Experience with and dedication to engage students, AmeriCorps members, and staff across social identities and life experiences.

Benefits

• Three weeks of paid vacation per year
• 9 days of paid sick time per year
• Paid winter and spring breaks every year
• Employee premiums for medical and dental insurance paid by CYC
• Retirement plan with CYC matching up to 3%
• Company paid parking
• Plus other great benefits!

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in a healthcare or behavioral healthcare field.
• Four years of experience working with high school aged youth.
• Two years of supervision and management experience.
• Facilitation and training experience.
• 4,000 verified occupational/industry hours in the past 5 years preferred.
• Experience working with AmeriCorps programs preferred.