Program Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW

Critical Exposure seeks a Program Manager to join our team in Washington, DC, to lead our youth organizing programs so that youth have the tools to transform communities and schools into connected, safe, resourced places. The Program Manager will supervise, train, and coach staff to develop young people’s skills and abilities to participate in and drive organizing campaigns for educational justice. This position requires working in partnership with young people, including facilitating youth-led cohorts, to engage adult decision-makers in the school system and the city to bring about tangible local change. Candidates must demonstrate a deep commitment to centering youth leadership while working toward justice.  

The Program Manager is an experienced facilitator, organizer, and team leader who can balance multiple priorities while maintaining thoughtful systems. This is a mid-career position, and prior experience supervising staff is required. Strong candidates should have significant work experience in community organizing, youth leadership development, and programmatic leadership. This position requires serving as a thought partner for program strategy, managing systems for program operations, and working in partnership with young people. 

This full-time position is exempt, based in the DC metro area, and entails remote and in-person work. At this time, we expect the Program Manager to work in the office or at a program site at least 3 times per week. In-person work may fluctuate depending on team meetings or program activities that benefit from an onsite presence. 

ROLE OF ADULT STAFF 

For long-term, structural change to occur, we believe those impacted most directly by an issue must lead the fight for solutions. Our team of adult program staff develops the capacities of young people so they can work collectively to effect change around issues of educational and social injustice impacting their lives. Critical Exposure does not provide social services to youth or advocate on behalf of youth.

QUALITIES OF A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

• Passion for developing the power and agency of DC youth of color to affect social change
• Commitment to undoing all forms of internalized, interpersonal, and institutionalized oppression and bringing an intersectional approach to the work
• Demonstrates self-awareness, reflection, and desire to contribute talents and develop new strength
• Ability to build healthy, balanced relationships with high school-age youth of color
• Ability to be self-directed and thrive in a highly collaborative team environment 
• Ability to create and  adapt processes to strengthen how teams and the organization operate
• Commitment to supporting adults and decision-makers within DC schools to be accountable to youth.
• Love for infusing laughter, creativity, and play into social justice work and life.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Critical Exposure Programs occur at our main office and in partner schools. The Program Manager is responsible for ensuring that Critical Exposure’s programs meet our outcomes: (1) develop youth power & agency, (2) teach photography & storytelling skills, and (3) support youth-led organizing campaigns.

Program Facilitation (40%)

• Co-facilitate in-person programs (2 cohorts of 10-20 young people), acting as a lead facilitator on at least one program per season and accountable for the program's objectives to build youth identity development, political analysis, and organizing skills. Support youth in selecting issues, developing and implementing campaign plans and timelines, practicing reflection, and incorporating changes to their plan.
• In partnership with the co-facilitator for each assigned program, co-create curriculum arcs, tailor and facilitate weekly program sessions, and collaborate on pre-meeting prep sessions, after-session debriefs, and weekly planning meetings. 
• Maintain and update curriculum materials and resources in each program to ensure they are responsive to emerging needs and incorporate lessons learned.
• Build strong relationships with youth through consistent communication and follow-up, proactively engaging young people through modeling openness, curiosity, and deep listening.

Program Leadership & Strategy (20%)

• Work in close coordination with the Program Director to lead the planning, implementation, and strengthening of programs and their campaigns:
• Provide thought partnership on overall programmatic and training strategy. 
• Co-develop and manage outreach and recruitment plans, including staff assignments and individual work-planning.
• Collaborate with the Program Director to identify organization-wide needs regarding program/campaign structure, staffing structure, and reporting systems. 
• Co-develop program team agendas, document next steps and track progress on goals/objectives.
• Gradually assume the supervision, management, and coaching of 2-3 program coordinators (after the initial nine months).

Program Operations Management (20%)

• Develop and manage program budgets, supporting staff with monthly reconciliation. 
• Archive young people’s photograph collections and ensure collections from every program are regularly uploaded and appropriately documented.
• Document youth engagement, program activities, progress, and outputs for internal tracking and accountability. 
• Coordinate logistics for recruitment periods, including conducting outreach to potential school partners, scheduling and running meetings, and securing necessary paperwork.
• Manage team COVID testing procedures and tracking in coordination with the Operations Director.
• Plan and coordinate youth engagement opportunities, such as training, conferences, meetings, field trips, and events, that are aligned with campaign goals and capacity.

Organizational Collaboration (20%)

• Collaborate with the CE team to provide content for grants, newsletters, social media, and promotional materials.
• Engage in all staff meetings, gatherings, training sessions, hiring, and other organizational processes as appropriate.
• Contribute positively to organizational culture and reflect Critical Exposure values.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• 3-5 years experience working with high school youth of color from historically marginalized communities; effective in building relationships while able to hold healthy boundaries
• At least 3 years of programmatic experience with demonstrated ability to proactively lead program initiatives
• At least 1 year of direct supervisory experience, including comfort with giving and receiving feedback and practicing shared accountability; experience with or authentic openness to shared leadership and collective decision-making processes
• Prior experience in community organizing campaigns or state/national policy campaigns, ideally in a lead role.
• Experience with popular and social justice education frameworks, group facilitation, or interactive training, including navigating and mediating conflict 
• Advanced skills with Google Workspace, databases, and digital collaboration tools.
• Familiarity with DC’s public education system and political landscape.
• Ability to work a flexible, non-traditional schedule, including after-school hours Monday through Thursday and occasional Fridays and weekends for CE programs and events.
• Ability to travel to and from program sites to the main office. 
• Physical ability to transport and set up exhibits (some lifting required).

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Self-aware, self-reflective, and demonstrates warmth and good humor; shows up with empathy, curiosity, and enthusiasm in collegial relationships and work with young people. 
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects, activities, and actions with competing deadlines and levels of urgency; reliable and consistent in follow-through.
• Proactively recognizes needs and opportunities and takes the initiative to work toward solutions
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in photography and willingness to grow visual presentation/storytelling skills.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Fluency in Spanish
• Prior experience as a participant in a youth development program
• Digital photography skills

All CE employees must have received the COVID-19 vaccine and updated boosters.