Program Manager

Friends of the Children Detroit

Program Manager

Friends of the Children is a nonprofit that is impacting generational change by empowering youth through relationships with professional mentors. We do this by providing children facing the most obstacles with a long-term, salaried, professional mentor, who we call a “Friend,” from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years – no matter what. We are currently seeking an extraordinary professional to embark on a new career journey as a Program Manager at our Detroit Chapter.  

At Friends of the Children we put children first and use our values to change the way the world treats and views youth facing great barriers. As a Program Manager you will nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally informed practice. Are you ready to help build relationships within the communities of our youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities?  If so, the impactful role of a Program Manager might be for you.  

Job Description:

The Program Manager is responsible for supervising, guiding and supporting the Friends within the organization. The Program Manager is a role model and mentor for Friends, acts as a team facilitator and organizational motivator, and facilitates effective communication in all directions.

The Program Manager is responsible for supporting the hiring, onboarding and supervision of the New Friends on their team, as well as supporting the onboarding and training of all New Friends. A Program Manager must know, understand, honor and support the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles, be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function, and must have a demonstrated desire to participate in the management of the organization. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Develop and sustain honest and trusting relationships with colleagues and inspire and motivate team members.  Serve as a role model both for effective Friend/child relationships and as a professional. Act as a resource for Friends by providing support, guidance, direction and resourceful solutions to concerns and challenges.

• Ensure compliance with and accountability to the organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook.  Contribute to the development of any of these as required.  Demonstrate support of organizational decisions in a constructive and effective manner.
• Know and understand the needs and issues of each child served by Friends on assigned team.  Meet with each team member one-on-one each month, and review Roadmaps and Transition Plans for each child on a monthly basis.  Develop knowledge of academic performance for each child and assist in setting realistic goals for the children. Assure that each Friend has helped develop a specific area of interest or talent for each child.
• Interact with each child on your team at least twice a year by going out with the child and their respective Friend, or by observing Friends with their children during activities or outings.  Provide constructive feedback to the Friend on an ongoing basis.
• Actively participate on the PLT and provide insight, input and solutions to programmatic and organizational issues and challenges.  Facilitate or lead PLT meetings as required.
• Communicate effectively and appropriately in all directions regarding organizational issues, concerns, policies and procedures.  Raise and resolve issues appropriately.  Advocate for Friends, representing the best interests of your team and children, doing so in an appropriate and timely manner. Understand, implement and support organizational policies and procedures.
• Solicit and obtain feedback from a minimum of two parents of children on your team per month.  Document and maintain all feedback and include in Quarterly report.
• Serve assigned youth as appropriate in the capacity of a Friend, as outlined in the Friend job description.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, and help others do the same.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation and follow-up skills.
• Effective, appropriate and professional supervisory and leadership skills and behaviors.
• Demonstrated ability to influence the behavior of others to achieve necessary results.
• In depth understanding of the role of a Friend, as well as of the issues faced by our Program children.
• Ability to relate to peers, subordinates, and other members of the management team, and to develop and sustain trusting, supportive relationships with them.
• Ability to use creativity and initiative in guiding others to plan activities that continually develop children.
• Ability to work as a team player, as well as the ability to lead a team.
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively exercising appropriate discretion and judgment, and ability to manage others in doing the same.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment related to maintaining confidentiality and communicating appropriately within the workplace, and to hold others accountable for the same.
• Ability to assist others in setting goals and developing plans to meet those goals to ensure the development of each child.
• Ability to hold others accountable in all aspects of required performance, including completing administrative tasks accurately and on time.
• Ability to cultivate relationships with children, families, school personnel, organizational supporters and community partners.
• Proficient computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Outlook and ETO or other database applications.
• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress, and to develop others to do the same.

 Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Data cultivation, review, and interpreting to inform decision making
• Gain proficiency in organizational platforms used to cultivate and track Team data
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, and help others do the same. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation and follow-up skills.
• Effective, appropriate and professional supervisory and leadership skills and behaviors.
• Demonstrated ability to influence the behavior of others to achieve necessary results.
• In depth understanding of the role of a Friend, as well as of the issues faced by our Program children.
• Ability to relate to peers, subordinates, and other members of the management team, and to develop and sustain trusting, supportive relationships with them.
• Ability to use creativity and initiative in guiding others to plan activities that continually develop children.
• Ability to work as a team player, as well as the ability to lead a team.
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively exercising appropriate discretion and judgment, and ability to manage others in doing the same.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment related to maintaining confidentiality and communicating appropriately within the workplace, and to hold others accountable for the same.
• Ability to assist others in setting goals and developing plans to meet those goals to ensure the development of each child.
• Ability to hold others accountable in all aspects of required performance, including completing administrative tasks accurately and on time.
• Ability to cultivate relationships with children, families, school personnel, organizational supporters and community partners.
• Proficient computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Outlook and ETO or other database applications.
• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress, and to develop others to do the same.

 Required Education, Experience, and Abilities:

 Minimum of bachelor’s degree strongly preferred, plus five years of experience working/volunteering with children, including at least two and a half years (3 years strongly preferred) in the role of a Mentor.  Previous supervisory experience mandatory.

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely based on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerofOne