Currently Hiring: Program Manager

At Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), we’re passionate about transforming systems for young people so that they can reach their full potential and become catalysts for change. We believe young people, when equipped with confidence, self-worth, leadership and social-emotional skills, can effectively tackle the inequities directly impacting them, their families and their communities. YLI is seeking a full-time Program Manager to lead the Afterschool Leadership Program.

The YLI Program Manager oversees the planning, coordination, and delivery of the afterschool program, which serves 30–40 youth and up to 10 Youth Mentors each year. This role ensures the program is aligned with the organization’s mission of youth development, social justice, equity, and leadership, and is responsible for the program’s daily operations, staff support, budget management, community partnerships, and youth engagement.

While the Program Manager has the responsibilities identified below, this is not a comprehensive listing of all duties. The Program Manager reports directly to the Co-Executive Director. 

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Implementation

  • Leads the day-to-day operations of the YLI afterschool program, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and strengths-based learning environment.

  • Develops and facilitates youth programming and curriculum that reflects organizational values and meets identified outcomes.

  • Designs and delivers workshops, training, and weekly sessions that promote leadership, community engagement, and skill-building for youth participants.

  • Establishes and sustains a culture of belonging, inclusion, and authenticity to ensure YLI is a welcoming and youth-centered environment. 

  • Develops and implements strategies to achieve program goals, including creating or modifying applicable practices and policies as necessary. 

  • Plans and facilitates Fall orientation sessions to equip youth participants with the knowledge, expectations, and support needed for active and meaningful engagement throughout the program year.

  • Applies creative problem-solving skills to adapt programming, respond to emerging needs, and ensure high-quality experiences for youth and mentors.

  • Demonstrates strong competencies in youth development, trauma-informed, social justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to foster a culturally responsive and empowering environment for all participants.

  • Regularly reviews and updates program curriculum to ensure it remains relevant, engaging, and aligned with YLI’s mission, values, and youth development goals, while also reflecting current social, economic, and political contexts.

  • Demonstrates deep empathy for the struggles and challenges youth face, and responds with appropriate, supportive approaches.

Staff Supervision & Training

  • Supervise and train Youth Mentors, volunteers, and interns by conducting regular check-ins, setting goals, identifying professional development opportunities, facilitating orientation sessions, providing feedback, and overseeing their workload.

  • Designs and facilitates weekly meetings and training for Youth Mentors that foster teamwork, elevate youth voice and decision-making, and support their ongoing leadership development through coaching, reflection, and skill-building.

  • Serves as the volunteer coordinator, responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and training volunteers to ensure their engagement aligns with YLI’s values, practices, and youth-centered approach.

Operations, Logistics & Event Planning

  • Coordinates all logistics related to afterschool sessions, special events, and field trips, including transportation, meals, and supplies.

  • Manages internal and external communications (e.g. social media and email) related to programming.

  • Ensures the afterschool program’s policies and procedures are in alignment with the organization’s mission and goals.

  • Leads planning and execution of key annual events, including the Inspiration Dinner in March and Graduation in May, coordinating logistics, program flow, and stakeholder engagement.

Recruitment & Outreach

  • Leads recruitment of youth participants through school partnerships, community events, and tabling opportunities.

  • Builds and maintains strong relationships with school staff, families, and community partners to promote youth engagement and program visibility.

  • Represents YLI at events and acts as a key point of contact for community inquiries.

Evaluation & Reporting

  • Monitors program quality by evaluating strengths and areas for improvement.

  • Collects and analyzes data on attendance, outcomes, and feedback to inform continuous improvement.

  • Enters and maintains accurate and up-to-date youth data in YLI’s CRM system to support program tracking, evaluation, and reporting needs.

  • Prepares timely reports and documentation for internal use and external funders.

Budget & Financial Oversight

  • Manages the program budget in coordination with leadership staff.

  • Tracks expenditures, processes reimbursements, and ensures program activities remain within the allocated budget.

Other Requirements

  • Provides support to the Co-Executive Directors on special projects as needed, contributing to organization-wide initiatives and priorities.

  • Must lead and facilitate the annual summer wilderness trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) for Youth Mentors, supporting their growth through outdoor leadership, team building, and personal development.

  • Must have a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.

  • Must be in good physical health and able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs.

  • Must be available to work evenings and weekends as needed. The afterschool youth program and Youth Mentor meetings typically occur after 3 p.m., with two required weekend overnight retreats held in October and May (Friday–Sunday).

  • Must be responsive and available to support youth’s needs as they arise.

  • Attends monthly board meetings, serves as the staff lead for the Program Committee, and provides regular updates and reports on program progress and impact.

Ideal Candidate 

The ideal Program Manager candidate is an empathetic, organized, hands-on leader. The candidate is a collaborator, team builder and effective program designer. Previous youth and leadership development experience are critical. While no one candidate will have all the criteria below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities and attributes: 

  • Experience leading and managing people and program in a complex, intense and fast-moving environment 

  • Cross-cultural competence skills and experience working with diverse communities 

  • Demonstrate conflict resolution and problem-solving skills 

  • Ability to assess situations for safety and risk 

  • Ability to discern, prioritize, and organize competing tasks 

  • Supervision and mentoring skills of youth

  • Awareness of experiential learning and reflection techniques 

  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills

  • Ability to motivate and inspire others 

  • Experience with financial management and budgets. 

  • Experience with CRMs and/or other donor or content databases

  • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team setting 

  • Strong time and project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and proactively plan ahead.

  • Embodies core values that are centered on equity with demonstrated experience and competencies in the principles and practices of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. 

Desired Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience/background in youth development. Two or more years of experience in an organizational leadership role as a manager or similar role.

Compensation and Benefits 

The expected salary for this role is between $55,000 - $58,000 depending on experience. The salary for the Program Manager is based on the 2022 MN Council of Nonprofits Salary Survey ranges for Twin Cities area youth development programs and organization size and the threshold for exempt status in Minnesota.

This is a full-time exempt position with approximately 40 hours a week and hybrid. YLI does not have an office which means the Program Manager can work remotely, but must participate and attend youth program activities, retreats and events.

We value staff wellness and prioritize staff development. Benefits we offer are:

  • Flexible, Family-Friendly Schedule: We support a flexible work environment, including the option for 4-day workweeks, and embrace creative and emergent workflows. Please note that this role is expected to work in the evenings and weekends as needed. The afterschool youth program and Youth Mentor meetings typically occur after 3 p.m., with two required weekend overnight retreats held in October and May (Friday–Sunday).

  • Generous Paid Time Off: We offer an unlimited PTO policy, designed to support work-life balance. Time off is coordinated with team needs to ensure consistent program support and organizational coverage and requires approval from supervisor ahead of time. Our office closes fully during the last two weeks of December, as well as for one full week each in the spring and summer.

  • Inclusive Holiday Observances: YLI honors a broad and inclusive calendar of holidays, beyond the standard federal schedule.

  • Health Benefits: Staff based in Minnesota are eligible to elect comprehensive health and dental insurance coverage.

We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer. 

How to Apply

If you are a passionate and experienced leader who is committed to helping young people reach their full potential, we encourage you to apply for the Program Manager position at YLI. We are looking for a leader who can help us achieve our mission of developing the next generation of leaders who reflect the diversity of the community to contribute their talents to create a thriving, inclusive, just and multicultural world. 

Interested applicants are requested to submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to Ntxheb Chang at ntxheb@yli-mn.org by 11:59 PM on Sunday, July 6th, 2025. Please use the following email subject: Application for YLI Program Manager Position.

Youth Leadership Initiative is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Veterans, women, persons of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities (seen or unseen), people of any age or family status are strongly encouraged to apply. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements