Lead Program Manager

ABOUT COMPUTERS FOR YOUTH
CFY is the nation's leader in improving the Home Learning Environment of low-income school children. CFY works across the country to educate thought leaders and policymakers on the importance of expanding educational priorities to include learning in the home.

Since 1999, CFY has developed high-impact interventions to strengthen the home learning environment among middle school students, with programs now operating in New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its signature Take IT Home program helps educators build stronger home-school connections and provides families with the key ingredients required to improve their home learning environment -- a home computer loaded with selected educational software; online family learning services; information about affordable broadband options; and hands-on training designed to help parents become more effective learning partners. Families are trained at a half-day Family Learning Workshop in the child's school where parents and their children learn together on their Home Learning Center computer. Studies confirm that CFY’s programs have significantly improved students’ test scores and class effort and have increased parents’ confidence and involvement.

To extend the impact of its work and strengthen the home learning field, CFY also operates an Affiliate Network of more than 30 organizations in more than 20 states and the District of Columbia.

In Los Angeles, CFY will serve approximately 15,000 families in about 30-40 schools over the next two years by providing free home learning centers, training, and bilingual help desk support, with the goals of strengthening the home learning environment and promoting family broadband adoption. Additionally, CFY-LA will provide professional development and training to the educators at its partner schools in order to strengthen the connection between the classroom and the home.

For more information, please visit www.cfy.org.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Lead Program Manager (LPM) will oversee the Take IT Home Program implementation and school relations for approximately 20 schools. The LPM will work directly with the Los Angeles Unified School District staff and the CFY program team.

DIRECT REPORTS
The LPM will supervise a team of Program Managers and Program Coordinators.

DIRECT SUPERVISOR
The LPM will report to the Director of Programs

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Implementation: 50%
Ensure high quality program implementation at approximately 20 partner schools:

• Provide supervision and coaching to approximately two Program Managers and two Program Coordinators in their implementation of Take IT Home in their assigned partner schools.
• Attend Family Learning Workshops to:
  o Ensure strong relationships between CFY and partner schools.
  o Ensure quality of program team's implementation.
  o Provide encouragement and support to program team.
• Occasionally accompany program team to schools to observe in-class outreach.
• Occasionally act as School Manager, implementing the Take IT Home program from Kick-Off meeting up through the Family Learning Workshop.

School Relations: 30%
Ensure strong relationships between CFY and assigned partner schools:

• Cultivate CFY relationships with partner schools.
• Monitor school relationships with support of Program Managers and report on status to the Director of Programs.
• Schedule and attend school Kick Off Meetings.
• Attend Family Learning Workshops, in-class outreach, and other school meetings as necessary.
• Attend and facilitate school partnership evaluation meetings.
• Ensure that Program Managers respond appropriately, effectively and in a timely manner to all school communication.
• Troubleshoot complex issues with Program Managers and Director of Programs as needed.
• Work with Program Managers and Program Coordinators to cultivate CFY champions who are excited to help the organization further its mission.
• Check in with school personnel as needed.

General Program Leadership and Support: 15%

• Provide ongoing support and feedback to the National Product team regarding all Take IT Home implementation issues.
• Provide ongoing leadership within the National Product Team on key program innovations, such as school outreach.
• Oversee program Focus Areas.

General Management Responsibilities: 5%

• In conjunction with the Director of Programs, train new LA program staff: program managers, program coordinators, and part-time program associates.
• Manage individual team members’ performance: ensure training and coaching necessary to perform basic job duties, hold bi-weekly meetings with team members to support their performance, perform annual performance reviews, and maintain documentation as per CFY standards.
• Participate in, and occasionally lead, CFY-LA weekly team meetings.
• Attend training, including in-house training. Be prepared to discuss concepts learned in the class with management team members, and find ways to apply learning at CFY-LA.
• Manage up, by being proactive and keeping managers informed of changing priorities.
• Understand and communicate the mission to staff, clients, donors, and other stakeholders

Other Duties as Necessary

Note: During the school year, this position is primarily a Tuesday-Saturday position with exceptions on most holiday weekends.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
• Passion for CFY’s mission;
• Bachelor’s degree;
• At least three years of experience in program management;
• Proven leadership and personnel management experience;
• Demonstrated strength in holding team members accountable to measurable performance expectations;
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Proven organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Strong relationship or “people” skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with minimal oversight;
• Capacity to thrive under pressure while working on multiple tasks and projects;
• Ability to set priorities for self, team and peers, and adjust when priorities change;
• Proficient using all Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

One or more of the following preferred:
• Bilingual in Spanish and English;
• Experience working with public schools and/or districts;
• Experience working with low-income communities;
• Experience managing full-time staff;
• K-12 teaching background;
• Master’s degree in a related field.

Please send a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity, to jobs@cfy.org using the following conventions:

Subject line: Lead Program Manager Search Cover Letter:
yourfirstname_yourlastname_coverletter.doc Resume: yourfirstname_yourlastname_resume.doc
Writing Sample: yourfirstname_yourlastname_writingsample.doc
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.