Senior Manager for the Young Adult Workforce in Cleveland, Ohio at Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Since 1982, over 160,000 youth have been helped with Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) programs. Y.O.U. helps teens and young adults, ages 14-24 living in economically distressed communities succeed by providing educational and workforce opportunities, skills development, and access to career pathways. We offer school-based and community-based programs designed to meet the needs of Northeast Ohio employers, with a focus on those industry sectors that provide the most opportunities for career success. At Y.O.U., we are dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement of the quality of our services to youth, employers, and the community.

Job Purpose

The Senior Manager of Youth Employment Programs will work with the Director of Work Experience Programs to conceive, strategize, and organize youth employment program initiatives, goals and outcomes that align with Y.O.U.’s strategic vision. The Senior Manager is primarily responsible for the overall design and implementation of the Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEP) at Y.O.U. and the year-round youth employment programs that might flow from SYEP initiatives. The Senior Manager regularly interfaces with multiple external employers and community partners to develop and facilitate program initiatives - this includes the development of scopes of work and budgets and coordination with internal departments to facilitate the provision of contracted services and plan for future program initiatives and activities. The Senior Manager is directly responsible for a team of staff that implements program goals. The team includes the Manager of Community Partnerships & Academies, the Assistant Manager of Supportive Services and the Manager for Youth Employment Programs. Seasonally, this team will expand exponentially to include all the staff needed to implement summer programming. In addition, the Senior Manager coordinates with colleagues on other teams who have responsibilities to Senior Manager for the successful implementation of the SYEP. This requires regular communication and meetings to coordinate program requirements.

Essential Functions

• Implement and execute program goals and strategies as defined and directed by Director of Work Experiences.
• Serve as the first point of contact for upper management/executives on program information, progress, and achievement of outcomes.
• Create program reports that provide actionable data to inform program decisions and processes.
• Create program reports for Funders and provide data to Development Team as necessary to inform grant proposals.
• Work with external employers and community partners to develop programming to reach youth employment strategic goals – including developing scopes of work and budgeting.
• Is responsible for working with HR Department to lead efforts to recruit, train, and manage a team of core and seasonal staff to meet the needs of program implementation.
• Oversee continuous improvement of processes in registration, selection, eligibility determination, orientation; community partner coordination; youth and staff payroll; and compliance with funder requirements.
• Oversee Manager of Community Partnerships & Academies and communicates with community partners who refer teens and young adults to programs and serve as sites for paid work experience.
• Provide supervision, management, and leadership for the program operations team, effectively and positively communicating initiatives and motivating team members as needed to enhance outcomes and improve value for teens and young adults.
• Maintain compliance with policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation standards, and contractual performance agreements.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external entities to facilitate the provision of contracted services and plan for future program initiatives and activities.
• Ensure data and paperwork is regularly updated and that Y.O.U. is compliant with any required input of data in public/government management information systems.
• Ensure effective and timely communication with all involved stakeholders.
• Promote quality service delivery for optimal participant outcomes.
• Ensure positive interaction and collaboration with participants to maintain client satisfaction.
• Provides leadership, management and supervision to direct reports including the Manager of Community Partnerships & Academies, Manager of Youth Employment and the Assistant Manager of Supportive Services, and the expanded team of Seasonal staff during the summer months.
• Provide positive leadership to Core staff responsible for SYEP during the active program months to help achieve overall program goals.
• Assist Director of Work Experience Programs with development of program budgets and scopes of work. Will be responsible to adhere to budget once its developed.
• In coordination with the Resource and Support Services team, oversee the intake and assessment of teens and young adults applying for youth employment programming, acquisition and delivery of supportive services necessary to individual success, and work with internal/external resources and provider network to help teens and young adult overcome barriers to success.
• Ensure data and paperwork are regularly updated in internal and external data management systems and Y.O.U. is compliant with all required input of data in public/government management information systems.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Compliance to ensure that all individual and program files, both electronic and hard copy, are maintained in accordance with contract agreements and standard regulations.
• Coordinate with Manager of Employer Partnerships to ensure all employer-related processes for the Summer Youth Employment Program, including worksite cultivation and selection, employer validation, orientation, matching, job change requests, and ongoing problem solving are followed.
• Develop, manage and maintain relationships with employers.
• In conjunction with the Director of Work Experience Programs, oversees the Youth Employment programs’ engagement of the participant database.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision benefits available with coverage beginning the first of the month following date of hire.
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program and Long-Term Disability
• Retirement Plan with generous employer contributions
• Generous paid time off package including 17 paid holidays
• Professional Development Assistance Program

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Social Work, Public or Business Administration) from an accredited college or university preferred.
• An additional 4 years of work experience as detailed below can be substituted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree along with an associate degree.
• An additional 8 years of work experience as detailed below can be substituted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree. High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in program management and operation activities.
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading a working group or team of staff.
• Must have experience working in a non-profit setting.
• Experience using government/public data systems.
• Experience maintaining compliance with publicly funded grants and contracts.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel to/from Y.O.U. offices, partner organizations, schools, etc.
• Must pass a background BCI/FBI check as a condition of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Belief and commitment to Y.O.U.’s mission, vision, and values.
• Strong business acumen and excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated active listening skills.
• Possess high level of integrity and ability to use good judgement and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Proven ability to build quality business relationships internally and externally.
• Highly attentive to details and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, results oriented, and data driven environment.
• Proven ability to complete tasks and juggle multiple initiatives with minimal supervision.
• Strong coordination and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and initiatives at once.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment with minimal supervision.
• Has authority to hire, fire and promote employees.

All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, parental status, veteran status, military service, family medical history, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.