Youth Pathways Program Manager
hace 10 días
Minneapolis
Job DescriptionYouth Pathways Program Manager Time: Full-TimeLocation: Minneapolis, MN, On-site #LI-OnsiteApplication Deadline: Rolling ApplicationsAbout Spark-YSpark-Y is a youth empowerment nonprofit that provides access and opportunity to youth through hands-on education, projects, and employment rooted in sustainability and entrepreneurship. Since 2013, over 13,000 youth have participated in our award-winning programs, sparking personal and professional development, and collective care for the Earth we all share.Learn more at Spark-y.orgPosition DescriptionAre you the kind of person who can build authentic relationships with young people while ensuring the systems and structures around them actually work? Do you thrive on being present, solving problems in real-time, and making sure that behind every youth success story is solid infrastructure that delivers results? As Youth Pathways Program Manager, you will be both the heart and the backbone of our youth pathways programs, the person who shows up, connects with participants, and ensures everything from scheduling to compliance to data tracking runs smoothly so young people can focus on learning and growing.You will oversee our apprenticeship and internship cohorts from the ground up: managing participant onboarding, implementing HR policies and safety protocols, coordinating schedules and work assignments, tracking hours and impact data, and ensuring youth experiences translate into accurate reporting for grants and fiscal accountability. You'll be the consistent adult presence in the room; answering questions, troubleshooting challenges, maintaining program culture, and connecting youth to opportunities and resources across our partner network.This role requires someone who can hold multiple threads at once: mentoring individual youth while managing cohort logistics, ensuring compliance while staying relationally engaged, tracking data while being fully present on-site. You'll collaborate closely with our Curriculum Manager, employer partners, and operations team to ensure apprenticeships deliver both transformative youth experiences and the documented outcomes that sustain our programs. This position reports to the Operations department lead and is essential to the operational health, authenticity, and impact of Spark-Y's youth pathways.Key ResponsibilitiesYouth Cohort Management & Culture • Serve as primary on-site presence and "adult in the room" for apprentice and intern cohorts, • Build authentic relationships with youth participants while maintaining professional boundaries and program structure, • Conduct regular check-ins with youth to support goal-setting, problem-solving, and skill development, • Foster cohort community and maintain program culture across multiple sites and placements, • Provide coaching and mentorship that balances support with accountability, • Celebrate youth achievements and support participants through challenges, • Requires regular on-site presence and mobility between program sitesHR Policy Implementation & Compliance, • Implement HR policies and frameworks consistently across all youth participants, • Manage participant onboarding processes including paperwork, safety training, and orientation, • Ensure youth understand and comply with workplace safety protocols and organizational policies, • Coordinate with HR/leadership on policy questions and compliance issues, • Track and document incidents, concerns, and resolution of youth-related issues, • Maintain professional standards while creating supportive, equitable environmentsScheduling & Program Operations, • Coordinate apprentice and intern schedules, work assignments, and placement logistics, • Manage roster accuracy and ensure youth are assigned to appropriate sites and supervisors, • Track participant attendance and ensure hours are logged accurately and in real-time, • Coordinate transportation, equipment, and logistical needs for program activities, • Troubleshoot scheduling conflicts and operational challenges as they arise, • Ensure smooth program flow across multiple concurrent placements and projectsData Systems & Fiscal Accountability, • Maintain accurate participant records in Learning Management System (LMS) and other tracking platforms, • Ensure hours worked are logged correctly and timely for billing, grant reporting, and payroll, • Track impact data and participant outcomes required for grant compliance and reporting, • Support fiscal team by providing accurate, complete data for invoicing and contract deliverables, • Generate reports on participation, completion rates, and program metrics, • Contribute to program evaluation and continuous improvement through data analysisPartner Relations & Coordination, • Serve as liaison between youth, employer partners, worksites, and Spark-Y program teams, • Communicate regularly with site supervisors and mentors about youth progress and needs, • Coordinate with Curriculum Manager to align apprenticeship experiences with learning objectives, • Support Employer Network and Career Pipeline initiatives through youth placement coordination, • Build relationships with community partners to expand opportunities for participants, • Engage alumni and create pathways for continued connectionProgram Infrastructure & Problem-Solving, • Ensure role clarity for youth participants, supervisors, and program staff, • Identify and address gaps in program operations, systems, or processes, • Respond to real-time questions, issues, and needs as they emerge on-site, • Coordinate across departments to ensure apprenticeships deliver on commitments, • Document processes and create systems that improve program consistency and quality, • Maintain presence at headquarters and partner sites as needed to support operationsEssential Experience, • Bachelor's degree in Youth Development, Social Work, Education, Human Resources, Program Management, or related field OR equivalent professional experience in youth workforce programs, • 3-5 years of experience managing youth apprenticeship, internship, or workforce development programs, • Demonstrated experience implementing HR policies, safety protocols, and compliance requirements (not creating policy, but executing it consistently), • Track record managing data systems, tracking platforms, or reporting for fiscal/grant accountability, • Experience coordinating schedules, rosters, and logistics for multi-participant programs, • Strong relationship-building skills with ability to connect authentically with diverse youth while maintaining professional structure, • Systems and process orientation with ability to manage details while staying present and engaged, • Problem-solving mindset and comfort handling real-time operational challenges, • Cultural competency and commitment to equity in youth programs, • Ability to be physically present on-site and serve as consistent program presenceNon-Essential Experience, • Experience with Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard, or similar platforms), • Knowledge of workforce development systems, youth employment programs, or apprenticeship frameworks, • Background in HR compliance, OSHA safety standards, or workplace readiness training, • Familiarity with grant reporting requirements and outcome measurement, • Experience with employer partnership cultivation or work-based learning coordination, • Exposure to curriculum development or competency-based assessment models, • Proficiency with project management tools (Monday.com, Asana, or similar), • Advanced Excel skills, database management, or data visualization, • Bilingual or multilingual language skills, • Experience in STEM education, sustainability careers, or green workforce development, • Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and restorative approaches with youth, • Certification in career coaching, youth development, or program managementCompensation & Benefits Annual Salary: $58,000-$68,000 FTE base (salary commensurate with experience)Annual Raises: Eligible for merit-based raises reviewed annually based on performance, market conditions, and organizational growthPTO: 12 days + 7 personal/sick days, most federal holidays, and 2 day PTO accrual annuallyHolidays: Most Federal holidays plus extended breaks for Thanksgiving, winter break, and 4th of JulyMonthly Health Stipend / ICHRA: $125-$200/monthTele-Health Enrollment: Provides access to basic consultation and prescription services401K Retirement Plan: Eligible after 90 days, with 50% employer match on contributions up to 3% of salary (max 1.5% employer contribution)Maternity/Paternity Policy: 3 paid weeks (15 business days) following FMLAEqual Employment OpportunityWe are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. E04JI800clpr408mv4l