Jobs and Careers

Senior Program Specialist - Special Programs

United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 16 Apr 2026

💰 $67,000/yr($60,827/yr – $67,000/yr)

About the role

Summary of Position: The Program Specialist is primarily responsible for facilitating and managing the day-to-day logistics of a portfolio of 20-25 high-quality programs through regular site visits, performing program observations, and providing actionable recommendations to enhance program quality, safety, compliance, instruction, attendance, enrollment, and retention, as well as addressing other critical areas.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Employee Instructors and Program Providers
Provide direction to community and campus liaisons and ensure compliance with program requirements
Annual operating budget responsibility: $1M

Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Quality

Oversee and ensure high-quality of all programs within portfolio;
Build and maintain a high-quality program portfolio that includes after school, daytime, weekend, and school break programs.
Track and analyze program data to identify trends, address challenges, identify program supports needed, and implement strategies that maximize participation and retention in programs
Assist in the recruitment process of program staff, oversee the selection of returning programs, identify new program providers, and ensure compliance with portfolio benchmarks
Assess program quality and compliance and provide program budget and portfolio reports and recommendations to Program Manager
Conduct regular program site visits for each program in portfolio and make recommendations for Youth Program Quality Assessments
Manage ASM instructors from recruitment to providing ongoing coaching to instructors, ensuring they have the resources and training necessary to deliver high-quality programming
Co-lead facilities meetings and maintain regular communication with Facilities Management re: building cleanliness, building organization, building repairs, space reservations, building improvements, security, safety drills, food service, etc.
Establish, communicate, and uphold building expectations (entry/exit, food/drink expectations, no gum, appropriate attire, etc.)
Address teen behavioral incidents by facilitating mediation, conducting parent/guardian follow‑up, documenting incidents, and recommending appropriate next steps, including escalation in alignment with organizational policies and safety protocols
Provide leadership for designated program sites when the Senior Program Manager is not available.

Administrative Duties

Act as the primary contact for instructors, community/campus liaisons, and school staff for programs
Assist in developing and implementing effective teen recruitment and retention strategies for branch programs
Plan, schedule, organize, and conduct all assigned meetings with partners, instructors, community, and campus liaisons each session
Submit incident reports and follow up on next steps, including conducting thorough follow-up on incident reports, and addressing concerns raised by instructors, community-based organizations, schools, and sites with support from Program Manager

Community Relations

Coordinate community outreach efforts, including attending events and meetings (e.g., aldermanic meetings, police district beat meetings, library meetings) to promote programs and recruit participants, securing locations for programs
Gather feedback from community members and partners to create new programs, continuously improve existing programs and address the needs of the communities served
Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: