Sr. Program Manager (Pittsburgh, PA)

Organization Profile: 
Founded in 1999, BUILD’s mission is to use entrepreneurship to ignite the power of youth in under-resourced communities to build Career success, Entrepreneurial mindsets, and Opportunity. We help students become the CEO of their own lives.

BUILD’s unique program offers students a four-year entrepreneurship experience designed to develop 21st Century Skills and motivate student engagement in school. Starting in 9th grade, BUILD students work with their peers and community mentors to develop business ideas, pitch to funders and launch real businesses. As students journey through high school and continue to grow their businesses, BUILD helps them explore college and career options, and assists students with the college application process. Entrepreneurship is the spark – college, career, and life success are the goals.

BUILD currently serves approximately 2,000 high school students annually at programs located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington DC, New York City and Boston. Our new digital offerings are reaching up to 15,000 students in 50 cities. For more information, please visit www.build.org.

Our Culture:
BUILD is made up of a diverse, results driven and passionate team who believe in the potential of every student and the power of entrepreneurship to transform the education landscape. We work in a collaborative environment where perseverance, flexibility, and an entrepreneurial spirit are encouraged and celebrated. Our culture thrives by embracing diversity, equity and inclusion, including cross-cultural understanding. Kindness, empathy and respect are at the forefront of the way we treat each other, our students, our teachers and our supporters. We believe in the potential of every student and are dedicated to breaking down the educational, economic and social barriers that stand in the way of their long-term success.  The remarkable young men and women whom we serve are at the center of everything we do. We are intentional about our culture so that we can best support them.
                                                                                                            
Position Summary:
The Senior Program Manager (SPM) will play a frontline role in BUILD’s launch in the Pittsburgh Metro Area.  The SPM will make history by helping to build a high-quality presence in the area and expand to other areas in Pennsylvania and, potentially, beyond.  Reporting to the National Director of School and Community Partnerships, the SPM will develop strong partnerships with schools and community-based organizations, creating and delivering high-quality teacher and volunteer training in Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Pittsburgh Districts. 

The SPM will build organizational capacity by training a volunteer workforce and will liaise with multiple stakeholders to cultivate a culture of teamwork, excellence, collaboration, and learning among existing and future partners. Working in collaboration with the Director of Partnership Development, Satellite Program Director, and other BUILD staff, the SPM will ensure that each partner site is operating effectively and will support the cultivation and maintenance of new school partnerships. This role serves as the lead for balancing program quality, consistency, efficiency, and student-centered innovation delivered by educators and volunteers. This is an excellent opportunity for a professional who is excited about leveraging their skills in serving an entrepreneurial ecosystem, training adults, and managing projects in a supportive, collaborative, start-up culture.
 

Position Responsibilities: 

Teacher and Volunteer Training

• Develop and maintain relationships with facilitators, volunteers, staff, and board members by demonstrating care, respect, and high expectations

• Collaborate with BUILD staff locally and nationally to provide training in using effective instructional practices for virtual and blended learning with under-resourced youth

• Provide coaching and professional development to ensure program excellence to partner facilitators and corporate volunteers

• Develop capacity building by the improvement of playbooks and other best practice resources as well as synchronous and asynchronous trainings for volunteers

• Coordinate, train, and support local volunteers

• Serve as a liaison between corporate volunteers and school and community partners 

School & Community Partnerships 

• Foster a culture of belonging, trust, effective communication, perseverance, collaboration, and overall excellence across partner sites

• Support developing and managing partnerships and corporate sponsors to ensure effective and sustainable implementation of BUILD offerings

• In conjunction with the Director of Partnerships, support the renewal of existing partnerships and on-boarding of new partnerships 

Program Implementation, Evaluation & Development 

• Utilize data to identify promising practices, celebrate successes, surface areas of improvement, and recommend strategies to promote organizational growth nationally

• Plan and implement a Pittsburgh regional BUILD Design Challenge

• Facilitate additional Design Challenges regionally and nationally, as requested

Qualifications:

• BA or BS degree in education or youth development, or related field or commensurate experience required. Master’s degree preferred

• 7+ years of classroom teaching experience or direct service working with youth

• Experience with training, coaching and managing adult volunteers

• Experience with entrepreneurship education and experiential education preferred; partnership development a plus

• High cultural competence with experience serving diverse populations and students from under-resourced communities

• Self-starter thrives in a fast-paced environment.  Startup experience is a plus

• 15% travel for regional and national gatherings; school visits to each partner at least three times a year, as conditions allow, and pending COVID-19 developments

• BUILD requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees. Reasonable accommodations based on a qualifying medical exemption or sincerely held religious beliefs are being considered in accordance with applicable law

Successful candidates will demonstrate BUILD’s Core Values and competencies through a combination of previous education/work experiences:


BUILD’s Core Values:

• Keep Students at the Center - As BUILDers, we hold an unwavering, passionate commitment and belief in the power and potential of youth. Our organization exists to serve students. We seize each opportunity to contribute to the foundation of knowledge, skills, and networks from which students can build extraordinary lives. Our operating principles and decisions focus on what is in the best interest of our students.

• Bring the Spark - As BUILDers, we excel in the entrepreneurial Spark Skills that we teach our students - Communication, Collaboration, Problem Solving, Innovation, Grit and Self-Management. We communicate through transparent and honest dialogue. We cherish teamwork, tenacity, and thinking outside the box. We demonstrate a relentless pursuit of excellence and approach work with a positive can-do attitude. When we bring the spark we achieve great things together, and we model the way for our students.

• Bridge Communities - As BUILDers, we develop and foster relationships in service of creating access and opportunities for our students, staff, and stakeholders. We value all who come to the table as partners to maximize our collective impact. By connecting the communities in which we work, we build empathy, equity, and social capital.

• Promote Diversity and Social Action - As BUILDers, we understand that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion matter, but what matters even more is Action. We strive to create equity of voice, access, influence, and power across lines of difference – both in and beyond BUILD, specifically for groups that have been historically denied social and economic justice. If we are not part of the solution, then we are part of the problem. We welcome, celebrate, and embrace the unique expressions and contributions of us all – our backgrounds, race, ethnicity, gender, language, sexual orientation, and social class.
   

Role Specific Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking - Take into account and analyze various points of view and pieces of data to form a perspective appropriate to a particular context.

• Relationship-Building/Relationships Management - Utilize effective interpersonal skills and techniques to reach mutually beneficial goals over time.

• Entrepreneurialism - Demonstrate comfort with risk, and initiative taking, in order to achieve unique and aggressive goals.

• Creativity/Innovation - Envision new ideas that transcend traditional approaches and practices to move work forward.  

• Qualitative Analysis - Review non-numeric, often subjective, data sets in order to recognize patterns, identify additional information or data needed, and draw conclusions.  

• Time Management - Effectively prioritize and execute projects based on time estimates and relative importance.
   

Position Details:

• Full Time/Exempt

• Location:  Pittsburgh, PA Area

• 15% travel between local/school sites is required, so employees should have their own vehicle for transportation (valid proof of insurance required). Mileage for work-related travel beyond the normal commute will be reimbursed at the stipulated IRS rate. Occasional travel is required during the year for visits to BUILD sites and gatherings nationally. (All travel requirements pending COVID-19 developments.)
   

Compensation:
The salary for the Senior Program Manager, Pittsburgh role ranges from $70,000 - $75,000 in accordance with BUILD’s equity-focused salary bands. BUILD offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees.  This includes employer-paid medical, dental & vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid life insurance, and a 403(b) plan with match.  In addition, eligible BUILD employees qualify for generous vacation, sick time, paid Federal holidays,  and a flexible work environment.
 

COVID-19 Commitment to Safety: 

BUILD requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees. Reasonable accommodations based on a qualifying medical exemption or sincerely held religious beliefs are being considered in accordance with applicable law.


Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume.  Please be advised that you will receive an automated acknowledgment of your application.  We will contact all applicants that meet the requirements of the role.  BUILD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

Department: Program
This is a management position
This is a regular full time position