Program Manager
As the Program Manager for New Futures' new certification program, you will lead the organization's newest program expansionadvancing access to short-term credentials that align with regional workforce demands. This role will pilot and scale career-connected programming that opens doors to economic mobility for historically excluded students, ensuring that the certification experience is rooted in equity, relevance, and workforce alignment.
You will balance strategic program development with hands-on direct service, directly planning and facilitating in-person skill-building workshops, and providing one-on-one advising and career coaching support for certification students. In partnership with the Director of Scholar Programs, you will shape and evaluate the long-term trajectory of the program, continuously refining design based on participant feedback, labor market shifts, and organizational learning. You will also be responsible for developing and growing partnerships with both education and employment partners.
This role will require strong adaptability, a growth mindset, and flexibility to pivot as neededessential traits for bringing a new initiative from pilot stage into a sustainable long-term offering. You will play a critical role in extending New Futures' impact to a new group of students in the DC region.
The program is still in development and subject to change. At this time, cohorts run for 14 weeks with high-touch programming, including in-person workshops every two weekspotentially during evening or weekend hoursas well as weekly advising sessions, and other opportunities to connect with participants both virtual and in-person. While we hope to expand to other fields in the future, this initial pilot is supporting students completing Core Construction certifications and will require the Program Manager to learn about hiring in the construction industry. A significant portion of current program participants speak Spanish as their first language with varying levels of English proficiency.
This is a full-time position reporting to the Director of Scholars Programs.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
Program Management and Delivery : 65%
- Design and facilitate a series of skill-building workshops for certification students aimed at improving certification completion and job readiness, including managing all workshop logistics.
- Provide proactive, individualized advising for certification students to support their personal, academic, and career development. Regularly communicate with scholars via virtual and in-person meetings, texts, phone calls, and email.
- Maintain accurate records for all program participants, including documenting all advising sessions and workshops, and collecting program evaluation data.
- Maintain documentation of all program activities for the purposes of future growth and replication of new programming.
- Manage program budget, purchasing of needed supplies, and distribution of funds to students while maintaining accurate records.
- Manage relationships with existing program partners to recruit and select program participants, align programming with certification providers, and coordinate all logistical arrangements needed for program implementation.
- Grow partnerships with employers to bring industry insight and experiences to program participants and make connections for networking and potential employment, including collaboration with the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Community Impact.
Program Design and Leadership : 20%
Partner with the Director of Scholar Programs to shape the long-term strategy for scaling the certification program beyond its initial pilot year.Design program activities and outcomes, as well as ongoing evaluation for improvement and reporting.Build and manage strong relationships with program partners to support the continued relevance and growth of the certification program, including new potential education partners for program expansion.Engage in professional development to stay abreast of updates and trends in postsecondary education (especially pertaining to the growing area of certifications and other short-term education opportunities) and career readiness to inform current and future programming, as well as industry-specific information necessary to guide career advising.Establish and refine performance metrics, data collection, and reporting processes to monitor completion, outcomes, and engagement.Gather and incorporate participant feedback regularly to improve program design and delivery.Develop and refine performance metrics and data collection strategies to track certification completion, career outcomes, and participant engagement.Collaborate with the Philanthropy and Communications members to support fundraising efforts related to the certification program.Organization Support : 10%
Support other organizational activities, including fundraising and Scholars Program activities (including annual Scholars Weekend retreat), as neededOther duties, as assigned : 5%
Job Qualifications & Requirements
Candidates must reside in the Washington, DC metropolitan area at the time of hire and maintain residency throughout their tenure.Associate (or equivalent college experience ~60 credits) or higher degree3-4 years of experience supporting students in higher education or workforce development, and / or other relevant experience with a focus on workforce development or college access and / or success.Strong workshop planning and facilitation skills with a focus on engaging a variety of learners.Experience supporting students in a one-on-one setting and adapting to support their individual challenges.Knowledge of topics and skills relevant to postsecondary completion and workforce readiness.Flexibility and ability to adapt to the challenges and ambiguities of a brand new program, including a solutions-oriented approach to managing change.Unwavering commitment to equity and a desire to challenge barriers within higher education.Desire to lead with empathy and advocate for the needs of all students.Experience with and sensitivity to the needs of a diverse scholar and alumni community.Ability to develop positive relationships with stakeholders, especially in a virtual and / or hybrid environment.Enthusiasm for spearheading new projects, and eagerness to learn and improveExcellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong detail orientation.Enthusiasm for team collaboration, including a willingness to pitch in as needed while maintaining the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.Ability to attend in person, evening, and weekend meetings / events as needed.Preferred Qualifications :
Proficiency in Spanish strongly preferredPrior experience advising post-secondary students and program design at a nonprofit organization.Knowledge of and familiarity with Salesforce, Google Suite, and Zoom.What Else You Should Know
The position is full-time and is based in Washington, DC. We are currently operating in a hybrid model (remote and in-person). Our hybrid model is subject to change.
The starting salary range for this position is $57,146.00 - $62,000, with the exact wage depending on experience. We anticipate the hire date for this role will be December 2025 (for internal hires) or January 2026 (for external hires).
We offer excellent benefits, including but not limited to generous time off, a wellness package, a professional development budget, reimbursement options, and employer-paid medical premiums covering 80%90% of employees' costs.
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to racial and gender equity. We make a particular effort to recruit candidates who identify as Black, Latinx, Indigenous, people of color, and gender non-binary to apply for open positions.
Have a passion for our mission, but don't check all the boxes? We still want to hear from you! Too often, excellent candidates elect not to apply for roles if they don't meet all the requirements listed in a job descriptionthis is especially true for women and candidates of color. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position! New Futures believes in helping its staff grow; in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.
To Apply : Please submit a resume and cover letter through our career page . We also strive to ensure the hiring process, including the submission of the application, meets your needs. If an accommodation is needed during the application or hiring process, please email Admin@newfuturesdc.org , as well.