Program Manager

About LEAF

The LEAF Project is an innovative nonprofit organization at the intersection of youth development, sustainable agriculture, and food systems work in South Central Pennsylvania. Through meaningful responsibility and real-world work, LEAF cultivates youth leaders from diverse backgrounds while building a more resilient and equitable food system. On our 7-acre home farm, youth work alongside adult staff to grow vegetables, prepare food, engage with the community, and build leadership and workforce readiness skills. Youth participate in year-round programming that challenges them to grow strong roots in themselves, their communities, and the future.

At LEAF, we believe:

• young people grow through meaningful responsibility,
• leadership develops through trust and challenge, and
• strong systems create the conditions for people to thrive.

Position Overview

The Program Manager is a central leadership role within LEAF’s youth program and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day implementation, coordination, and quality of LEAF’s youth programming.

This role blends:

• youth mentorship,
• operational leadership,
• teaching and facilitation,
• program coordination, and
• systems management.

The Program Manager works collaboratively within LEAF’s leadership team to create clear, consistent, and supportive structures that allow youth to grow into new levels of leadership and responsibility.

The ideal candidate:

• Builds strong rapport and enjoys supporting the growth of others,
• Is highly organized and proactive,
• balances warmth with accountability, and
• enjoys working alongside youth in dynamic, hands-on environments.

This is a leadership role for someone who enjoys building systems, supporting people, and helping meaningful work happen well.

Schedule Expectations

This is a full-time, salaried/exempt position with a schedule that follows LEAF’s seasonal youth programming rhythms.

• Summer Schedule (June–Mid August):
  • Monday- Fridays, approximately 8-4
  • Occasional evening or weekend event support
• School Year Schedule (Mid August–May):
  • Sundays-Thursdays, including youth shifts on Tuesdays & Thursdays (4-7) and Sundays (1-5)
  • Weekday daytime hours for program planning and administration
  • Occasional evening or weekend event support

LEAF recognizes that youth programming includes occasional evening and weekend responsibilities. We are committed to building sustainable staffing structures, clear communication, and collaborative coverage systems that support both excellent programming and staff wellbeing. Schedule details may shift slightly depending on programming and seasonal needs.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

Program Leadership & Operations (80–85%)

Youth Recruitment & Hiring

• Lead annual youth crew recruitment efforts in collaboration with staff and youth leadership
• Coordinate outreach presentations at schools, community organizations, and partner sites
• Manage youth application, interview, and onboarding processes for 100+ applicants annually
• Coordinate interview scheduling and communication with applicants and families
• Support development of equitable and effective recruitment systems

Program Operations & Logistics

• Lead day-to-day program coordination and implementation alongside program staff
• Generate and maintain youth schedules, staffing plans, transportation systems, and program logistics
• Coordinate youth communication and attendance systems
• Support safe, organized, and well-run programming environments
• Collaborate with staff to identify and address operational challenges proactively

Youth Mentorship & Leadership Development

• Mentor youth crew members through meaningful work and leadership experiences
• Support youth in developing responsibility, communication skills, confidence, and workplace readiness
• Facilitate individualized support and accountability plans as needed
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and growth-oriented program culture

Teaching & Facilitation

• Teach and facilitate workshops during school-year and summer programming
• Lead approximately:
  • weekly Sunday workshops during the school year
  • and 2–3 workshops per week during the peak summer season
• Facilitate discussions related to:
  • leadership development,
  • food systems,
  • farming,
  • workforce readiness,
  • and personal growth
• Collaborate with staff and youth leaders to strengthen curriculum and learning experiences

Program Evaluation

• Lead program evaluation processes, including qualitative and quantitative assessments
• Coordinate data collection, reflection processes, and participant feedback systems
• Support documentation and reporting needed for grants and organizational learning
• Help identify themes, successes, and opportunities for program improvement

Venture & Event Support (5–10%)

• Support organization-wide events, markets, and seasonal community programming alongside staff and youth
• Participate in occasional farm or kitchen-based programming support as needed
• Collaborate across departments to help create cohesive youth and community experiences

Team & Organizational Leadership (10%)

• Participate actively in weekly staff meetings, planning processes, and organizational reflection
• Contribute to a collaborative, equitable, and growth-oriented staff culture
• Support organization-wide initiatives and strategic planning efforts as needed
• Engage thoughtfully in LEAF’s feedback and shared leadership culture

Qualifications & Desired Qualities

We recognize that strong candidates may come from a variety of professional and life experiences. We encourage applicants who feel aligned with LEAF’s mission and values to apply, even if they do not meet every qualification listed below.

The strongest candidates for this role will demonstrate many of the following qualities:

• Significant experience working with youth, young adults, educational programs, community-based programs, or leadership development settings
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage logistics, schedules, timelines, and multiple moving pieces simultaneously
• Ability to communicate clearly, proactively, and respectfully with youth, families, coworkers, and community partners
• Emotional maturity and the ability to balance warmth, accountability, flexibility, and consistency
• Comfort working in dynamic, fast-paced, and hands-on environments
• Ability to think ahead, solve problems collaboratively, and follow through reliably
• Experience teaching, facilitating groups, mentoring, or leading experiential learning environments preferred
• Commitment to equity, relationship-building, and youth-centered leadership
• Ability to work collaboratively within a small, highly relational team environment
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to transport youth as needed
• Relevant youth protection clearances (or willingness to obtain prior to employment)

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
• Ability to safely lift up to 50 lbs
• Ability to navigate uneven terrain and participate actively in farm and program environments

Significant employer contribution toward health insurance coverage, employer-matching retirement benefit, 23 days Paid Time Off in the first year of employment (10 flexible days plus 13 fixed days, including a one-week winter organizational pause), and discounted access to LEAF produce and products.

• Must be able to lead and facilitate workshops taught in English
• Must be able to provide meaningful feedback to youth in English