Director of Programs

Director of Programs

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

(with regular travel between San Francisco and San Jose)

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Start Date: August 2026

Starting Salary: $130,000

Overview

Are you a passionate and equity-driven education leader ready to take on a high-impact, strategic role during a pivotal entrepreneurial growth stage? Minds Matter Bay Area seeks a dynamic Director of Programs to independently lead, manage, and scale our successful college access initiatives for driven students from low-income families.

This is a unique opportunity for a proactive builder and strategic partner who excels at translating a high-level vision into actionable, well-executed plans with a strong sense of ownership. You will be responsible for building, refining, and ensuring the seamless delivery of all MMBay programs for high school students, which are rooted in a holistic model driven by a dedicated, volunteer-led environment. The role requires both high-level leadership and action-oriented engagement in day-to-day operations, including managing program staff and dedicated volunteer leaders.

The school-year work week (August–May) is Tuesday–Saturday. The role is in person every Wednesday year-round in San Francisco, and every Saturday during the school year at our San Francisco or San Jose site, rotating weekly to build presence and relationships at both locations. Regular evening engagement with volunteers is part of the role, as is a culture of team-building. Full schedule details appear under Location & Work Arrangements below.

Key Responsibilities

This role supervises one Program Manager and leads a network of volunteer-led teams—Program Leadership (PLT), Mentee Recruitment, Volunteer Recruitment, Summer Programs, and College Advising & Financial Aid (CAFA). Success depends on the ability to motivate, coach, and hold accountable volunteers who contribute their time outside of full-time jobs. This is a hands-on, player-coach role: the Director both sets strategy and standards and works directly in the program every week—for example, leading the weekly PLT meeting, participating in recruitment interviews and selection decisions, and co-running summer programs planning. The Director strengthens team performance by establishing clear expectations, structures, and accountability—and, beyond the regular hands-on work, serves as the backstop who absorbs delivery when a volunteer team falls short.

The key responsibilities for the Director of Programs role include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership & Infrastructure

• Lead the creation and refinement of program infrastructure, improving processes to bring clarity and consistency to all operations.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on all curriculum; design scope and sequence, refine strategy, and ensure strong alignment across program delivery.
• Oversee the SAT test prep program, including the provider relationship and tracking key success indicators.
• Lead the team of volunteer instructors—recruiting, supporting, and maintaining quality through a structured observation and feedback process.
• Oversee the volunteer-led CAFA (College Advising & Financial Aid) team, setting advising standards and ensuring consistent, equitable, high-quality guidance for students.
• Build and refine key performance indicators (KPIs) for the program while improving data collection methods to drive learning and impact.
• Develop and lead a culturally responsive caregiver and community engagement strategy.
• Ensure the success and sustainability of the program; proactively plan for future needs and address challenges before they arise.

Program Management and Operations

• Oversee Saturday sessions, including logistics and operations, while ensuring that minimum attendance requirements are met and volunteers are prepared to facilitate the curriculum.
• Manage end-to-end data collection processes and maintain accurate, reliable student records in Salesforce; provide consistent oversight and process improvement for volunteers partnering with us to carry out this work.
• Oversee financial management and budgeting, and ensure the implementation of safety protocols and risk management.
• Manage and plan the program calendar and communications.
• Develop and facilitate onboarding and training for volunteer leaders, mentors, and staff.
• Cultivate relationships with partner high schools, colleges, and other CBOs.

Volunteer & Team Management

• Manage MMBay’s volunteer-led Program Leadership Team (PLT) across two sites (San Jose and San Francisco), ensuring strong execution of day-to-day program, recruitment, and training.
• Personally lead the weekly PLT meeting, driving discussion of curriculum and student concerns.
• Lead the volunteer-led Summer Programs team, owning program strategy and outcomes in close partnership with the Program Manager, who drives the substantial logistics (applications, placements, and enrollment).
• Build leadership structures and accountability systems that maintain high volunteer engagement and motivation.
• Own volunteer retention and culture, including appreciation, belonging, and engagement—ensuring volunteers feel valued and integrated into the MMBay community throughout the year.
• In partnership with the Program Manager, lead two annual community orientations (including a fall program-year launch and a mid-year volunteer professional development day), owning the content, learning objectives, and volunteer-development arc while the Program Manager owns production and logistics.
• Oversee one direct report (Program Manager) while cultivating an environment of mutual trust and professional growth.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for urgent student concerns, collaborating with external organizations for specialized support while ensuring ongoing engagement and care from our team.

Recruitment Strategy and Execution

• Oversee volunteer-led Student Recruitment (SR) and Volunteer Recruitment (VR) teams, ensuring all student and volunteer roles are filled ahead of each fall cohort launch.
• Participate directly in recruitment interviews and the selection decision forum, serving as the final decision-maker on student and volunteer selections.
• The Director is accountable for recruitment strategy and goals; the division of execution between the Director and the Program Manager is to be defined collaboratively between the two roles.
• Coach and support recruitment volunteers with a leadership-through-influence approach, recognizing and honoring their ownership while guiding strategy, execution, and continuous improvement.
• Support student recruitment teams in implementing equitable and inclusive interview practices aligned with DEIB principles, with a focus on increasing access and representation.
• Analyze recruitment trends and feedback to identify barriers, refine outreach strategies, and strengthen equity in recruitment outcomes year over year.

Qualifications

We recognize that great candidates may not meet every single requirement listed below. If you're excited about this role and believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply — even if your experience looks a little different. Note: A background check, fingerprinting and a reference check will also be a part of the process.

Required:

• 5+ years in a program leadership role with significant program-management and people-leadership responsibility within higher education, nonprofit college access, or workforce development
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset: takes initiative without waiting for direction, absorbs information quickly, exercises sound judgment, and is comfortable building systems and structures from the ground up in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to balance strategy and execution and think critically to identify gaps
• Proven ability to coach and lead through influence
• Excellent written and verbal communication and relationship skills, with the ability to engage across lines of difference
• Flexible, collaborative team member willing to pitch in and wear multiple hats
• Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices
• Proficiency navigating multiple technology platforms
• Given the nature of our organization, a Bachelor's degree is required
• Availability to work a Tuesday–Saturday schedule during the school year (August–May), with Wednesday and Saturday required in person, regular evening volunteer meetings (cadence designed by the Director), and occasional evening team-building functions; ability and willingness to travel between San Francisco and San Jose program sites

Preferred:

• Experience designing or evaluating programs for first-generation college students or historically underrepresented communities
• Experience serving as a volunteer or leading volunteer/non-paid teams, with insight into volunteer culture and motivation
• Background in culturally responsive teaching, youth leadership development, or mentoring
• Familiarity with Salesforce, Airtable, Zapier, and Google Workspace, or comparable program management/data systems
• Experience in cross-functional collaboration with development, operations, or external partners
• Familiarity with the Bay Area educational landscape and communities
• Bilingual (Mandarin/English) proficiency
• Master's degree in Education or a related field

Compensation and Benefits

Starting Salary: $130,000

To promote internal equity and transparency, Minds Matter Bay Area offers a clearly defined salary for this role and does not negotiate compensation. We aim to be upfront so candidates can make informed decisions from the start.

Benefits include unlimited paid time off (with manager approval), a health insurance stipend, and an employer 401(k) contribution of 3% of salary, provided regardless of employee participation.

Location and Work Arrangements

• This is a Bay Area-based position requiring regular travel between our San Francisco and San Jose locations.
• The role blends in-person and virtual/remote work, with in-person time for meetings, site visits, staff collaboration days, and required Saturday program sessions.
• During the school year (August–May), the work week is Tuesday–Saturday. Saturdays are in person at either our San Francisco or San Jose program site, rotating between sites to maintain presence and relationships at both.
• Wednesdays are in person year-round at our San Francisco office in the Presidio for staff collaboration.
• Several additional partial days per month involve in-person visits to local high schools, corporate partners, and other community organizations.
• The role includes approximately four 30-minute evening meetings per week with volunteers who work full-time during the day; the Director designs this cadence and may shift meetings to Saturdays or a biweekly rhythm to reduce evening load.
• Team-building with volunteers is part of our culture, and staff are expected to attend periodic evening functions in both San Francisco and San Jose.
• Summer months (June–July) follow a standard Monday–Friday schedule, with Wednesdays remaining in person.
• Minds Matter is committed to staff wellbeing and sustainable, fulfilling careers. We trust our team to manage their time and energy across the year and to take the rest they need to do their best work.

Apply

Applications must be submitted to THIS LINK. Applications submitted through any other medium will not be considered. The application deadline is July 1, 2026. The search process will encompass three rounds of interviews and a thought exercise with various members of the organization.

About Minds Matter Bay Area

Minds Matter is a national nonprofit organization that connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world. Since 1991, every Minds Matter student across the country has been accepted to a four-year college — helping to address the widespread issue of college undermatching. Their success is rooted in holistic programming and a unique, volunteer-powered model that fosters deep, long-standing relationships between students and mentors.

Founded in 2010, Minds Matter Bay Area (MMBay) is one of 14 chapters in the national network. To date, MMBay has graduated over 200 students — 100% have been accepted to four-year colleges, 75% attend some of the most selective institutions in the country, and 100% have graduated within four years.

Our free weekly programming is delivered by a powerful network of volunteers who mentor, teach, and walk alongside students on their journey to — and through — college. We are driven by equity, relationships, and a deep belief in the brilliance and potential of our students. Learn more at www.mindsmatterbay.org.

Core Values

We are looking for someone who is deeply committed to living out and modeling Minds Matter Bay Area’s core values:

• We Show Up – We are present, reliable, and ready to support one another.
• We Do the Hard Work – We embrace challenges and take responsibility.
• We Believe and Persist – We stay hopeful and keep going, even when it's tough.
• We Prioritize Communication – We value transparency and honest dialogue.
• We Practice Emotional Courage – We lead with heart and aren’t afraid to be vulnerable.
• We Are the Culture – We shape and protect the culture we want to be part of.

Equal Opportunity

Minds Matter Bay Area is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and volunteers. Individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and first-generation college graduates, are strongly encouraged to apply.