Senior Program Manager

Since 1973, Women Employed (WE) has been creating fundamental, systemic change for working women. WE are an advocacy organization. WE work to change systems, because when you improve a law, work with a company to create supportive policies, or help a college develop programs to keep working students in school, you can improve the circumstances of hundreds—maybe millions—of women all at once.

WE pursue equity for all. WE value the unique experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, skills, knowledge, and workstyles that a diverse workforce brings to our organization. WE are committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff, and we encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with different abilities to apply.

Women Employed is seeking a results driven individual who will leverage their skills to design and execute a pilot, collaborative project working directly with colleges and other stakeholders to revamp developmental education within the State of Illinois to accelerate progress of low income students and students of color. The project is grant supported through October 2022, efforts may be made to renew or secure additional funding to continue to support this position after the initial grant ends.

Responsibilities:

1. Co-design and execute strategy to implement a pilot project to revamp remedial education with Illinois community colleges.

• Utilize data and research to drive decisions from selecting campuses for participation to planning how to implement for highest impact.
• Work with team and external consultant to craft project strategy.

2. Recruit, build relationships, and manage a cohort of 10 colleges to pilot the project.

• Identify and recruit colleges which provide a diverse representation of typical Illinois colleges (geographical, communities served, etc.)
• Negotiate contracts with colleges including setting appropriate expectations and outcomes.
• Facilitate meetings (kick-off and on-going group meetings) and manage all site visits from planning to execution.
• Manage cohort including intentionally building relationships and connections across the cohort.

3. Responsible for project management, outcomes, and reporting.

• Coordinate internal project team and external consultant to execute the work.
• Set appropriate project outcomes for the college cohort, monitor and report of outcomes including internal reporting and reporting to external stakeholders and funders.
• Report on learnings from the project to external funders and internal team to better inform strategies for better future impact.

Opportunities for Growth:

• Gain a deeper understanding of policy and advocacy work related to higher education.

Position Requirements

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of five years relevant experience including experience with higher education. Preference given to candidates with direct experience working at a college or university.
• Management and supervisory experience is preferred but not required.

Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree Required

Skills Required:

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage both the work and coordinate the internal team including an ability to drive the project toward intended outcomes.
• Demonstrated relationship building or coalition management skills with experience building coalitions preferred.
• Understanding of racial equity impacts, including impacts in higher education, and experience incorporating a racial equity lens into the program work.
• Knowledge of and working familiarity with developmental/remedial education.

Other requirements:

• Must be able to travel with-in the State of Illinois (post-COVID) to lead site visits and

meetings.

• Position can be performed remotely provided individual is able to meet the travel

requirement above.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Is able to utilize and interpret data for program outcomes.
• Is able to write compelling and cohesive reports on project work for internal team and external funders/stakeholders.
• Is able to speak passionately and engage others about the work.