Program Manager - Language Justice Program

About Masa

Masa partners with Mexican and Latin American immigrant children, youth, and families in the South Bronx to develop strong learners and leaders who fully contribute to the larger community. We envision a community that is civically engaged, empowered, and educated.

Masa’s community-led, integrated model engages the entire family, grounded in a deep commitment to strengthening literacy, leadership, and power for Mexican, Central American, and Indigenous People. Masa fosters a culturally responsive learning community in which families engage with direct service and advocacy programs to dismantle barriers to success.

About the Language Justice Program

The Language Justice Program aims to deliver language services that empower historically marginalized voices. Through this project, we seek to address the need for interpretation and translation services in Spanish and Indigenous languages from Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) across NYC, provide economic opportunities for communities that speak these languages, and support workforce development through the strengthening of a Community Interpreter Program and a language worker cooperative.

About the Program Manager position

Masa is seeking a proactive, organized, and equity-driven Program Manager to lead Masa’s Language Justice Program. This is a full-time, in-person role (40 hrs/week) that is planned to run through June 30, 2027 with the possibility of extension contingent on funding. This role bridges daily program implementation with strategic oversight, supporting both staff and interpreters, and upholding protocols for communication and accountability.

More specifically, this role will oversee the implementation of the core components of this program: the interpreter training program, the development of a language worker cooperative, and the Community Interpreter Program. The Program Manager will lead outreach, recruitment, and enrollment efforts; coordinate with consultants and oversee the logistics for the interpreter training program, as well as the language worker cooperative development program; and manage the Community Interpreter Program, ensuring work readiness, identifying gaps and opportunities for professional development, matching interpreters with work opportunities, and supporting marketing, invoicing, and improvements in service delivery. The Program Manager will also be responsible for tracking program outcomes and reporting metrics. The Program Manager will supervise 3 program staff who will provide support for these components.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about language justice and empowering indigenous and immigrant communities; self-driven; possess a degree of business acumen; and have strong project management skills, including the ability to set goals, plan timelines, allocate and coordinate resources, and manage tasks effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor the day-to-day activities of the Language Justice program, ensuring trainings, outreach, events, and interpreter assignments are well-coordinated and executed
• Track progress on all deliverables, troubleshooting operational challenges as they arise
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for internal and external communications—ensuring consistency, professionalism, and linguistic accessibility
• Monitor implementation of interpreter and outreach protocols, ensuring adherence to quality and cultural competence standards; ensure that experiences and feedback from indigenous interpreters and community members are incorporated into program improvements
• Coordinate with Executive Director on strategic direction, work plan progress, reporting, evaluation, and budget needs
• Liaise with external partners, funders, and community leaders as needed to represent the program and gather input
• Conduct outreach proactively to community members and indigenous-serving organizations, fostering partnerships and promoting project awareness
• Implement the application, interview, language assessment, and enrollment processes for indigenous and Spanish/English interpreter training cohorts, ensuring a smooth and clear process for participants
• Collaborate closely with language interpreter trainers to coordinate training sessions, provide logistical and classroom support, and facilitate a conducive learning environment
• Exercise programmatic oversight over interpreter courses, including recording attendance, maintaining accurate documentation, and performing data entry tasks
• Manage procurement processes for all program goods and services, including vetting consultants, reviewing contracts and MOUs, getting quotes, and completing purchase order requests
• Support worker cooperative development training sessions, in collaboration with consultants, and liaise with legal, marketing and business experts to support launch of the cooperative
• Participate in strategic and implementations meetings with internal and external stakeholders, including with partners and city government institutions
• Provide guidance and mentorship to 3 program staff
• Coordinate daily program operations and schedules; ensure regular information flow between all team members. Relay updates, deadlines, and protocols, and ensure all relevant parties are informed and engaged
• Manage program records, budgets, and participant data; track outcomes and reporting metrics for funders
• Serve as a primary point of contact for staff, partners, and contractors

Requirements

• Bilingual Spanish/English, both verbal and written
• Possess a minimum of 2+ years of experience with program management
• Master’s degree preferred OR have a Bachelor's degree in a related field with minimum 3+ years of relevant experience
• Proven experience in community outreach, partnership building, or related roles, particularly with immigrant communities
• Ability to provide guidance and mentorship to 3 direct reports
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with trainers, consultants, participants, community organizations, and multilateral government institutions
• Passion for promoting linguistic diversity and inclusivity especially as it pertains to indigenous communities and empowering underrepresented communities
• Proficiency in data entry and basic record-keeping
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (including Excel and PowerPoint), Google Workspace, and project management tools (such as Asana or others)
• Flexibility with schedule changes to meet program goals and community need

Bonus Skills:

• Experience with small business development and/or worker cooperatives
• Verbal and written communications skills in an indigenous language from LAC
• Familiarity with Salesforce
• Experience planning and organizing events and workshops
• Experience of translation and interpretation services

Physical demands:

• This position is in-person at Masa’s office, with local travel (NYC-based) required
• Moderate carrying of program materials (10-25 lbs) is required
• Work schedule may include occasional evenings and Saturday availability
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods during meetings, outreach, tabling, or events
• Adept at handling technical equipment (smartboards, projectors, laptops, interpretation devices) for events

Bilingual Spanish/English, both verbal and written. Verbal and written communications skills in an indigenous language from LAC is a bonus.