Program Manager, In-Person Programming (Volunteer)

Program Manager, In-Person Programming (Volunteer)

PromisePrograms | In-Person Programs, Student Experience & Program Operations

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: PromisePrograms

Program: PromiseRooted

Location: New York City — In Person

Type: Volunteer Program Leadership Role

Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week

Minimum Commitment: 6-month commitment required

Works Closely With: PromisePrograms Leadership, Site Coordinators, Mentors, Tutors, Instructors, Volunteers, Community Partners, and MAP Leadership

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, education, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and community-centered opportunity.

Our in-person programming creates consistent spaces where young people can learn, build relationships, explore their interests, and feel supported by adults who show up for them.

For MAP, strong programming is not simply about what happens during an activity. It is about creating an environment where every student is welcomed, known, respected, safe, engaged, and encouraged to grow.

About PromiseRooted

PromiseRooted is MAP’s in-person programming model, bringing mentorship, academic support, literacy, enrichment, creative learning, and youth-development opportunities directly into community-based settings.

PromiseRooted works collaboratively with site partners, families, volunteers, educators, and MAP teams to provide programming that is consistent, responsive, dignity-centered, and connected to the needs and strengths of each community.

Role Overview

Mentor A Promise is seeking an organized, relationship-centered, and highly dependable Program Manager for In-Person Programming to help lead the day-to-day coordination and quality of PromiseRooted.

The Program Manager will help ensure that programs are prepared before students arrive, well-managed while programming is underway, and thoughtfully reviewed afterward.

This leader will coordinate volunteers, activities, schedules, materials, site communication, student experience, and program follow-through while serving as an important connection between MAP leadership and the people delivering programming on the ground.

This is a hands-on program leadership role for someone who understands that consistency matters.

Young people should not have to wonder whether adults will show up, whether an activity will be ready, or whether someone knows what is supposed to happen.

Key Responsibilities

In-Person Program Operations

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of MAP’s in-person programming.
• Ensure program schedules, activities, materials, spaces, and volunteer coverage are prepared in advance.
• Maintain clear weekly programming plans and communicate changes promptly.
• Help troubleshoot operational issues before they disrupt the student experience.
• Ensure programs begin and conclude in an organized and consistent manner.
• Maintain appropriate program documentation and records.

Student Experience & Program Quality

• Help create welcoming, engaging, age-appropriate, and dignity-centered learning environments.
• Observe programming and identify opportunities to strengthen student engagement and experience.
• Support consistent expectations across activities and program teams.
• Listen to feedback from students, families, volunteers, instructors, and site partners.
• Help ensure students experience MAP as a reliable and supportive presence.
• Elevate concerns involving student well-being or safeguarding through established MAP procedures.

Volunteer & Team Coordination

• Coordinate mentors, tutors, instructors, and other program volunteers.
• Confirm volunteer coverage and help address scheduling gaps.
• Ensure volunteers understand their assignments, responsibilities, schedules, and program expectations.
• Support new volunteers as they transition from organizational onboarding into active programming.
• Check in regularly with volunteers and identify where additional support or guidance is needed.
• Recognize strong contributions while addressing reliability or performance concerns appropriately.

Site & Partner Coordination

• Maintain strong day-to-day relationships with participating program sites.
• Communicate professionally with designated site contacts.
• Coordinate schedules, space needs, activities, materials, and logistical requirements.
• Identify concerns early and work collaboratively toward solutions.
• Ensure commitments made to site partners are communicated internally and followed through.
• Help MAP remain a responsive, organized, and dependable community partner.

Program Planning & Enrichment

• Coordinate with MAP teams to develop and maintain engaging program schedules.
• Support literacy, academic enrichment, mentorship, arts, music, cooking, and other appropriate learning experiences.
• Help identify new activities based on student interests and program objectives.
• Coordinate instructors and subject-matter volunteers where appropriate.
• Ensure activities are realistic for the available time, space, staffing, and resources.

Family & Community Engagement

• Help create welcoming and respectful interactions with parents and caregivers.
• Support communication around appropriate program activities and opportunities.
• Help connect family feedback to PromisePrograms leadership.
• Coordinate with relevant MAP teams on parent and family-engagement initiatives.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.

Tracking, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Track participation, volunteer coverage, activities, operational issues, and other required program information.
• Prepare concise program updates for PromisePrograms leadership.
• Document challenges, solutions, and follow-up items.
• Collaborate with appropriate teams to strengthen program measurement and learning.
• Identify recurring problems and recommend practical improvements.
• Help turn feedback and program data into better student experiences.

Safeguarding & Professional Responsibility

Because this position supports programming involving children and youth, safeguarding is a core responsibility.

The Program Manager will:

• Follow MAP’s safeguarding, privacy, conduct, and youth-protection requirements.
• Maintain appropriate adult-youth boundaries.
• Ensure volunteers understand applicable program and safeguarding expectations.
• Escalate safety, behavioral, or safeguarding concerns through established procedures.
• Protect confidential information concerning students and families.
• Never independently investigate allegations or concerns that should be handled through designated safeguarding or organizational processes.

The Program Manager helps maintain safe practices but does not replace MAP’s designated safeguarding, clinical, legal, or executive leadership.

Ideal Candidate

Strong candidates may bring experience in:

• Youth programming
• Education
• Mentoring or tutoring programs
• After-school programming
• Nonprofit program management
• Community-based programming
• Volunteer coordination
• School or shelter-based programs
• Recreation or enrichment programs
• Social services
• Youth development

Strong candidates will demonstrate:

• Exceptional reliability and follow-through
• Strong organizational and coordination skills
• Warm, professional communication
• Ability to work effectively with children and adults
• Strong problem-solving and judgment
• Ability to coordinate multiple people and priorities
• Comfort working in active community environments
• Respect for children, families, volunteers, and community partners
• Ability to give clear expectations and constructive feedback
• Commitment to dignity-centered and trauma-informed practices
• Alignment with MAP’s mission

What Success Looks Like

Success means:

• Programs are prepared before students arrive.
• Volunteers know where they need to be and what they are responsible for.
• Activities are organized, engaging, and appropriately staffed.
• Site partners receive consistent and professional communication.
• Students experience reliable adults and predictable programming.
• Families are treated with dignity and respect.
• Program concerns are identified and escalated appropriately.
• Leadership receives timely information about successes, challenges, and needs.
• Volunteers feel supported and accountable.
• Feedback leads to visible program improvements.
• MAP becomes known at every site as an organization that shows up prepared, follows through, listens, and cares about the quality of every student's experience.

Why This Role Matters

For children experiencing instability, consistency can carry extraordinary meaning.

A program that starts on time matters.

A mentor who remembers a student's name matters.

An activity that was prepared specifically for them matters.

An adult who notices when something is different matters.

The Program Manager helps make that consistency possible.

This role connects the plans made behind the scenes with the experience a child actually has when they walk through the door.

Prepare the program. Support the people. Strengthen the experience. Make every day we show up count.

Commitment

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment required
• Regular in-person availability in New York City
• Availability aligned with assigned programming schedules
• Consistent participation in program planning and team meetings
• Timely, professional communication and follow-through
• Completion of applicable onboarding, safeguarding, and organizational requirements

What You’ll Gain

• Leadership experience managing community-based youth programming
• Hands-on experience coordinating volunteers, activities, partners, and program operations
• Collaboration with educators, mentors, nonprofit leaders, and community organizations
• Experience strengthening program systems and student experience
• Opportunity to help shape and grow PromiseRooted
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful leadership experience supporting children and families experiencing housing instability

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume
• Brief statement of interest

Please highlight relevant experience in youth development, education, program management, volunteer coordination, community programming, mentoring, tutoring, nonprofit services, or related fields.

Strong programs are built through preparation, relationships, consistency, and follow-through. Help us make sure every young person experiences all four.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Mentor A Promise. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these requirements.