Director of Program and Impact

ABOUT SPEAKUP!

SpeakUp! is a nonprofit organization that helps young people, parenting adults, and school communities build stronger communication, connection, and emotional well-being. For 25 years, SpeakUp! has created spaces for honest conversations about the issues that matter most in young people’s lives, reaching more than 40,000 students and families across the Greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Program and Impact is a senior leadership role responsible for leading SpeakUp!’s program team, strengthening program quality and systems, deepening school and community partnerships, and advancing the organization’s impact strategy.

This leader will partner closely with the Executive Director to shape program strategy, align programs with organizational goals, and expand SpeakUp!’s impact within partner school communities. The Director will help evolve SpeakUp!’s model into a more integrated approach that increases student, parenting adult, and school touchpoints while complementing each school’s broader SEL and student support efforts.

The successful candidate will be a strong people leader, strategic thinker, relationship builder, and systems-oriented program leader who is energized by helping a mission-driven organization move into its next stage of growth.

POSITION DETAILS

Employment Status: Full time

Schedule: Primarily weekday business hours, with approximately 35 evening events during the academic year at schools in the Greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey

Location: Hybrid, including onsite work in Devon, PA, school-based meetings, and remote work

Supervisor: Executive Director

Supervises: Program Team, currently six staff members

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Team Development

• Foster a team culture of collaboration and shared ownership, ongoing learning, and a commitment to excellence in program delivery
• Lead and manage the team with a coaching approach to supervision and feedback
• Contribute as a member of senior leadership to organizational strategy, planning, change initiatives, Board reporting and engagement, and external representation as needed

Program Strategy, Growth, and Impact

• • Partner with the Executive Director to shape program strategy, set and achieve organizational goals, and deepen school engagement and impact
  • Oversee school outreach, retention, and growth, with a goal of reaching 40 active schools by 2029 and ensuring that 50% of new schools serve economically under-resourced communities
  • Guide pilot programs and new approaches that deepen the SpeakUp! experience within our school communities and expand touchpoints with students and adults
  • Expand and enhance community-based programming that equips parenting adults, grandparents, other adults, and alumni with skills, tools, and confidence to support and guide young people

Partner and Community Engagement

• • Initiate, develop, and sustain strong relationships with school leaders and key community partners
  • Oversee the program team’s management of school partnerships
  • Strengthen systems for new school outreach, assessment, selection, onboarding, continuity, and feedback
  • Collaborate with development staff and the Executive Director on donor engagement when appropriate

Program Quality, Learning, and Communications

• • Ensure SpeakUp!’s model is implemented with fidelity while supporting thoughtful program development
  • Attend school and community events with a focus on partnership development, quality improvement, and future program innovation
  • Lead SpeakUp!’s data and learning cycle, including planning, collection, analysis, reporting, storytelling, and action
  • Oversee feedback strategies, program reviews, curriculum and materials development, and program and event operations
  • Support organizational impact communication by helping the team capture learning, impact stories, participant themes, and visuals that bring the program to life
  • Translate program insights into program improvements, new communication tools, digital resources, impact communications, and practices that can contribute to the broader field

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree
  • Seven to ten years of professional experience in school administration, nonprofit administration, youth development, education, or a related field; direct experience with middle and/or high schools
  • At least three years of experience supervising full-time professionals (five years preferred) including empowering and coaching staff and building strong systems
  • Competency with Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
  • A valid driver’s license

Desired Experience and Strengths

Strong candidates will bring many of the following:

• • Knowledge of K–12 education, school communities, strength-based youth development, parent engagement, mental health and wellbeing, adult learning, and school-community partnerships
  • Commitment to diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities, including an understanding of the needs and strengths of under-resourced school communities
  • Experience in program design, curriculum development, systems building, and data-informed decision-making
  • Strong relationship-building, supervision, and coaching skills
  • Strong facilitation, presentation, and written communication skills
  • Ability to translate goals into plans, priorities, action steps, and measurable outcomes
  • Ability to lead through change, be flexible, resolve conflict, and problem-solve
  • Ability to coach team members in building sustainable systems, codifying practices, and creating scalable models
  • Comfort with technology and interest in using technology to strengthen program design, delivery, and efficiency

Required Clearances

The selected candidate must successfully complete required clearances, including PA State Police Criminal History Record Check, PA Child Abuse History Certification, and FBI Criminal History background check/fingerprinting. Clearances must be current prior to beginning work and must be maintained throughout employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

SpeakUp! is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome and encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, including references and resume to hr@speakup.org. No calls please.

Benefits

• • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off

Proficiency in spoken and written English required.