Senior Manager, Programs and Engagement

About NCAN

The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is a small, collaborative team of experienced professionals who are fully committed to achieving equity for students historically underrepresented in higher education(students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation-to-college students, and/or students of color). Our fast-paced work environment supports a work-life balance that allows team members to use their talents to the fullest. As a national membership network, we are continually informed and inspired by the efforts of organizations and systems across the country committed to breaking down barriers for students and supporting them to obtain college degrees and successful careers. To learn more about NCAN, visit our website here.

The Opportunity

NCAN is a hybrid workplace with a centrally located office in Washington, D.C., requiring team members to be onsite two days per week—Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Senior Manager, Programs & Engagement, reports to the Chief Program Officer and leads the strategy, development, and management of NCAN’s educational content and learning agenda. This role determines WHAT content NCAN delivers across webinars, peer learning, e-learning, blogs, technical assistance, and the annual conference, ensuring all programming reflects the most current, relevant, and high-impact practices in the college access and success field.

This position requires a deep background in postsecondary access, financial aid (including FAFSA), college advising, enrollment, or student success. The Senior Manager, Programs & Engagement is NCAN’s internal field expert—responsible for curating timely content, writing practice-oriented resources, representing NCAN at conferences, and translating emerging trends into actionable programming for the network.

The Senior Manager, Programs & Engagement determines, curates, and produces the substance of NCAN’s educational portfolio, working in close partnership with the broader NCAN team.

Key Responsibilities

Educational Content Strategy

• Lead NCAN’s educational content strategy across webinars, blogs, e-learning, peer learning communities, guides, and the annual conference.
• Identify high-impact topics, emerging trends, and field needs in college access, financial aid, enrollment, college persistence, and student success.
• Curate an annual learning agenda aligned with NCAN’s strategic priorities and responsive to member needs.
• Develop and manage NCAN’s educational content calendar to ensure a relevant, timely, and balanced program lineup.

Field Expertise & Thought Partnership

• Serve as NCAN’s internal expert on postsecondary access and success with practitioner-level knowledge of FAFSA, financial aid, advising, and enrollment.
• Attend national and regional conferences and professional learning events to stay current on higher education trends, policy shifts, and leading practices.
• Represent NCAN at professional conferences, meetings, and speaking engagements, sharing lessons, insights, and promising practices from the field.

Content Development & Writing

• Write and edit blogs, briefs, practice guides, and resources that translate complex topics into accessible, actionable content for practitioners.
• Collaborate with Communications to amplify field insights, member stories, and promising practices through NCAN channels.
• Develop session outlines, content briefs, and speaker guidance to support high-quality NCAN-led learning experiences.

Conference & Peer Learning Portfolio

• Lead the development of the annual conference content strategy, including themes, session topics, speaker recruitment, and proposal review coordination.
• Work closely with the Program Associate to incorporate member insights, practitioner expertise, and community feedback into NCAN’s learning agenda.
• Provide guidance and direction for member engagement structures, including task forces, advisory groups, and learning communities, as they inform program content.

Grant & Project Management

• Manage and execute grant-funded projects and deliverables related to education, learning, and engagement.
• Track progress toward grant goals, develop reports, and ensure high-quality completion of deliverables.
• Identify opportunities for new grant-aligned content, partnerships, and thought leadership.

Collaboration & Cross-Team Coordination

• Partner closely with the Sr. Manager, Digital Learning, to ensure seamless translation of educational content into digital formats and learning experiences.
• Coordinate with the Policy team to ensure content reflects member needs and integrates current policy developments.
• Maintain strong relationships with external experts, practitioners, partners, and consultants.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate will bring the following skills and experience:

• Master’s degree required in Higher Education, Education, Student Affairs, Adult & Continuing Education, Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of experience in program management or higher education (college admissions, financial aid, advising, enrollment, student success, or related areas).
• Proven practitioner-level expertise in FAFSA, financial aid, enrollment management, advising, or persistence systems.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement large-scale learning programs and content strategies.
• Strong writing skills and experience producing practitioner-focused educational content (blogs, briefs, guides, presentations).
• Experience representing an organization through presentations, workshops, or conference sessions.
• Experience supervising staff and managing external consultants or partners.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• A commitment to educational equity and experience working with diverse communities.
• Experience in association-based learning, network building, or community-of-practice design.
• Experience working within a nonprofit membership network or national intermediary organization.

• Generous leave time
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-matched 401(k)
• Professional development opportunities
• Performance-based bonus (budget-dependent)