Senior Program Manager (Chicago)

Summary Description
The Senior Program Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day planning and operations of one of the cohorts in our five-month fellowship program, ensuring overall fellowship programming quality, function, and development with a particular focus on growing and sustaining our Chicago cohort. Additionally, the Senior Program Manager serves in a leadership role on the Programs Team, working with the Director of Programs and Community Impact to oversee functions that support both fellowship cohorts, including the recruitment and admissions process, resource identification and management (instructors, guest speakers, vendors), and day-to-day operational needs.
Key Responsibilities & Duties

• Provide administrative and logistical support to DTI staff in preparation for and during rotations.
• Maintain and grow a pipeline of learning lab partners, paying close attention to diversity of partners and topics participating in programming.
• Support program reporting needs: quarterly SBA Grant report, Wounded Warrior Project Grant reports, etc.
• Correspond with learning lab and other partners to arrange speaking opportunities; track partner engagement in Salesforce.
• Enable and track fellow success in programming. Track and enforce attendance and conduct policies, provide individualized support and advising as needed, assign and review fellows’ monthly reflections, conduct and document regular 1:1 check-in meetings.
• Develop and lead an outreach strategy that builds upon and maintains awareness of Dog Tag and ensures a healthy and robust application pipeline.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager to facilitate joint-cohort programming weeks, including but not limited to orientation, welcome back, and closing week activities.
• Supervise Program Coordinator.
• Program Management for Chicago Cohort: Lead the development and oversight of the fellowship program schedule, build and maintain relationships with key partners, and adhere to the program design parameters:
• When in person, maintain the appearance of the classroom, ensuring that the room and materials are prepared and organized before and after each day.
• Coordinate recruitment activities in collaboration with DC program manager, as well as Alumni Manager, and Marketing and Brand Manager.
• Cultivate existing community partnerships and establish new partnerships to ensure referrals of high-quality applicants.
• Collaborate with the DC Program Manager on joint-cohort programming.
• Track classroom supplies inventory and order supplies when needed.
• Lead and/or participate in program activities, including some evening and weekend commitments.
• Distribute and manage assignments and information using Google Classroom.
• Manage the operational relationship with university partners, including maintaining regular contact with main university POC and faculty.
• Organize and facilitate weekly programming.
• Partner Engagement and Reporting: Build and maintain relationships with key partners.
• Coordinate and attend recruitment events with other staff and alumni.
• Correspond with applicants to ensure all documentation has been received in a timely manner; organize all documentation upon receipt in appropriate files.
• Recruitment and Admissions: Lead the development and oversight of the semi-annual recruitment strategy and admissions process for the fellowship program.
• Act as the main point of contact for key program delivery partners, specifically university partners and Finding Your Voice instructors.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Facilitate and develop wellness programming to include weekly debrief, reflection, and journaling.
• Monitor online applications for accuracy in Salesforce.
• Develop program manuals, forms, and records.
• Work with the development team to identify engagement opportunities for new funding partners.
• Work collaboratively with DC Program Manager and program coordinators to ensure execution and tracking of program logistics.
• Develop and manage volunteer recruiting strategy.
• Collect and analyze data for program evaluation and grants.
• Track all contacts with referrals and use regular reports to evaluate outreach efforts, track and interpret analytics regarding pipeline development in order to strategically focus time and other resources.
• Develop fellowship program schedule including university classes, bakery rotations, Learning Labs, wellness programming, capstone sessions, and special program days such as Pitch Your Purpose Day.
• Support the Alumni Manager with the Chicago alumni community’s growth, particularly alumni interactions with fellows (mentorship, learning labs, admissions process).
• Conduct second round interviews with potential candidates, and curate a slate of preferred applicants to refer to Round 3 interviews with executive leadership.
• Develop and manage programmatic SOPs, schedules, and other internal tools to support program operations.
• Program Systems, Operations, and Infrastructure: Serve as a partner to the Director of Programs and Community Impact in operational oversight of systems and resources that support programming.
• Oversee operational planning for joint-programming including but not limited to recruiting, orientation, closing week, and graduation.
• Support expense tracking for program expenditures and provide budget input for annual budgeting process.
• Manage shared services across fellowship programs, including overseeing program technology and internal tools.

Qualifications

• Minimum six years of work experience, particularly in fields related to program management and execution, education, sociology, cultural studies, psychology, event planning, or management. Graduate-level education may be substituted for two years of work experience.
• Clear understanding and enthusiasm for Dog Tag’s mission.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of tact and discretion to maintain confidential/sensitive information.
• Skills and experience working with recruitment, admissions, event planning, and/or partnership development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Comfortable speaking with diverse audiences; an excellent communicator.
• Motivated, with great energy and a positive attitude.
• Experience and/or comfort working with individuals who have experienced trauma or are working to rebuild their self-confidence.
• Highly responsible, punctual, and reliable.
• Familiarity with and/or networks within the Chicago community are a plus.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Familiarity with adult education principles and needs.
• Quickly recognize and resolve problems.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Comfort with ambiguity; openness to change; adaptive leadership style.
• Willingness both to take initiative and work with a dynamic team.
• Familiarity with military culture and military-connected communities is a plus.

Key Performance Indicators

• Increase number of donors, partners, and fellows local to the Chicago region.
• Ensuring fellowship schedule meets programming hours goals.
• Embodying our values of Service, Entrepreneurship, Empowerment, and Respect.
• Fellows are achieving success metrics in each of our areas of programming, and performance is tracked and updated regularly in Salesforce.
• Organized, proactive, and consistent execution of programming activities in accordance with programming SOPs and accurate tracking and reporting in program management tools.

Dog Tag Bakery, Inc. is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic prohibited by state or federal law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.
Compensation: From $74,000.00 to $75,000.00 per year