Program Manager - Restorative Justice Youth Education Programming (Secondary & High School Programs)

Location: FWISD Campus Site

Reports to: Director/Creative Voices

Division: Program and Learning Systems

Position Type: Full time/Exempt

Supervision: Yes

About the Role:

In partnership with key staff at Big Thought and school leadership, the Program Manager will lead the development and oversight of Big Thought’s alternative school model in partnership with Fort Worth ISD (FWISD).

About Big Thought:

Big Thought equips youth in marginalized communities to imagine and create their best lives and world. The secret that makes our work uniquely effective is the powerful combination of our social and emotional focus, experiential learning, community-centered partnerships, inclusion/equity lens and future focus.

Throughout our 30+ year history of innovation, Big Thought has become a national model in arts education, out of school time systems, summer learning and juvenile justice intervention. Now, we’re one of six community partnerships in the U.S helping scale national best practices in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). We take direct-to-youth programs and resources to communities with the greatest needs and share our evidence-based best practices with other nonprofits and organizations through a suite of consultation services including professional development, curriculum design and technical assistance.

#Big Thought Way:

Big Thought brings relentless optimism, innovation and imagination to everything we do. Our kids come first, and we use a collaborative, all hands-on deck approach to ensure that they are served well. About the Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate joins a founding team to transform a traditional alternative school concept to a unique, innovative learning environment incorporating multiple educational pedagogies. This candidate offers a passion for project-based learning, program management, and is well invested in design thinking. He/She has a proven track record to engage the broad range of stakeholders to action toward our ultimate goals to build innovative approaches and practices in school environments whereby both students and adults alike can benefit from experiences in social emotional learning, and in real world skill development to solve problems creatively.

What the Role Entails: As a member of the Leadership Team, develop project-based and design thinking curricula that emphasizes critical thinking and real-world problem- solving experiences appropriate for both middle and high school aged students, expertly in a differentiated and student-centered classroom and infusing diversity, inclusion and equity throughout.

Manage implementation of school design and Big Thought staff in the daily oversight of the program that continues to align with the overall philosophy of the school.

Establish and maintain collaborative and supportive relationships with community partners, staff, district personnel, parents and students to ensure program’s success.

Support and lead the administrative and logistical needs of the instructors and school’s implementation plans.

Support and deliver quality creative spaces for optimum learning, innovation and project-based experiences.

Convey enthusiasm for intellectual inquiry and model lifelong learning.

Model flexibility in implementing school-wide practices such as restorative practices.

Support the social and emotional well-being of all students by partnering with Opportunity Advisors, Head Advisor, and other key staff.

Mobilize the full team to develop new programs in response to student feedback and needs.

Exhibit high level of EQ (emotional intelligence)

Attend and actively participate in regularly scheduled meetings, specified trainings, and identified community engagement events.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

5 years’ experience in school administration leadership, non-profit youth development support leadership, direct program delivery or social services

Influence and persuasion skill set

Strong project management and customer service skills

Physical Expectations (not an exhaustive list):

Big Thought jobs are hands on and can be physically demanding. To perform the duties of these roles successfully, you may regularly be required to: sit, stand, or stare at computer screen for long periods of time; participate in external activities; use various office equipment, some manual; work in environment with loud sounds, multiple distractions and interruptions; be exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures on occasion; maintain emotional control during stressful situations.

BIG THOUGHT ASPIRES TO BE A WORKPLACE OF INCLUSION & EQUITY. WE VISUALIZE A WORKPLACE THAT PROVIDES AN EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE. WE BELIEVE A BASELINE REQUIREMENT TO ACHIEVE OUR VISION IS EVERYONE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT – REGARDLESS THE ISSUE AT HAND.