Program Manager

Program Manager

Reports to: Program Director

Direct Reports: N/A

Big Sky Youth Empowerment (BYEP) is a nonprofit adventure-based mentoring program in Bozeman, Montana, that has served vulnerable youth in the Gallatin Valley for the past 25 years. BYEP offers a group social emotional life skills curriculum paired with outdoor adventures to youth in grades 8-12, with a capacity to serve up to 132 youth. BYEP was founded in 2001 by Pete MacFadyen with the intent of providing a creative solution to the lack of effective programming for teens. BYEP’s mission is to create a transformative community where vulnerable teenagers experience belonging, purpose, and well-being through group mentorship, adventure, and connection with the natural world. 

We are seeking a dynamic individual to join our team as a Program Manager. The ideal candidate is an energetic, organized, and collaborative individual who is connected to the natural world, and willing to be vulnerable and grow. They are able to think critically and creatively, enjoy the challenge of managing complex situations, and confidently facilitate workshops as well as outdoor adventures. This candidate appreciates the opportunity of individual and team work, and is ready to be a representative of BYEP’s core mission and values.

Program Managers are responsible for an average caseload of 32-40 youth participants, 8-12 volunteer mentors, as well as weekly correspondence with parents and caretakers. The youth groups are divided into sections of 8-10 participants and 2-3 volunteer mentors, Monday through Thursday from 4-7 pm. This position includes daily administrative tasks, data management, oversight of 40 individuals, participant and mentor intake, weekly meetings, and curriculum development. 

BYEP is an exciting and multifaceted work environment in which every person is given agency to consciously co-create in the overall functioning and well being of the organization. We seek to provide staff with the tools and support needed to be successful working in a position that is equally challenging and rewarding.   

Key Job Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate weekly curriculum Monday - Thursday to assigned groups of youth
• Design and facilitate curriculum with teammate tailored to meet both the developmental stage of the group and its members in a small group setting
• Supervise, participate, and manage group outdoor experiential adventures as a program team (guided both internally and by local adventure partners) of 160 people on Sundays during our winter season, and 30-40 people in the summer and fall season. Support logistics for participant transportation, and mentor driving roles. 
• Use Salesforce database to take attendance, manage groups and profiles, and complete other daily administrative tasks
• Collaborate and communicate with colleagues to effectively manage logistics and program delivery
• Communicate professionally with participants, families, volunteer mentors, parents, community partners, and other key stakeholders
• Manage workshop budget 
• Recruit, interview, and enroll new participants on a rolling application basis 
• Collaborate with colleagues to recruit, interview, supervise, and train a dynamic group of 30-40 volunteer mentors seasonally 
• Advise and interact one-on-one with participants in need of social emotional support and connect with additional resources when appropriate
• Contribute to the care and cleanliness of the community space, workshop areas, and vehicle fleet
• Provide transportation for youth throughout Gallatin County
• Report to Program Director with incidents of harm or concern 
• Attend weekly meetings with fellow Program Managers, Program Director, and staff
• Represent Big Sky Youth Empowerment at various fundraising events and community stakeholder meetings

Schedule

The primary schedule is Sunday - Thursday, 11 AM - 8 PM, but varies depending on the operating season.  The BYEP annual year begins in the winter, followed by summer, and ends in the fall. Evenings and weekends are required.

Qualifications

Required

• Prior experience and intrinsic motivation for working with adolescents and/or vulnerable populations
• Enthusiasm for building positive and healthy relationships 
• Effective and professional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Leadership skills and the ability to skillfully hold boundaries
• Respect for youth with diverse needs and identities
• Interest in fostering positive shared experiences
• Strengths-based and solution focused with an ability to problem solve
• Energized by youth victories
• Strong organization skills and attention to detail
• Flexible and able to adapt to a variety of unique situations
• Ability to manage many moving parts
• Minimum 2 year commitment 

Preferred 

• Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology or a related field
• 3-5 years working or volunteering with vulnerable adolescents
• Group facilitation experience
• Experience in a supervisory role
• Minimum 3 year commitment

Compensation

• Position Start Date: May 4th, 2026
• Full time, exempt
• Annual Salary: $53,000
• Annual raise contingent upon positive performance review
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Option for cell phone service coverage
• Up to 3% IRA match
• 6 weeks paid time off
• Paid professional development opportunities
• Opportunity to work at a fun, rewarding, and impactful organization!

After thoroughly reviewing our website at www.byep.org, interested applicants must email a cover letter, resume, and two professional references in a PDF file to operations@byep.org. Please use the subject line “Program Manager Application.”

Big Sky Youth Empowerment is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  BYEP values diversity. We believe that all employees and applicants should be treated with dignity and respect.  All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, creed, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or association with a person or group with any of the above characteristics, except where the reasonable demands of the job require such a distinction to be made. BYEP will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to the organization, within legal requirements of the law.  Individuals who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ , immigrants, and individuals who have experienced systemic oppression, are encouraged to apply.