Senior Program Manager - STEMM Pathway

Mission Driven, Community Focused About | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu)

Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for underrepresented students.

CDU is strongly invested in the local and regional community. The university leads multiple partnerships and programs to provide equitable healthcare resources in a variety of South Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Under the supervision of the Director, CDU Pathways and School Partnership Programs, the Sr. Program Manager will provide leadership and operational management for all Pathways Programs initiatives that create access, exposure, and advancement opportunities for students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.

The SPM is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations, coordination, and implementation of CDU’s Pathways Programs. The Sr. Program Manager will create initiatives to drive academic enrichment, mentorship, career exposure, and experiential learning activities, that prepare students for success in higher education and the health workforce. They will ensure that all program goals, deliverables, and reporting requirements are met in alignment with CDU’s mission of advancing health equity and social justice.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Development & Strategic Oversight:

• Manage the design, development, and execution of multiple complex Pathways programs, ensuring alignment with CDU’s mission and goals.
• Establish program objectives, timelines, and performance indicators, ensuring measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Manage communications, deliverables, and strategic alignment across internal departments and external stakeholders.

Program Implementation & Student Success:

• Oversee daily operations of all Pathways programs, including curriculum delivery, mentoring, and STEMM enrichment activities.
• Coordinate logistics, materials, and schedules to ensure smooth execution of workshops, events, and internships.
• Monitor student engagement, track retention metrics, and implement initiatives that support persistence and academic advancement of each program.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement:

• Develop, build and maintain partnerships with schools, community organizations, academic institutions, and funders.
• Serve as the main liaison with government, philanthropic, and institutional partners to align program goals and resources.
• Manage and lead all outreach, recruitment, and engagement strategies that strengthen community impact and student participation.

Data Management, Evaluation & Reporting:

• Manage and maintain systems for tracking student outcomes, program effectiveness, and key performance metrics.
• Collaborate with analysts to develop data dashboards, reports, and insights to inform decision-making and funding reports.
• Use evaluation results to guide strategic improvements and demonstrate program impact.

Staff Supervision & Operational Leadership:

• Manage and oversee all program staff (coordinators, assistants, clerks), interns, and volunteers; provide training, feedback, and performance evaluations.
• Coordinate HR processes, including onboarding, scheduling, and professional development.
• Ensure effective use of project management tools and operational systems for program efficiency.

Financial & Grant Management:

• Oversee the budgeting program, monitoring expenditures, ensuring compliance with regulations, and preparing financial reports
• Support the development and reporting of grants, contracts, and proposals related to Pathways and student success initiatives.
• Collaborate with Finance and Sponsored Programs offices to ensure fiscal accountability and timely reporting.
• Prepare and submit accurate and timely financial reports to the Director.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with university policies and program standards. 

• Perform additional tasks assigned to support program success. 

Qualifications/ Requirements:

EDUCATION:

• Master's degree in public health, Education, Human Services, or related fields.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in program management, education, or health-related initiatives.

• 3-5 year’s supervisory experience with staff, interns, and volunteers. 

• 1-3 year’s experience preparing and submitting financial reports.
• Experience supporting student programs, mentoring, or retention initiatives preferred. 

• Proven ability to manage multi-component programs, staff, and partnerships.

• Experience with event planning and standard procedures.
• Experience working as a liaison with diverse stakeholders, including internal and external partners.
• Experience with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive.

• Excellent organizational, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

SKILLS:

• Program and Project Management
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
• Data Management and Reporting
• Equity-Centered Leadership
• Problem Solving and Innovation
• Data-Driven Decision Making

COMPLEXITY:

• The ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and care while providing/obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position.
• Demonstrated competencies in strategic and systems thinking, project management, and knowledge of continuous improvement methods.
• Ability to manage various projects and assignments with multiple priorities in a rapidly changing environment.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated effectiveness in management and group dynamics, including team problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing and communicating detailed, technical-scientific, and administrative program information to various audiences in written and oral form. Strongly prefer experience and knowledge in the Biological Sciences, Health, and Health Disparities.
• Experience with Center development/expansion, including in scientific areas, student training, clinical research areas, and community-based areas, as well as related grant proposal development, writing, and submission to federal agencies or foundations.
• Experience developing evaluation metrics to review the effectiveness of scientific, educational, and administrative program activities, recommending improvements, and assisting in executing recommendations.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships in complex program/organizational settings involving heterogeneous constituents such as academic and clinical faculty, staff, students, and community partners from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience interpreting operating policies, and procedures, resolving minor discipline and other employee relations issues within an academic setting or institution.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasional stooping. Frequent standing.  Constant walking, sitting, climbing, reaching high/low levels, finger movement, feeling, speaking clearly, hearing conversationally, and seeing far and near.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Position is on site unless specific authorization from manager.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasionally required to work in confined space.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Frequent variety of unrelated tasks. Constant calculating, interrupted work, a variety of interrelated tasks, and use of sustained concentration, reasoning, judgment, resourcefulness, analytical ability, and ingenuity.

Special Requirements:

• As a health professions institution of higher education, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science seeks to protect the health and safety of the University community. As a condition of enrollment and employment, students, faculty, and staff must comply with the current CDU COVID-19 requirements as described on the CDU COVID-19 webpage.  Please visit the CDU Return to Campus website https://www.cdrewu.edu/covid-policy/ or email the Campus Nursing Office at nurseofficer@cdrewu.edu.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse community, including persons of color and sexual minorities.  

Compensation:

• $55.28 per hour 

Position Status:

• Non-Exempt, Part-time 

Work Location:

• On-site

Conditional Employment:

The employment status of this position is classified as “Conditional.” Conditional employment means that the job exists contingent upon continued funding and limitations of restricted funds or, the duration of a specific program, project, grant, or contract. Since your salary is funded by Lynwood Unified School District, and the Northrup Gruman Foundation, and end date 6/30/2026(s), your position is contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds.   Continuation of your position is dependent, in part, upon funding availability.  Furthermore, no work may be performed after the grant end date(s) unless you have received an extension in writing from a Dean, Division VP, or Human Resources.

EEO Statement: Charles R. Drew University is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.

Fair Chance Statement: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local “Fair Chance” laws.

Salary : $55