Program Director

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MORE THAN AN ATHLETE (MTA) Part-Time | Hybrid — Greater Hartford, CT

Compensation & Commitment

$10,000 Program Stipend

Estimated 6–10 hours per week

Program Term: May 2026 – May 2027

ABOUT DT CARES

DT CARES is a community-rooted organization dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders through mentorship, structured support, and meaningful opportunity. Our work centers on student-athletes from underserved communities — young people who are often defined by their sport and rarely given the space, guidance, or resources to discover who they are beyond it. Through programs grounded in identity development, leadership, and postsecondary readiness, DT CARES works to close the gap between potential and pathway.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM — MORE THAN AN ATHLETE (MTA)

More Than an Athlete is the flagship program of DT CARES and the central focus of our organization. MTA is a comprehensive, 4-year mentorship and development pipeline that pairs Hartford County scholar-athletes with trained MTA Coaching Fellows — current college athletes and young professionals committed to guiding the next generation.

The program begins with student identification in 8th grade and runs through all four years of high school. Scholars enter as part of a cohort and progress together year over year, building relationships, accountability, and growth over time. Each scholar is surrounded by a personalized coaching staff — their parent or guardian, a school representative, their athletic coach, and an MTA Coaching Fellow — all activated and aligned from Day 1.

MTA is structured around four developmental stages: Foundation (9th grade), Growth (10th grade), Development (11th grade), and Launch (12th grade). The program culminates each year in the MTA Leadership Summit — our annual flagship event where scholars lead, present publicly, and demonstrate the growth they've built. Across all four years, scholars are exposed to college campuses, corporate environments, career pathways, and community experiences designed to expand their world and deepen their identity beyond sport.

MTA is designed to produce scholars who leave high school with confidence, a clear postsecondary plan, strong communication and leadership skills, and a network of coaches, mentors, and peers invested in their success.

ROLE OVERVIEW

DT CARES is seeking a Program Director to lead the day-to-day execution, relationship management, and operational integrity of the More Than an Athlete program. This is a builder and operator role — not a coordinator position. The Program Director will be responsible for ensuring every phase of the program runs with consistency, quality, and accountability, from the initial student identification conversations in May through the summer kickoff and into full school-year implementation.

The person in this role sits at the center of four critical relationships: scholars, families, MTA Coaching Fellows, and school partners. They are the connective tissue that makes the program work — keeping everyone aligned, informed, and moving forward. We are looking for someone with the organizational capacity to manage multiple moving parts, the interpersonal skills to build trust with students and families, and the leadership presence to hold a high-functioning program to a high standard.

This role is being filled ahead of the end of April to support spring onboarding and the 2026 summer launch cycle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Implementation & Operations

• Lead full-cycle execution of MTA, from spring onboarding through summer launch and school-year programming
• Manage cohort logistics, scheduling, communications, and program flow 
• Ensure program milestones are met with consistency and quality at every stage
• Maintain systems and documentation that support accountability and continuity

Student & Family Engagement

• Lead family onboarding and alignment conversations, building trust and commitment from Day 1
• Support the scholar interview and selection process for incoming freshman cohorts
• Maintain ongoing, meaningful relationships with students and families throughout the program year
• Serve as a consistent, reliable point of contact for scholars and their coaching staff

MTA Coaching Fellows Management

• Support the recruitment, onboarding, and preparation of MTA Coaching Fellows
• Ensure Fellows understand expectations, have the tools they need, and remain aligned with program goals
• Maintain regular communication and reinforce a culture of accountability and care among the Fellows cohort
• Identify challenges early and work proactively to support Fellow retention and consistency

School & Community Partnerships

• Serve as the primary liaison between DT CARES and partner school districts
• Coordinate student identification with counselors, coaches, deans, and PE teacher

Events & Experiences

• Support the planning and full execution of key program experiences, including the summer kickoff, the annual MTA Leadership Summit, and college and career exposure visits
• Ensure logistics, communications, and scholar preparation are managed with precision ahead of each event
• Create experiences that are meaningful, organized, and reflective of the program's standards

Data, Tracking & Continuous Improvement

• Track scholar attendance, engagement, and progress against program milestones
• Utilize NEON CRM and other organizational systems to monitor outcomes and document impact
• Collect and synthesize feedback from scholars, families, fellows, and partners
• Contribute to program refinement and continuous improvement in collaboration with DT CARES leadership

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

The right person for this role brings a genuine passion for youth development and a track record of building trust with young people, families, and community partners. They are operationally strong — able to manage complexity without losing quality — and they carry themselves with the kind of presence and credibility that earns confidence from all sides of the table.

You are a strong fit if you are:

• A natural relationship-builder who moves comfortably between students, families, educators, and organizational partners
• Highly organized and reliable, with the ability to manage multiple work-streams simultaneously
• Confident leading direct, honest conversations with families and stakeholders
• Grounded in community-centered values and aligned with the mission of developing young people holistically
• Able to work independently, exercise judgment, and bring solutions. 

ROLE STRUCTURE & COMMITMENT

More Than an Athlete is a long-term, 4-year student development model. To preserve program quality and accountability, the Program Director role is structured as an annual appointment tied to each program cycle, with the possibility of renewal based on performance, organizational needs, and mutual alignment.

The selected candidate will be expected to lead program implementation through the 2026 to 2027 cycle, including spring onboarding, summer launch, and school-year execution. Renewal for subsequent cycles will be evaluated annually.

This is a part-time, hybrid role based in the Greater Hartford, CT area. Hours and scheduling will be tied to program phases, with increased engagement during spring onboarding, summer launch, and key event periods.

TO APPLY

If you are mission-aligned, operationally strong, and ready to play a central role in building something that matters for young people in Hartford County — we want to hear from you.

Reach out directly: dtcares@dilligencetraining.com