What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Program Implementation position at Jumpstart?
(Atlanta)
Reports to: Managing Director, Program Management
FLSA Status: Exempt
Application Deadline: ASAP
Organizational Overview
Jumpstart is a national early education nonprofit working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. We provide evidence-based language, literacy, and life skills programming to preschool children from underserved communities, delivered by a broad network of trained college students and community volunteers. Since our founding in 1993, Jumpstart has supported over 209,000 children and mobilized more than 71,000 volunteers. As we transform for impact and scale, local program leadership will play a critical role in ensuring that our core work remains high-quality, community-centered, and aligned with our mission.
Position Overview
The Manager, Program Implementation serves as Jumpstart’s local program leader, responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality programming that advances early learning outcomes and engages volunteers meaningfully. This role is the bridge between strategy and execution, translating Jumpstart’s national vision into a strong local experience that meets the unique needs of children, families, and community partners.
Reporting to the Managing Director of Program Management, the Manager oversees program implementation across multiple sites within their assigned region, ensuring fidelity to evidence-based practices while adapting for cultural and community relevance. They will build and maintain strong relationships with early education partners, coach and support implementers, and collaborate closely with Regional Directors on strategy and Regional Coordinators on logistics.
The ideal candidate is both a hands-on operator and strategic problem-solver, someone who thrives on managing details without losing sight of the big picture. This is an opportunity to shape program quality for child impact, foster deep community partnerships, and contribute to innovations that strengthen Jumpstart’s model and impact during an exciting period of organizational transformation.
Key Responsibilities
Program Implementation & Quality Assurance
Qualifications
Required:
Travel
Regular local travel for site visits, partner meetings, and events; occasional national travel for staff gatherings and training. This role includes occasional nights and weekends to support training, local programming, or events. Candidates must have reliable access to a vehicle for regional travel.
Physical Requirements
This role includes program materials distribution for site visits and event support and may require occasional lifting of materials for up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made.
Start date
ASAP
Salary & Benefits
Salary - $65,000 - $75,000, along with excellent benefits and a great mission-driven work environment
To Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and may not be reviewed if a cover letter is not included.
Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital or parental status, amnesty, political affiliation, veteran status, military service, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants should reach out to HR @ jstart.org to request accommodations needed to participate in the application process.
Reports to: Managing Director, Program Management
FLSA Status: Exempt
Application Deadline: ASAP
Organizational Overview
Jumpstart is a national early education nonprofit working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. We provide evidence-based language, literacy, and life skills programming to preschool children from underserved communities, delivered by a broad network of trained college students and community volunteers. Since our founding in 1993, Jumpstart has supported over 209,000 children and mobilized more than 71,000 volunteers. As we transform for impact and scale, local program leadership will play a critical role in ensuring that our core work remains high-quality, community-centered, and aligned with our mission.
Position Overview
The Manager, Program Implementation serves as Jumpstart’s local program leader, responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality programming that advances early learning outcomes and engages volunteers meaningfully. This role is the bridge between strategy and execution, translating Jumpstart’s national vision into a strong local experience that meets the unique needs of children, families, and community partners.
Reporting to the Managing Director of Program Management, the Manager oversees program implementation across multiple sites within their assigned region, ensuring fidelity to evidence-based practices while adapting for cultural and community relevance. They will build and maintain strong relationships with early education partners, coach and support implementers, and collaborate closely with Regional Directors on strategy and Regional Coordinators on logistics.
The ideal candidate is both a hands-on operator and strategic problem-solver, someone who thrives on managing details without losing sight of the big picture. This is an opportunity to shape program quality for child impact, foster deep community partnerships, and contribute to innovations that strengthen Jumpstart’s model and impact during an exciting period of organizational transformation.
Key Responsibilities
Program Implementation & Quality Assurance
- Oversee the day-to-day delivery of Jumpstart programs within the assigned region, ensuring fidelity to evidence-based practices and alignment with organizational goals.
- Support the implementation of dosage, family engagement components, and quality standards, monitoring adherence and addressing barriers.
- Conduct program quality assessments through observation, feedback, and data review, and collaborate on solutions for continuous improvement.
- Serve as the primary liaison to local early education partners, including preschools, community-based organizations, and higher education institutions.
- Support partner onboarding and facilitate training and coaching for Jumpstarters serving in partner sites .
- Gather partner feedback to inform program enhancements and identify opportunities for stronger engagement.
- Provide coaching and technical assistance to site-based implementers (Jumpstarters and program partners) to ensure high-quality program delivery.
- Support volunteer engagement efforts in collaboration with the Regional Director and Coordinator, including orientation and recognition activities.
- Troubleshoot program challenges and provide hands-on problem-solving for implementers and partners.
- Partner with the Regional Coordinator on program logistics such as materials distribution, scheduling, and reporting requirements.
- Monitor partner compliance with agreements and ensure timely submission of data and documentation.
- Track and report on program performance metrics to the Managing Director of Program Management and relevant stakeholders.
- Work closely with the Curriculum, Training & Support team to ensure local training needs are met and feedback informs resource development.
- Collaborate with the Impact & Evaluation team to support data collection and analysis for program outcomes.
- Participate in national learning communities to share local insights and inform the evolution of Jumpstart’s program model.
Qualifications
Required:
- 5 years of experience in program management, education leadership, or nonprofit program delivery.
- Demonstrated success in partner engagement and stakeholder management, especially in community or education contexts.
- Strong understanding of early childhood education principles and quality practices.
- Excellent project management and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and support diverse partners.
- Commitment to Jumpstart’s mission and values.
- Familiarity or experience with Head Start, state pre-K, or community-based early childhood programs.
- Experience supporting volunteer-based initiatives or licensing/distributed service delivery models.
- Knowledge of data-driven program improvement strategies.
- Bachelor’s degree in education, social sciences, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
Travel
Regular local travel for site visits, partner meetings, and events; occasional national travel for staff gatherings and training. This role includes occasional nights and weekends to support training, local programming, or events. Candidates must have reliable access to a vehicle for regional travel.
Physical Requirements
This role includes program materials distribution for site visits and event support and may require occasional lifting of materials for up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made.
Start date
ASAP
Salary & Benefits
Salary - $65,000 - $75,000, along with excellent benefits and a great mission-driven work environment
To Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and may not be reviewed if a cover letter is not included.
Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital or parental status, amnesty, political affiliation, veteran status, military service, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants should reach out to HR @ jstart.org to request accommodations needed to participate in the application process.
Salary : $65,000 - $75,000