Program Director

About The Legacy Project of Stark

Founded in 2015, The Legacy Project of Stark is a nonprofit organization committed to mobilizing communities to form life-changing mentoring relationships with students and caregivers. Serving over 1,100 students across 22 schools in Stark County, the organization offers School-Based Programs and Community-Based Programs focusing on Social-Emotional Learning and the 40 Developmental Assets set by SEARCH Institute.

Our Core Values:

• Driven by Relationships: We build trust, lead with empathy, and invest in people.
• Teachable: We are open to feedback, eager to learn, and humble in our growth.
• Consistency: We show up reliably, follow through, and model integrity every day.
• Strength-Based Empowerment: We believe every person has unique strengths, talents and potential. We approach every interaction with respect, curiosity and the belief that growth is possible.

Position Summary

The Program Director will oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of all mentoring programs, ensuring their alignment with the overall vision and strategic goals of the organization. This leadership role requires a dynamic individual passionate about youth development, capable of managing program staff, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring the delivery of impactful mentorship experiences that align with the organization's mission.

Key Responsibilities

Program Oversight:

• Lead the development, execution, and assessment of all mentoring programs ensuring they are effectively implemented and achieve intended outcomes.
• Ensure programs are delivered effectively, meet established goals, and adhere to best practices in mentoring and youth development.
• Develop, implement, and monitor quarterly Rocks for programmatic growth and improvement.
• Ensure alignment with Search Institute’s Developmental Assets framework to maximize student impact.
• Track and report key program KPIs, including mentor recruitment, student engagement, retention, and success rates
• Ensure program consistency and quality through program evaluation, using data to refine and improve service delivery.

Staff Management:

• Develop a strong team culture that supports open communication to enhance mentor, student, and family success.
• Implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) within the program team to maintain focus and drive results.
• Facilitate weekly Level 10 meetings with program staff to track progress, solve issues, and maintain alignment with the organization’s overarching mission.
• Supervise and support Program Staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment, with clear roles, accountability, and execution of objectives.
• Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for program staff, when appropriate and with approval.

Curriculum Development:

• Collaborate with educational experts to develop and refine curricula that incorporate social-emotional learning and the 40 Developmental Assets framework, while being fun and engaging for students.
• Ensure curricula are age-appropriate, culturally responsive, and aligned with program objectives.

Process & Operational Excellence:

• Develop and refine standardized program processes, ensuring efficiency and scalability.
• Implement and oversee systems to track program participation, outcomes, and impact.
• Develop and receive approval for mentor/staff training calendar and topics.
• Ensure mentor recruitment, training, and support are streamlined and effective, incorporating the approved training calendar and topics.
• Implement feedback loops to continuously improve program quality based on mentor, student, family, staff, and stakeholder input.
• Analyze data to inform program improvements and report findings to stakeholders, staff, and Leadership team.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain relationships with school districts, community organizations, and other partners to facilitate program delivery and expansion.
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and conferences to promote programs and forge new partnerships.
• Maintain community presence at networking opportunities across Stark County to build a strong network of support for the organization.

Budget & Resource Management:

• Assist in identifying funding opportunities and contribute to grant identifying and securing efforts when needed.
• Work with the Associate Director and Development Department to align programs with available funding.
• Manage program budgets, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and responsibly, maximizing available resources leaning in on in-kind donations
• Develop a strong team culture that supports open communication to enhance mentor, student, and family success.
• Implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) within the program team to maintain focus and drive results.
• Facilitate weekly Level 10 meetings with program staff to track progress, solve issues, and maintain alignment with the organization’s overarching mission.
• Supervise and support Program Staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment, with clear roles, accountability, and execution of objectives.
• Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for program staff, when appropriate and with approval.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in program management, nonprofit leadership, or education, preferably within youth development or educational settings.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with experience supervising staff and managing teams.
• Strong understanding of social-emotional learning principles and youth mentorship best practices.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and manage multiple programs
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in data analysis and program evaluation methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with fundraising, marketing, and operations teams.
• Ability to promote a positive work culture focusing on unbiased collaboration, problem solving, positivity and teamwork.
• Commitment to the mission and values of The Legacy Project of Stark.

Success Metrics for this Role

• Team execution: Program Staff consistently meet Rocks and KPI targets
• Program growth & impact: Increased student and mentor engagement, with measurable success outcomes
• Operational efficiency: Program processes are well-documented, scalable, and streamlined.
• Partnerships Development: Strong school and community relationships that support program sustainability.
• Data-driven improvements: Continuous enhancements based on impact data and feedback.

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven leader with a deep passion for youth empowerment, mentorship, and community development. They are an experienced program director who brings both strategic vision and hands-on implementation skills to the role. This person thrives in collaborative environments, can build strong relationships with school partners, community organizations, and stakeholders, and is skilled in leading diverse teams with empathy and accountability. They are results-oriented, data-informed, and able to balance the nuances of curriculum development, program evaluation, and operational excellence. Above all, they embody and live out the core values of our organization modeling a strength-based approach to our staff, students and families.

Pay: $48,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $48,000 - $55,000