What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Program Manager, Operations position at UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND?
Job Title: Senior Program Manager, Operations
Department: Institute for Capacity Building
Reports To: Director, Operations for ICB & Atlanta Office
FLSA Status: Exempt
Band: C2 – Location 3
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Senior Program Manager - Operations will provide comprehensive operational, financial, and administrative support to the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) management team. In this role, the Senior Program Manager will support the establishment, oversight, and execution of programmatic, operational, and learning activities across UNCF’s network of partner institutions.
The successful candidate will manage and support cross-functional projects and system implementations; oversee vendor relationships; process invoices; and support grant management activities. Responsibilities will also include event management planning and execution for UNCF’s annual summit, budget management, scheduling and calendar coordination, and oversight of office operations, including supplies, technology, and equipment. Additional administrative duties will be assigned as needed to support the broader goals of the ICB.
This role requires a highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and organized professional with strong analytical skills and the ability to remain flexible in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset and possess a strong understanding of higher education, curriculum design, budgeting, and professional development programming, with a particular focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
ABOUT UNCF
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has been an engine of educational achievement for more than 80 years. UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of HBCU students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates. In addition, UNCF ensures that its member institutions remain respected models of best practices in moving students to and through college. Since its inception in 1944, UNCF has raised over $6 billion in private support, distributed scholarships to help students attend school, and enabled more than 500,000 scholars and low-income students to graduate from UNCF’s member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and launch professional careers. UNCF is committed to closing the educational attainment gap by increasing postsecondary access and success for student groups, particularly low-income and first-generation students.
ABOUT ICB
Launched in 2006, UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) provides targeted capacity-building resources to help HBCUs improve their resilience. We define resilience as the institution’s ability to improve its operation today and future-proof them for tomorrow. ICB’s engagement equips UNCF member institutions, and other HBCUs and PBIs, to provide high-quality educational experiences to their students and the broader community. ICB’s work focuses on three areas critical to HBCU success: institutional effectiveness, academic competitiveness, and financial viability. Beyond our strategic advisory and project management support, ICB serves as an innovation hub for Black colleges, connecting institutions to funders, best practices, resources, and subject matter experts both within and outside of UNCF.
Successful candidates will join the Institute for Capacity Building team which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to specific roles and responsibilities, ICB team members have proven to be successful when they:
- Are driven to serve people and institutions that are often undervalued and overlooked;
- Embrace collaboration as a critical value to ensure effective teamwork and adoption of best practices;
- Seek out opportunities to innovate and improve upon conventional practices and procedures;
- Take personal responsibility for executing key projects and developing relationships; and
- Operate with a sense of mission and purpose.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
- Supporting the Director with overall grants management administration for the ICB portfolio, including preparing annual grant budgets, planning expenditures, monitoring financial performance, and implementing necessary corrections.
- Assisting the Director with policy development and budget management.
- Serving as the primary point of contact for asset management and procurement.
- Providing oversight of third-party vendor management, including contract agreements, in collaboration with the Director and key stakeholders.
- Supporting the enhancement and implementation of financial systems, CRM software (e.g., Salesforce), and other required technology platforms.
- Actively participating in the planning and execution of ICB events, including the UNITE annual summit.
- Developing, documenting, and maintaining ICB policies and procedures.
- Providing performance management and oversight for Program Coordinators – Operations.
- Reviewing, standardizing, and maintaining onboarding and offboarding policies and procedures for ICB.
- Assisting with the training and onboarding of new hires and interns.
- Preparing and distributing memos, emails, reports, and other communications, as appropriate.
- Responding to internal and external inquiries and requests for information in a timely manner.
- Serving as a liaison between administrative staff and senior management, ensuring needs and concerns are communicated and resolved efficiently.
- Partnering with Human Resources, Information Technology, and other key stakeholders to maintain and update office policies, as needed.
- Coordinating with the IT department regarding office equipment, systems, and technology needs.
- Managing relationships with vendors, service providers, and the accounting department, ensuring timely invoicing, payments, and proper contract execution in collaboration with the Office of General Counsel.
- Coordinating office staff activities to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending workshops, participating in professional associations, networking, and reviewing industry publications.
- Managing offsite assets, ensuring they are maintained in an orderly and secure manner.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
May supervise several staff members in accordance with the organization's policies, performance guidelines and applicable laws.
QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree or commensurate experience preferred. Minimum of 5-7 years of operations management, business administration, project management, event management, and budget management.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrated experience in planning, managing, and executing events, including large-scale, multi-day convenings and stakeholder-facing programs.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, facilitate, and lead meetings, and to work effectively and professionally with stakeholders at all levels of leadership.
- Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage administrative, financial, and project-related activities with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Proven initiative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently manage a wide range of responsibilities and deliver results.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, often at varying stages of development and execution.
- Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the mission and values of UNCF and the Institute for Capacity Building (ICB).
- Experience with calendar management and travel coordination.
- Proven ability to prioritize and balance competing demands, deadlines, and projects effectively.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
- Demonstrated success working collaboratively and cross-functionally in team-based environments.
- High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and other relevant software platforms.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Benefits include:
Medical, Dental & Vision
Vacation, Sick & Personal Leave
Life Insurance (Basic & Optional)
Flex Spending Accounts
403(b) Retirement Account
Holiday Savings Plan
Annual Success Sharing
Salary Range: $67,700.00 To $78,000.00 per year (Salary is commensurate with experience.) This is a hybrid role: 4 days on-site and 1-day remote per week, located in UNCF’s Atlanta, GA building.
Background checks required.
UNCF is EOE M/F/D/V
Salary : $67,700 - $78,000