Program Manager

Friends of the Children-Detroit

Program Manager

About Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is a nonprofit organization creating generational change by empowering youth through long-term relationships with professional mentors. We provide children facing the greatest obstacles with a salaried, professional mentor—called a Friend—from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years, no matter what.

Friends-Detroit is seeking an extraordinary, relationship-centered professional to join our team as a Program Manager.

At Friends of the Children, we put children first. We use our values to change the way the world treats and views youth facing significant barriers. Our work is grounded in relationships built on love, acceptance, and culturally informed practice.

As Program Manager, you will lead and develop a team of Professional Mentors while helping ensure that every child receives the consistency, support, advocacy, and opportunities they need to discover their limitless potential.

If you are a people-centered leader who can inspire others, build trust, navigate difficult conversations, and hold a team accountable while leading with compassion, this may be the role for you.

Position Summary

The Program Manager is responsible for supervising, guiding, coaching, and supporting the Professional Mentors within the organization. The Program Manager serves as a role model and mentor to Friends, team facilitator, and organizational motivator while promoting effective communication throughout the organization.

The Program Manager supports the hiring and onboarding of new Friends, as well as the onboarding and training of all new Friends. This position requires a strong understanding of and commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles, as well as a demonstrated desire to contribute to the effective management and continued growth of the organization.

The Program Manager is also responsible for ensuring program quality, supporting the development of children and families, monitoring team performance, and helping Professional Mentors consistently meet the expectations of their role.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Leadership, Coaching & Supervision

• Develop and sustain honest, trusting, and supportive relationships with colleagues and inspire and motivate team members.
• Serve as a role model for effective Friend/child relationships and professional conduct.
• Provide Professional Mentors with ongoing coaching, support, guidance, direction, and resourceful solutions to challenges.
• Supervise, coach, and develop assigned Professional Mentors through regular one-on-one meetings, feedback, goal-setting, and performance management.
• Hold team members accountable for meeting program, administrative, and organizational expectations while balancing accountability with encouragement and support.
• Support the hiring and onboarding of new Friends and contribute to the onboarding and training of all new Friends.
• Foster a team culture that promotes collaboration, professional growth, trust, and high performance.

Program & Child Development

• Know and understand the needs, strengths, interests, and challenges of each child served by Friends on the assigned team.
• Meet individually with each team member at least monthly and review Roadmaps and Transition Plans for each child on a monthly basis.
• Develop knowledge of each child’s academic performance and support Friends in setting realistic and meaningful goals.
• Ensure that each Friend helps identify and develop a specific area of interest, strength, or talent for each child.
• Interact with each child on the assigned team at least twice each year by participating in an outing with the child and their Friend or observing Friends with their children during activities or outings.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback to Friends regarding their relationships and work with children.
• Support Friends in developing strong relationships with children, families, schools, and community partners.

Organizational Leadership & Communication

• Ensure compliance with and accountability to organizational policies, procedures, and practices outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of policies, procedures, and practices as required.
• Demonstrate support for organizational decisions in a constructive and effective manner.
• Actively participate and provide insight, input, and solutions to programmatic and organizational issues and challenges.
• Facilitate or lead program meetings as required.
• Communicate effectively, appropriately, and professionally in all directions regarding organizational issues, concerns, policies, and procedures.
• Raise and resolve issues appropriately, exercising sound judgment and discretion.
• Advocate for Friends and represent the best interests of the team and children in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Solicit and obtain feedback from a minimum of two parents/caregivers of children on the assigned team each month. Document and maintain feedback and include it in the Quarterly Report.

Data, Accountability & Performance

• Review and interpret team and child-level data to inform decision-making, coaching, and program quality.
• Gain and maintain proficiency in organizational platforms used to collect, track, and report team data.
• Monitor the timely and accurate completion of required documentation and administrative responsibilities.
• Assist Friends in setting goals and developing plans that support the development and success of each child.
• Hold team members accountable for required performance, including completing administrative responsibilities accurately and on time.
• Use data, observation, feedback, and other available information to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Exercise sound independent judgment in a variety of situations and environments, including under varying levels of stress.

Essential Skills & Abilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Work Environment & Schedule

This position requires flexibility to meet the needs of children, families, and the Professional Mentor team.

• Flexible schedule, generally Tuesday-Saturday between 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.  
• Ability to travel throughout Metro Detroit, River Rouge, and surrounding communities as this is a field position. 
• Must maintain a good driving record, auto insurance and be able to travel as required by the position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, hair texture or style, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, and lactation), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, caste, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

Friends of the Children's management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.

Join Us

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country experience the power of how “One” changes a child’s story:

One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what.

#ThePowerofOne