Program Manager - Greater South Side

Job Title: Greater South Side Program Manager

Location: Wendell Phillips Academy High School (244 E Pershing Rd, Chicago, IL)

Reports to: Chief Program Officer

Start Date: June 2025

Job Summary

The People’s Music School’s Greater South Side program is the organization’s second-largest and fastest-growing of its four program sites, serving ~180 1st-12th grade students. The site’s Program Manager is a dynamic leader that plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the success of the TPMS site, leading students, their families, faculty, staff, and community partners towards our mission.

This dynamic individual takes ownership of the program site's overall success, driven by a deep commitment to our students, families, and the transformative power of music education. Exceptional organizational skills, growth mindset, and pursuit of continuous improvement are essential in this role. They embody our inclusive culture through their ability to drive their program towards our strategic goals while nurturing a vibrant and welcoming musical community for students.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of overall program health of the Greater South Side site, making the program a safe, welcoming, musical, and inclusive place for Greater South Side students and their families
• Achieve program goals related to retention, instrumentation, enrollment, curriculum implementation, fundraising, and community engagement
• Manage support staff and faculty at the program and assist with their hiring, observation, and evaluation
• Carefully manage budget allocation for their program, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and collaborating with key Leadership Team members on budget planning
• Lead on-site/virtual faculty, family, and site partner meetings
• Conduct disciplinary meetings, as necessary, with individual students and families
• In collaboration with the Chief Program Officer, design and implement safety protocols for your program site
• Maintain student databases, including attendance, student outcomes, fundraising, service hours, and instrument inventory/repairs
• Organize and administer all student activities for your program (i.e., performances, field trips, and master classes)
• Design security and safety protocols for the program and implement with faculty and students to ensure compliance
• Create class schedule for faculty and students in your program
• Collaborate closely and effectively with members of the Program, Learning & Teaching, and Leadership teams
• Collect and analyze student outcomes data (e.g. juries, behavior reports, attendance, grades) to help meet TPMS strategic goals and to support work of the Development team (e.g. information needed for grants)
• Execute all administrative paperwork, projects, and tasks on time and to a high level of accuracy
• Oversee all activities related to smooth operation of the program, including set-up /take-down and other program related activities (e.g.snack time, class transitions, and dismissal)
• Actively participate in staff/faculty meetings and professional development
• Other duties as may be assigned from time to time

Qualifications

• Personal commitment to the mission and values of The People’s Music School
• Minimum level of education required is a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; major in music education, performance, arts administration or related field.
• 1-3 years of management/leadership experience in either the non-profit or for-profit sector
• 1-3 years of working with school aged children as a teacher, mentor, or similar position
• Calm and unflappable, able to create clarity and lead decisively in ambiguous situations
• Experience building strong relationships with families and young people in low-income, BIPOC-majority communities
• Understanding of a busy school environment
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• Flexible and responsive to quickly problem solve situations that typically occur in a school environment
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus
• Collaborative team member
• Experience leading multiple projects simultaneously and completely at a high level
• Exemplary organizational skills
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Maintain a high level of professionalism
• Must pass Chicago Public Schools background check
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proven experience collaborating and working with people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds

Physical Demands

• Local travel required
• Ascend/descend stairs
• Move equipment and instruments weighing up to 35 pounds
• Tolerance of prolonged and continuous stationary periods at a desk/computer

Schedule

• Full-time position - (40 ) hours per week. Must be available in person when program is running (Mon-Thurs 2:00-7:00pm) with some evenings and weekends required for events.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range is commensurate with experience: $60,000 - $65,000 annually
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off, Paid Sick Leave, and Paid Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Pre-Tax Flexible Spending Account (Health, Dependent Care, Commuter)