Program Manager, Literacy Liberators

Job Description

About You

You are a results-oriented problem solver with a passion for literacy and supporting Black, Brown, and underestimated youth to gain the reading skills they need to succeed in school and in life. You thrive in diverse environments, fostering inclusion and collaboration to support program results. With exceptional team management and communication skills, you ensure that people, processes, and resources are managed effectively to achieve impactful results.

As a responsible and responsive Program Manager, you excel at ensuring operations run smoothly, tutors and students feel cared for and supported, and communication flows seamlessly between all parties. Your ability to balance the needs of multiple site locations and the overall program allows you to address challenges while supporting the organization forward. 

You are committed to Open’s values of Care, Compassion, Candor, Credibility, and Commitment, and dedicated to the mission by supporting the education of underestimated youth through your work, contributing to the long-term success of Open and its community.

About Us

For over 50 years, Open School has been an innovative educational nonprofit dedicated to serving historically marginalized and underestimated youth across the Portland Metro area.

Our Literacy Liberators program works in person with small groups of 1st through 3rd grade students, helping them grow as readers through high-impact tutoring sessions, providing the support underestimated students in our communities need to learn to read. 

We are committed to eliminating race, poverty, and demography as predictors of student achievement and success. All students, regardless of their zip code or background, deserve quality education. At Open School we lead in equity, advocacy, and academics to meet them where they are.

Job Summary: 

The Program Manager for the Literacy Liberators Program leads the day-to-day operations of a multi-site literacy tutoring program serving students in the Portland area. This role ensures that tutoring services run smoothly, consistently, and with minimal disruption so students receive reliable, high-quality academic support. The Program Manager works closely with school partners, tutors, and instructional leadership to keep systems organized, schedules aligned, and communication clear.

This position requires someone who is organized, responsive, and comfortable managing people, logistics, and shifting school-site needs at the same time.

What you can be counted on to do:

• Daily operational management of the Literacy Liberators program across school sites:
• • Creating and maintaining weekly tutor schedules aligned with each school’s bell schedule
  • Coordinating tutor onboarding, schedule updates, and site changes
  • Primary point of contact for school sites regarding daily operations
  • Resolving day-to-day issues related to attendance, student behavior, space constraints, and technology or material needs
  • Tracking tutor attendance, student attendance, and session delivery to ensure services are provided as planned
  • Managing instructional materials across sites, including transport, organization, and replenishment
• Program Design & Implementation:
• • Support implementation of the Literacy Liberators program model across multiple school sites
  • Ensure tutoring sessions follow program expectations for frequency, group size, and instructional materials
  • Identify operational gaps and collaborate to strengthen systems that support consistent service delivery
• Staff Management & Training:
• • Support the onboarding and placement of tutors at assigned school sites, including identifying staffing and coverage needs
  • Ensure tutors receive clear schedules, site expectations, and materials needed to be successful
  • Provide ongoing communication, logistical support, and coaching to tutors
• Partnership & Community Engagement:
• • Build and maintain positive working relationships with school administrators, teachers, and support staff
  • Communicate regularly with school partners and families
  • Represent Literacy Liberators in a professional and collaborative manner at school sites
  • Strengthen coordination between schools, tutors, and program leadership
• Program Evaluation & Reporting:
• • Collect and analyze data on program outcomes, including student performance, mentor impact, and overall program effectiveness.
  • Develop and implement tools for continuous feedback from students, parents, mentors, and school partners.
  • Prepare regular reports on program activities, successes, challenges, and future goals for leadership and funding partners.
  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, including safety, background checks, and programmatic standards.
• Budget & Resource Management:
• • Manage program-related operational expenses in alignment with the approved budget
  • Support purchasing and distribution of instructional materials and supplies, monitoring use and preventing waste or shortages
  • Coordinate with program leadership to forecast staffing and material needs
  • Maintain basic financial and inventory records related to program operations

Experience, Skills, & Education 

Equivalent education and/or experience may be substituted for qualifications. Requirements represent minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the skills or aptitudes to complete each task proficiently.

• ​​Education: Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, or a related field. Master’s degree is a plus.
• Experience: At least 3-5 years of experience in program management, youth development, or education, with a demonstrated ability to manage people, resources, and projects effectively.
• Skills:
• • Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience supervising staff and volunteers.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders (students, families, community partners, staff).
  • Knowledge of best practices in tutoring, mentoring, and youth development.
  • Experience with program evaluation, data collection, data analytics, and outcome measurement.
  • Ability to work independently and take initiative while also being a collaborative team member.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines.
  • Knowledge of Portland’s educational landscape and local community resources is a plus.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings to accommodate program schedules.
• Ability to pass background checks as required by state law and organizational policies.
• Must have access to reliable transportation for travel within the Portland metro area.

Personal Characteristics:

• Empathy & Compassion: A deep commitment to working with young people and a passion for supporting their academic and personal growth.
• Cultural Competency: Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented and underserved communities.
• Problem-Solver: Ability to think creatively and address challenges with resourcefulness and resilience.
• Commitment to Excellence: High standards of integrity, professionalism, and a strong work ethic.

Physical Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to do the following: 

• Regularly work onsite with some remote-work available
• Travel to multiple work locations throughout the metro area during the course of a day.
• Regularly talk and hear.
• Regular use of hands and arms for reaching, lifting, and completing tasks.
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking required. 
• Bending, twisting, and kneeling.
• Lifting up to 15 pounds without assistance.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Open School Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.

At Open School, we believe every child deserves to learn and grow in an environment that meets them where they are. In response to systemic inequities and the limitations of one-size-fits-all education, we’re on a mission to create a more equitable future where underestimated and underserved youth feel seen, supported, and empowered at every stage of their academic journey. We do this through programs throughout the Portland metro area that focus on equity, advocacy, and academic excellence.

At Open School, we believe every child deserves to learn and grow in an environment that meets them where they are. In response to systemic inequities and the limitations of one-size-fits-all education, we’re on a mission to create a more equitable future where underestimated and underserved youth feel seen, supported, and empowered at every stage of their academic journey. We do this through programs throughout the Portland metro area that focus on equity, advocacy, and academic excellence.