Manager, Program Initiatives at Spero

Houston, Texas, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

16 Mar, 26

Salary

70000.0

Posted On

16 Dec, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Event Management, Logistics, Vendor Coordination, Budget Management, Data Analysis, Communication, Project Management, Organizational Skills, Interpersonal Skills, College Access, Program Operations, Team Coordination, Attention to Detail, Time Management, Relationship Building, Bilingual

Industry

Education Management

Description

Description The Opportunity: In the United States, only 25% of high-achieving students from low-income communities apply to the nation's most selective colleges and universities. At EMERGE, we believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Grounded in this belief, EMERGE empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from selective colleges & universities across the nation. The Manager of Program Initiatives will support the planning, execution, and management of events and oversee the Program Team's day-to-day operations. This role often has a dual focus on both operational management and event execution. It requires strong operational oversight and a significant number of event-specific responsibilities, such as managing event logistics, vendor relationships, event promotion, and guest engagement. The ideal candidate for this role is a professional who has a passion for college access and college success work, is an excellent relationship cultivator, and is a strong planner with attention to detail and time management skills. They should be positive, adaptable, and have strong ownership. Salary Range: $58,000 - $70,000 Reports to: Director of Program Initiatives The Role: As the Manager of Program Initiatives, you will spend your time in the following ways. Event Planning and Management Manage logistics of events from start to finish, including planning, marketing, and execution Research event venues, vendors, and resources Coordinate volunteers and vendors for events. Ensure the smooth delivery of event-specific logistics, which could include things like venue selection, registration, and on-site event management Work together with the budget manager for events and initiatives to inform and track against program budgets Ensure all events are in compliance with financial procedures and policies Application Booster Planning and Management Research all available applicant boosters for access scholars Engage in data analysis Build a database and catalog of all boosters alongside Director of Program Initiatives Build a communication plan Collaborate with Directors and external partners Create a project plan for all boosters Create and execute a family engagement plan Support with STE planning and execution Team Operations Ensure day-to-day activities of the Program Team are executed consistently, which may include managing office supplies, organizing meetings, and overseeing administrative duties Maintain inventory of materials and supplies, manage equipment needs, and ensure adequate staffing for operations. Ensure all spaces, storage, and facilities belonging to the Program Team are up to standard, clean, safe, and fit for purpose Ensure the Program team has adequate supplies and equipment Data Analysis and Program Improvement Update databases with scholar information Track scholar engagement with application boosters and events Analyze data to track progress toward goals and determine the effectiveness of application boosters and events Research and innovate to improve application boosters and events Communication and Collaboration Draft, send, and track large-scale communication for events and application boosters Communicate with volunteers for events Communicate with vendors for events and application boosters Work closely with other staff members such as development, marking, and finance teams to align efforts with organizational goals Build relationships with corporate sponsors, community partners, and other stakeholders to support the nonprofit’s initiatives and events The Person: Self-Directed Takes ownership of learning opportunities to consistently increase selective college access knowledge. Ability to identify gaps and opportunities, make a plan that is aligned with program initiatives and outcomes, set goals, and act towards achieving program outcomes and goals. Ability to maximize time and resources for self and team. Strong Attention to Detail Ensure all aspects of events and operations are thoroughly planned and executed Ensure all communication and materials are fully Create and maintain databases with accuracy and fidelity Time Maximizer Meets professional obligations through efficient work habits such as meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, coordinating resources and meetings in an effective and timely manner, and demonstrates respect for others. Decisions reflect strong judgment of how time is spent that is aligned with priorities and responsibilities. Has a strong sense of when to reallocate time and resources for self and team in order to address potential capacity challenges. Strong Communicator Ability to communicate effectively with EMERGE district partners and high-level leadership, EMERGE community members, students, families, and a wide array of stakeholders. Listens attentively, works with others to resolve problems, clarify, or interpret complex information and to validate understanding. Possesses dynamic and effective coaching ability. Requirements Ideal candidate will have: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required. 3–5 years of relevant professional experience, ideally in: Program operations or event management (planning and executing large-scale events, logistics, vendor coordination, budgets, etc.). College access or success programming, education, or nonprofit program management. Cross-functional coordination (working with teams like Development, Marketing, and Finance). Experience with Salesforce, Common App, & Naviance highly desired Bilingual highly desired (Spanish or Vietnamese) Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Strong project management and organizational skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to analyze and interpret data. Exceptional interpersonal skills. Physical and Working Conditions: Open-office environment Sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time. Role requires walking, standing, hearing, and talking. Ability to lift/carry and push/pull up to 50 pounds. Who we are: At EMERGE, we live by our Core Values: Equity grounds us Diversity defines us Talent mobilizes us Meaningful relationships fuel us Results distinguish us Founded in 2010, EMERGE is a developmental, college access organization changing the life trajectories of thousands of students across the Houston area. Since its inception, EMERGE has grown from serving 14 students across four high schools, to serving over 1,600 high school students across five school districts. We also serve over 1,400 college scholars at over 100 selective colleges and universities across the country. As EMERGE’s impact has grown, our nonprofit team has grown to over 30 staff members. The staff includes our College Access Team, College Success Team, Strategy & Innovation Team, Finance, Operations & HR team, and Development Team. You will be joining an energetic, passionate team of individuals working to propel Houston’s top talent upwards and onwards. What we offer: At EMERGE, we aim to enact our core value of “equity grounds us” within our compensation practices to ensure a competitive and equitable salary & benefits package for all employees. To determine salary; we consider each candidate’s relevant experience, growth potential, and responsibilities within the role, as well as equity across similar roles within the organization. The salary range for this role is $58,000-$70,000. Benefits: We offer Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance. We provide Short-term and Long-Term Disability insurance, along with Life Insurance. We offer Parental Leave We have a 403b plan that employees can opt into. Each employee has 27 Paid Time Off days for the year. EMERGE is closed for 18 holidays and 12 Wellness Fridays. Eligible employees are awarded a $500/year stipend for role-relevant professional development opportunities. Priority Deadline: Applications received by December 26, 2025, will receive priority consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

The Manager of Program Initiatives will support the planning, execution, and management of events while overseeing the Program Team's day-to-day operations. This includes managing event logistics, vendor relationships, and ensuring compliance with financial procedures.