JOB PURPOSE:

Working in conjunction with Youth Services leadership and Camp RISE and Earn & Learn staff, the Program Development Specialist serves as a key architect of Employ Milwaukee’s youth career pathway strategy, leading the planning, development, coordination, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of career exploration and summer work-based learning experiences for young people.

Employ Milwaukee’s Camp RISE and Earn & Learn programs are designed to function as a continuum of opportunity, moving youth from career awareness and exploration to meaningful exposure to employers and post-secondary education and, when eligible, into curated summer employment and work-based learning experiences. The Program Development Specialist will help design and strengthen this continuum, creating intentional connections between career exploration, employer engagement, work-based learning, post-secondary pathways, and longer-term education and employment opportunities.

The Program Development Specialist will establish and maintain the foundational systems, structures, schedules, curriculum, partnerships, participant engagement strategies, data collection and reporting processes, policies, and operational procedures necessary to deliver high-quality, compliant, engaging, and scalable youth career pathway programming. The position will help ensure that Camp RISE is not simply a summer career exploration experience, but a structured entry point into Employ Milwaukee’s broader youth workforce development ecosystem.

This position will lead year-round planning for Camp RISE, including fall and winter program design and development, preparation for spring registration and participant recruitment, and summer implementation. The position will coordinate career exploration content and experiences; develop outreach and recruitment strategies; cultivate employer, K-12, postsecondary, nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate partnerships; and assist with fundraising and sponsorship activities designed to sustain and expand the youth career pathway continuum.

The position will also work closely with Earn & Learn staff to develop curated summer work-based learning experiences that build upon the career interests and knowledge youth gain through Camp RISE. This includes helping identify appropriate employer placements, strengthening employer engagement, developing transition strategies for eligible Camp RISE graduates, and creating intentional pathways from career exploration into summer employment and subsequent education, training, apprenticeship, and career opportunities.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience working across K-12 education, nonprofit organizations, employers, and institutions of higher education, with the ability to translate those experiences into innovative, structured, and engaging career exploration and work-based learning opportunities for youth. The successful candidate will be both a strategic thinker and a strong program developer, capable of building systems and partnerships that allow Employ Milwaukee’s youth career pathway model to grow, demonstrate measurable impact, and potentially expand to additional sites.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Design, Planning, and Continuous Improvement

Lead the annual planning and continuous improvement cycle for Camp RISE, including fall and winter program design, spring registration and recruitment, and summer implementation.
Develop and maintain the annual Camp RISE program plan, calendar, implementation timeline, curriculum framework, operational procedures, and critical milestones.
Serve as the primary program design partner to the Special Projects Manager, who leads on-site Camp RISE implementation during the summer, ensuring that program design, curriculum, schedules, staffing, participant expectations, and operational plans are practical and aligned with the participant experience.
Collaborate with Youth Services leadership, Camp RISE staff, Earn & Learn staff, and other Employ Milwaukee departments to establish a coordinated youth career pathway from career exploration through summer employment, work-based learning, postsecondary education, training, and longer-term employment opportunities.
Develop standardized program procedures, workflows, schedules, templates, and tools that promote consistent, high-quality, compliant, and scalable program delivery.
Evaluate program activities, participant experiences, and outcomes and recommend improvements to strengthen quality, engagement, career exploration, and pathway outcomes.
Develop recommendations for program expansion, including the feasibility, partnerships, staffing, resources, and operational requirements necessary to implement Camp RISE at additional sites.

Youth Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement

Develop and implement participant outreach and recruitment strategies in collaboration with Employ Milwaukee staff, K-12 schools, community-based organizations, employers, and other referral partners.
Develop recruitment materials, information sessions, presentations, and outreach strategies that communicate the value of Camp RISE to youth and families.
Establish and maintain effective processes for participant registration, enrollment, orientation, communication, and engagement.
Promote equitable access to Camp RISE and develop strategies to engage youth from communities with significant barriers to career and educational opportunity.
Build positive relationships with youth, families, schools, community partners, and other stakeholders to support participant engagement and successful program completion.
Curriculum, Career Exploration, and Work-Based Learning
Lead the development, organization, and continuous improvement of Camp RISE curriculum and career exploration experiences.
Develop structured, age-appropriate learning experiences that expose participants to career pathways, industries, occupations, workplace expectations, employability skills, postsecondary education, and training opportunities.
Coordinate guest speakers, employer presentations, career panels, hands-on activities, demonstrations, career-focused field trips, and other experiential learning opportunities.
Collaborate with employers, K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, and community organizations to ensure career exploration activities reflect current workforce and educational opportunities.
Work with the Earn & Learn team to develop curated summer work-based learning experiences that build upon participants' Camp RISE career interests and experiences.
Assist in identifying appropriate Earn & Learn placements and developing strategies to connect eligible Camp RISE graduates to summer employment and work-based learning opportunities.
Develop tools and transition strategies that help youth understand and navigate the progression from Camp RISE to Earn & Learn and, where appropriate, subsequent education, training, apprenticeship, and career opportunities.
Evaluate curriculum and work-based learning experiences using participant feedback, employer input, and program data to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Employer, Education, and Community Partnerships

Develop and maintain relationships with employers representing diverse industries and career pathways and engage them in career exploration, mentoring, site visits, hands-on learning, work-based learning, and other youth opportunities.
Develop and maintain partnerships with K-12 schools, school districts, colleges, universities, technical colleges, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations to strengthen recruitment, career exploration, and postsecondary and career pathways.
Coordinate external partner engagement and ensure timely communication, follow-through, and alignment with Camp RISE and Earn & Learn objectives.
Collaborate with the Special Projects Manager and other Youth Services staff to translate partner commitments into effective summer program experiences.
Represent Camp RISE and Employ Milwaukee at appropriate employer, education, community, and workforce development meetings and events.

Participant Policies, Safety, and Program Quality

Develop, maintain, and continuously improve Camp RISE attendance, conduct, disciplinary, participation, and dismissal policies in coordination with Youth Services leadership and applicable requirements.
Establish clear procedures for communicating program expectations to youth, parents/guardians, staff, and partners.
Develop documentation and escalation procedures for attendance issues, behavioral incidents, participant concerns, and other program matters.
Collaborate with the Special Projects Manager to ensure participant policies and procedures are consistently implemented during summer operations.
Identify program risks and recommend strategies to strengthen participant safety, program quality, accountability, and compliance.
Maintain organized program documentation and practices to support internal review, monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement.

Data, Evaluation, and Reporting

Collaborate with the Director of Youth Services, Special Projects Manager, and Business Intelligence team to design and maintain Camp RISE data collection and reporting systems that capture enrollment, attendance, participant engagement, career exploration activities, employer and educational engagement, transitions to Earn & Learn, outcomes, and other relevant performance measures.
Establish standardized data collection tools, procedures, and timelines for program staff and partners and ensure participant information is accurate and timely.
Collect, organize, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative program data to evaluate program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
Develop program dashboards, performance updates, presentations, and other reports for Employ Milwaukee leadership and external stakeholders.
In conjunction with the Planning, Development, and Communications Manager, prepare the Camp RISE annual report, including participant demographics, activities, outcomes, employer engagement, success stories, and other measures of program impact.
Provide program data, outcomes, success stories, and other impact information needed for grant applications, funder reports, sponsorship proposals, communications, and other organizational purposes.

Fund Development, Sponsorship, and External Engagement

Participate as a member of an interdepartmental fund development and sponsorship team led by the Planning, Development, and Communications Manager, supporting the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate, philanthropic, and community partners for Camp RISE, Earn & Learn, and the broader youth career pathway continuum.
Provide program expertise, participant outcomes, success stories, career pathway information, and other content needed to develop compelling sponsorship packages, philanthropic proposals, presentations, donor communications, and fundraising materials.
Collaborate with the Planning, Development, and Communications Manager and other designated team members to identify employer and philanthropic engagement opportunities that align organizational fundraising goals with Camp RISE and Earn & Learn priorities.
Assist with the planning and implementation of Camp RISE and Earn & Learn fundraising events, employer engagement activities, and sponsor experiences.
Support fulfillment of sponsorship commitments by coordinating program participation, employer engagement, recognition opportunities, program updates, and impact information in collaboration with the Planning, Development, and Communications Manager.
Identify opportunities to leverage Camp RISE and Earn & Learn collectively in corporate and philanthropic engagement, including support for participant stipends, career exploration activities, field trips, speakers, work-based learning, supplies, technology, and other program needs.

Program Administration and Compliance

Maintain current knowledge of policies, procedures, and requirements applicable to youth workforce development, career exploration, educational programming, and Employ Milwaukee programs.
Maintain organized Camp RISE program documentation, operating procedures, agreements, schedules, and other materials necessary for effective program administration and compliance.
Collaborate with program, fiscal, data, compliance, communications, development, and other Employ Milwaukee departments to support effective program operations.
Assist with program budgets, purchasing, vendor coordination, contracts, and other administrative functions as assigned.
Coordinate and participate in planning meetings, training, seminars, partner meetings, and other activities necessary to successfully operate and improve Camp RISE.
Prepare program updates, presentations, reports, correspondence, and other documents ensuring clarity, completeness, accuracy, and conformance with applicable policies.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling participant, family, employer, partner, funder, and organizational information.
Perform other duties as assigned.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None. The position may provide functional guidance, coordination, training, and direction to temporary staff, interns, contractors, volunteers, instructors, and/or other individuals supporting Camp RISE activities, as assigned.

KEY ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Demonstrated knowledge of youth career development, career exploration, workforce development, education, or related programming.
Demonstrated experience working effectively in K-12 educational settings, nonprofit organizations, employer/business environments, and institutions of higher education.
Strong understanding of youth development and the educational, career, and workforce needs of young people.
Ability to translate career and workforce concepts into engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences for youth.
Strong program design, project management, planning, and implementation skills.
Ability to develop systems, processes, policies, schedules, and tools that create structure and consistency across a complex program.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional reports, presentations, program materials, and external communications.
Strong facilitation and public speaking skills, with the ability to engage youth, parents/guardians, educators, employers, funders, and community partners.
Strong relationship-building, partnership development, negotiation, and collaboration skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, partners, and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to use data to evaluate program performance and recommend improvements.
Ability to develop and maintain effective participant data collection, tracking, and reporting systems.
Knowledge of youth program policies, participant conduct and disciplinary practices, and approaches that promote positive youth engagement.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and tact when working with youth and families.
Demonstrated ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a cross-functional team.
Ability to work effectively under deadlines and within budgetary constraints.
Strong organizational and administrative skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
Experience with participant data tracking systems, online registration systems, survey tools, cloud-based platforms, and other technology used to manage programs.
Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, or outside normal business hours to support Camp RISE events and activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Education, Higher Education, Public Administration, Social Work, Youth Development, Workforce Development, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.

Experience:

Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience involving program development, program management, youth programming, education, workforce development, career exploration, nonprofit programming, or a related field.

Candidates must demonstrate meaningful professional experience working across multiple settings, including K-12 education, nonprofit organizations, employers/businesses, and institutions of higher education.

Technology/Equipment:

Experience using PC and/or Mac computers; Microsoft Office products including Excel and PowerPoint; cloud-based technology; online registration and survey platforms; virtual meeting platforms such as Teams, Zoom, or Webex; and data tracking/reporting systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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