Student Success Network

About Student Success Network

SSN is a community of 80 organizations working together to improve programming, practice, and policy to close opportunity gaps for youth in NYC. Founded in 2013 by the leaders of 15 education and youth development organizations, The Network was built on a shared understanding that all organizations could serve more students more effectively by collaborating instead of competing.  At that time, there was little infrastructure to support collaboration, and youth-serving organizations had limited capacity alone to create or influence the systems, solutions, and structures to address the complexity of barriers their students faced.  

Most recently, COVID-19 has sharpened the focus of inequitable systems on black, brown, and marginalized communities across the city and has presented unprecedented challenges for Network members.  Though intensified now, these barriers to opportunity have existed long before the pandemic.  We know that, as a field, we are not going to see lasting change by doing what’s always been done; programs and interventions are necessary, but not sufficient.  Today, we carry out activities to build the capacity of our members - in partnership with other organizations - in addressing root causes of inequitable outcomes. Specifically, we:
  • Conduct research to expand collective knowledge about key challenges and solutions related to inequitable outcomes;
  • Build practitioner capacity to create stronger organizations, more impactful programming, and better systems;
  • Fuel collaborations and working groups, in partnership with others throughout the city, to develop policy and practice solutions for key barriers to equitable outcomes;
  • Share and scale solutions to disseminate evidence-based practices and approaches.
Position Summary

Student Success Network is seeking a Program Manager, who will be responsible for developing and executing program opportunities in partnership with SSN’s members and young people.  Program Manager will report to the Director, Capacity Building. 

Core responsibilities include:
  • Develop and and facilitate SSN programming aimed at building the capacity of practitioners, nonprofit leaders, and students to improve organizations and outcomes, including:
    • Coordinate and create program materials and logistics, including timeline, workplans, agendas, and presentations;
    • Conduct literature reviews to elevate best practices in programming and materials;
    • Conduct regular conversations with network members to ensure their perspectives are informing programming development and they are connected to the appropriate initiatives;
    • Build and curate tools that support nonprofit staff in developing key skills they need to improve programs and organizations;  
    • Support oversight of SSN’s youth program, which prepares students and adults to partner with one another to improve outcomes;
    • Contribute to programmatic progress monitoring and evaluation efforts
    • Contribute to SSN’s research that critically analyzes injustices and centers youth contributions;
    • Provide coaching to members to achieve measurable results;
  • Design and implement program communications, including:
    • Create and send event recruitment and promotion materials;
    • Contribute to social media and blog strategy;
    • Conduct targeted outreach and follow up;
    • Serve as liaison with SSN’s Communications Manager. 
  • Support external engagements, including:
    • Develop partnerships with external partners;
    • Represent SSN at conferences and other external settings.
  • If applicable, supervise 1-2 staff and interns.
The ideal candidate will be: 
  • Interested in Racial Equity, including expanding their analysis and knowledge about the role that racial inequity plays in our society, and building and/or deepening your commitment to racial justice work; 
  • Intersectional thinker: you see the connections between seemingly disparate ideas, and understand how systems interact to impact humans;
  • An expert relationship builder who develops and cultivates trusting relationships and inclusive networks;
  • Able to create inclusive, community-engaged spaces that empower partners to challenge inequity;
  • An excellent facilitator who feels at home in front of large groups of people;
  • An excellent written and verbal communicator; 
  • Experienced in the application of different learning modalities, including project based learning, and different mediums, including in person and virtual, to meet different needs;
  • Stellar project manager, with a proven ability to create and manage complex project plans on tight deadlines with a high level of accuracy;
  • Able to anticipate potential roadblocks and develop solutions for overcoming them;
  • Excited by the challenges and opportunities for growth in a young, rapidly evolving organization, and adaptable to evolving needs and opportunities;
Not required, but a bonus:
  • Oriented towards aesthetics, with some communications experience (familiarity with MailChimp and Canva are a plus);
  • A data junkie with analysis or evaluation experience (familiarity with Tableau and other data visualization tools are a plus);
  • Familiar with the Youth Participatory Action Research model;
  • Experienced managing outside vendors.
Education and Work Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree a plus but not required
  • Minimum 5 years work experienceWe're looking for the best candidate for the job, so we encourage those interested to apply even if they do not fulfill every qualification on paper.

Benefits and cool perks: 
  • Being a part of a small but mighty team in addition to a larger network of the city’s most innovative and impactful nonprofits
  • Annual Professional Development Budget
  • Great Retirement & Healthcare Plans
  • Flexible work space
  • Flexible work from home policy
  • Flexible vacation policy
  • Occasional team lunches and outings 


*Note: we are currently fully remote until it is safe to return to the office
Student Success Success is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Student Success Network offers a full benefits package and multiple opportunities for professional growth.

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Individuals seeking employment at the Student Success Network are considered without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. You are being given the opportunity to provide the following information in order to help us improve our work.

Completion of this question is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

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