Program & Development Lead

Location: Remote to start; New York, NY in early Summer 2021
Type: Contract to hire. Second Chance Studios is looking to immediately hire a full-time consultant for 3-6 months. Assuming successful fundraising efforts, the position will transition to full-time employment with benefits in early Summer 2021.

About Second Chance Studios
Second Chance Studios (SCS) is a nonprofit digital media company that trains and employs formerly incarcerated individuals. Upon launch, the studio will provide services for original content creation, video production, podcast recording, and digital advertising. SCS leverages the explosive growth in the new media industry to bring economic empowerment to returning citizens, their families, and communities.

The SCS model is built on three pillars:

1. Experiential Learning: Program participants (“Fellows”) learn essential on-the-job skills by running a full-service digital media studio that will have on-site podcast and video production equipment.

2. Mentorship: Fellows will be paired one-on-one with a mentor who is an expert in their field. Fellows will spend time on-site at their mentor’s company, learning their craft from a successful practitioner.

3. Job Placement: Once graduated from the program, Fellows will receive job placement assistance, coaching, and a bridge to employment through employer partnerships.

SCS’ launch was covered in Forbes and Fast Company and coincided with a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $60,000 from more than 400 backers. We’re quickly raising money and developing our program in preparation for the first cohort of Fellows in Summer 2021.

About the Role
As Second Chance Studios builds out its Fellowship program and digital media studio—the first of its kind venture in the United States—the organization is looking to hire a Program & Development Lead to drive this work forward.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Program & Development Lead will be responsible for various organizational projects and priorities. This person will be a multi-talented anchor on the team—cutting through long to-do lists by building strong systems, collaborating with and learning from others, managing a variety of projects simultaneously, and executing day-in and day-out deliverables at a high level.**

The Program & Development Lead is a fast-paced position that includes working closely with the Second Chance Studios team, volunteers, program Fellows, advisors, and Board of Directors. You can learn more about the team here. This role will oversee the design and delivery of our core program, in addition to making a significant contribution to helping raise funds to support the program (i.e., development).

This is a full-time contractor position (minimum 40 hours/week expected) based in New York, NY. While this position will be remote to begin, its responsibilities will develop over the coming year as we launch the Fellowship program. Leading up to and following the program’s launch, this position will require daily work at the studio. This shift will likely coincide with the transition from contract to hire.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management
Program Design

• Serve as a thought partner and problem solver to develop and execute the SCS Fellowship Program, including curriculum design, a coaching/mentorship model, a program timeline, assessment strategies, and an overall positive learner experience.
• Conduct sector-wide research and development to understand best practices in the space, connect with other leaders/organizations focused on reentry, and help shape the SCS model and approach.

Implementation

• Plan, coordinate, and monitor program operations and implementation, including but not limited to sourcing speakers, managing vendors, coordinating field trips, preparing presentations, etc.
• Support the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and retention of the inaugural Fellow cohort.
• Build essential systems for tracking and project managing the design of the program, including key partnerships in and adjacent to the criminal justice and reentry community.
• Work with the SCS team to source and secure employer partnerships that will support the Fellows’ learning experience as well as pathways to employment upon program completion.
• Engage and provide ongoing support to key SCS staff and volunteers, including coaches, mentors, volunteers.

Fundraising & Marketing

• Build systems to support SCS fundraising efforts, ensuring that SCS has the funding it needs to support Fellows in the long-term. These systems will include managing a CRM to track individual donors, foundations, grants, public funding sources, and crowdsourced funding efforts (i.e., Kickstarter).
• Build and manage systems for tracking all key constituents and ensure they are communicated with regularly and kept fully informed of the organization’s developments, including but not limited to building out an email distribution list for future newsletters, as well as creating relevant tags and communication cadences.
  
• Source prospective funders and partners by conducting research and outreach campaigns.
• Secure financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations, including drafting and submitting grant proposals and leading grant compliance.
• Lead intake and preparation for meetings with prospective funders and partners.
• Manage a portfolio of SCS partners and serve as a liaison between prospective and current funders and partners, cultivating deep relationships with all stakeholders.
• Design and deliver communications and marketing materials, including pitch decks, one-pagers, newsletters, the organization Squarespace website, and other collateral.
• Manage the organization’s social media strategy and channels to increase support for SCS’ work.
• Develop relationships with corporate partners interested in supporting SCS through employment opportunities, donations, or in-kind support.

Operational Management

• Implement the technology, systems, and processes necessary to support the programming and development functions.
• Work closely with the team to finalize the operating budgets and compile related financial reporting.
• Set up systems and processes for all SCS Fellows and program staff to receive compensation and relevant benefits on time.
• Lead the development of internal policies, including establishing policies and procedures for all who interact with the program.
• Lead SCS’ facilities strategy and partnerships, including finding, renting/buying, setting up, and managing physical space where the program will be housed.
• Support the adoption and implementation of key program-essential technologies, including project management platforms, applicant tracking systems, learning management systems, and other tools needed to deliver the Fellowship program.
• Source and manage volunteers needed to support SCS’ work and cultivate a sense of community.
• Manage an ongoing agenda of daily and weekly meetings with SCS colleagues to keep key initiatives and tasks on track.
• Develop and oversee operational infrastructure, systems, and processes that ensure effective program delivery.
• Assist with special projects, as assigned by the CEO.

Qualifications & Skills
First and foremost, the Program & Development Lead must share the team’s sense of urgency about the need to build meaningful opportunities for systems-impacted people, namely those who were formerly incarcerated. The ideal candidate will have the following experience, though we will consider exceptional candidates from all backgrounds:

• 4+ years of professional experience in related roles (e.g., fundraising, program/project management, stakeholder engagement, etc.)
• Experience thriving in a fast-paced, start-up, or entrepreneurial environment; experience in criminal justice reform is a plus, but not necessary.
• Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through while working under pressure.
• A strong track record of reliable, on-time, and on-budget project management
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong time management skills; ability to manage multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines
• Strong project management skills, included demonstrated flexibility and ability to anticipate, prioritize, and manage multiple or competing tasks/priorities.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills, including presentation-making and proofreading, and editing skills
• Excellent computer skills, including advanced Google Sheets capabilities
• Ability to utilize tools or design systems and processes to track data and monitor progress
• Ability to create, monitor, and maintain systems that enhance organizational efficiency
• Demonstrated ability to provide constructive performance feedback and effectively recommend and communicate needed improvements
• Ability to work autonomously and take direction as needed
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in the face of competing demands and external pressures
• Ability to work well in a team; exceptional ability to build strong working relationships
• Demonstrated commitment to the potential and importance of “second chances.”
• Working knowledge of pertinent social impact issues a plus, e.g., racial and economic justice, post-incarceration reentry, immigration, etc.

Compensation & Benefits
Compensation for this role will be paid twice per month at a rate within the range of $2,500 to $3,333 (equivalent to $60-80,000 annually), payable on the 15th and last day of each month. Compensation will be renegotiated if and when a full-time, exempt employment offer is made.

The compensation range for this position assumes a full-time 40-hour workweek. Compensation will be determined based on the candidate's experience and competencies.

Second Chance Studios values an inclusive and equitable workplace and provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

Application Submission
Please compile your application package, consisting of a resume, salary expectations, and references, and submit the completed materials via our careers page.