Senior Manager, Program Development

**Position**:Senior Manager, Program Development

**Department**:Special Olympics Latin America (SOLA) - Organizational Development

**Supervisor**: Director, Organizational Development

The Senior Manager, Program Development is SOLA’s liaison to Latin American National Programs for promoting inclusive and supportive communities for our athletes. The incumbent will also work towards youth development by training, empowering and engaging athletes, youth and family members using our Young Athletes, Families and Youth Engagement initiatives & platforms. Developing alliances with new partners will also be a key strategy for finding new resources for the development of these initiatives.

**Responsibilities**:
**Regional Strategy Development**:_Develop and execute a regional strategy for Young Athletes, Families, and Youth Engagement, ensuring alignment with SOLA’s overarching objectives._
- Coordinate with other colleagues and departments in the SOLA Region, and Special Olympics International Headquarters to support engagement of Athlete Leadership, Young Athletes, & Families and Youth Engagement as part of a cross-functional and integrated approach to developing Special Olympics programming.
- Collaborate with existing SOLA Region and global committees and working groups regarding Young Athletes, Families and Youth Engagement to allow a fully integrated and meaningful approach involving different stakeholders on national and international levels
- Oversee the development of **Young Athletes**
- Train and engage Young Athletes Coordinators from across the Region
- Develop new partnerships that will serve to ensure new resources for the development of this initiative.
- Promote meaningful experiences for Young Athletes in coordination with the Sports and Health Departments.
- Oversee the development of **Families.**
- Train and engage Family Coordinators from across the Region to organize Families Train-the-Trainer Courses for National Programs.
- Establish alliances and work with community organizations on organizing family forums and other strategies for recruiting new family volunteers.
- Oversee the development of **Youth Engagement**
- Lead/support implementation, documentation, evaluation, budgeting and planning of related of Youth engagement, including Unified Schools, Unified Champions School, grants, workshop or forums, etc.
- Train and engage Youth Coordinators from across the Region
- Establish alliances and work with Youth and Schools organizations.

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**Mentorship**:_Provide guidance and support to Managers and Coordinators across the region, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement._
- Supervise Youth Managers

**Project Management**:_Oversee large-scale projects involving multiple departments and partners, ensuring deadlines are met and quality standards are maintained._
- **Grant management** of Young Athletes, Families and Youth Engagement
- **Develop** and implement strategies for securing **_new partners to ensure resource and technical support_** for the expansion of Athlete Leadership, Young Athletes, Families and Youth Engagement.

**Partner Relations**:_Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing partners and identify and establish new strategic partnerships that support the mission of SOLA/SOI._

**Program Evaluation**:_Oversee the evaluation of existing programs, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring programs meet quality and efficacy standards._
- Analyze National Program Plans, support and advise SOLA staff and National Program Leaders on the continued development of Athlete Leadership, Young Athletes, Families and Youth Engagement
- **Train and promote** Unified**_ Leadership_** focus across the region.
- Participate in internal and external committees, forums and conferences regarding Athlete Leadership, Young Athletes, Families and Youth Engagement.
- Submit periodic reports.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, social or sports sciences or similar, or equivalent experience
- 3+ years of relevant work experience, and a knowledge of working with people with intellectual disability, human right and local development.
- 3+ year experience and proven skills in program development and management Skills
- Project and/or event coordination experience including stakeholder support, reporting and budget administration.
- Speaking/writing abilities in English and Spanish
- Strong skills in presentation, innovation, collaboration, problem solving, teamwork, and vision.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communications skills (both verbal and written)

**Status**:
Full-time

***Special Requirements**:

- Able to travel (on weekends as needed)
- Experience as volunteer in Special Olympics or the non-for profit area

Special Olympics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without