Program Manager

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering urban youth through athletics, academics, and employment opportunities. We use martial arts as a vehicle to create positive, supportive relationships with our students, as well as teach key values such as persistence and determination.

Position Summary

The Program Manager at Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts (LG) is responsible for overseeing key components of the Student Trainer Program, supporting youth through mentorship and other direct services, providing administrative program support, facilitating gym operations, and increasing community engagement. This role requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment for youth and community members. Preferred candidates are experienced martial artists that have instructed in Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, and/or Mixed Martial Arts. Evening hours Monday-Friday are required. Position responsibilities include:

• Providing direct service to teenagers in our Student Trainer Program (40% of time)
• Supporting administrative components of the Student Trainer Program (40% of time)
• Facilitating gym operations and community engagement efforts (20% of time)
  • Experienced martial artists will focus on athletics instruction and evaluation of athletics programming

Detailed Roles and Responsibilities

Student Trainer Program - Direct Service (40%)

• Greet and check in with students upon arrival
• Follow up with students who are late or absent
• Keep overall and per class attendance records up to date
• Oversee smooth transitions between program activities
• Document program via photos and videos for our Newsletters
• Monitor student behavior during all program activities
• Oversee daily study times for youth and provide academic tutoring
• Facilitate 1:1 and small group mentorship sessions and support youth in mapping out their academic, career, and personal goals
• Review and track student progress toward their goals
• Provide instruction in: leadership skills, post-secondary readiness, and related topics
• Identify and match Student Trainers with prospective internships, personal training & martial arts teaching opportunities, and job opportunities
• Supervise and assess youth-led classes at LG and program partners to ensure consistency and quality
• Assist students pursuing martial arts careers with goal-setting and planning
• Maintain communication with Student Trainer parents regarding progress and updates
• Continually seek opportunities to improve program quality
• Develop leadership opportunities for Student Trainers as they progress through program benchmarks

Student Trainer Program - Administrative Support (40%)

• Identify potential resources for youth offered by local nonprofits, health centers, and government agencies, and provide referrals as appropriate
• Support outreach, vetting, and onboarding of new program partners, tutors, and volunteers
• Maintain relationships with key program partners and uphold program standards, including with contract program instructors, tutors, and volunteers
• Develop and implement surveys for youth and program stakeholders
• Analyze survey data and make recommendations to enhance student and stakeholder experience
• Coordinate summer jobs program outreach, enrollment, and all associated administrative responsibilities including but not limited to recruiting partners to refer youth to LG, vetting youth applications and providing follow up, conducting interviews, managing selection process, and collecting all onboarding paperwork and surveys
• Design and implement onboarding training to Student Trainers

Gym Operations, Community Engagement, & Athletic Programming (20%)

• Implement and supervise Student Trainers in maintaining proper gym equipment sanitization protocols
• Support front desk responsibilities as needed, including student sign-ins and membership payments
• Monitor inventory of equipment and supplies
• Engage new members and help foster a welcoming and supportive environment
• Develop and implement membership retention strategies
• Assist with planning and executing community events such as holiday parties, member events, etc.
• Organize Student Trainer Program events
• Represent LG at community events and school fairs
• Coordinate athletic program schedule and arrange substitutes as needed

For candidates that are experienced martial arts instructors:

• Develop and implement Striking, Jiu Jitsu, or MMA pedagogy curriculum with measurable goals
• Evaluate athletic classes to identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to instructors to ensure alignment to best practices
• Provide coaching in local competitions

Schedule

Direct service to youth, gym operations, and athletic programming responsibilities take place Monday - Friday, 2 - 8 pm onsite at our Training Center during the school year (1490 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester). During the summer, you may expect earlier start times in conjunction with the earlier program start times. Administrative responsibilities may take place remotely.

Management & Support

The Program Manager will report directly to the Program Director, and work in collaboration with our second Program Manager, Administrative & Operations Coordinator, and contract athletic instructors. Expect to receive additional mentorship, support, and supervision from the Executive Director as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

Level Ground is seeking an enthusiastic, adaptable, and skilled new member of our team!

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Experience in working with youth in a nonprofit or school setting, and/or demonstrated ability to implement youth programming in a nontraditional setting
• Excellent organizational and management skills, with ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication
• Knowledge of and experience building strong relationships with Boston’s nonprofit, philanthropy, and social enterprise sectors.
• Proficient computer skills, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, knowledge of customer relations software
• Values youth athletics as a pathway and powerful driver of successful outcomes for youth
• Values honesty, integrity, and empathy as the fabric of all successful social ventures and lives that value
• Values youth development beyond traditional educational pipelines [i.e. alternatives to four-year college]
• Values building and maintaining relationships with urban youth and youths of color
• Enthusiasm and current practice in sports, athletics and/or fitness
• Passionate, committed, flexible, adaptive, and fun to be around

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working or volunteering with a youth serving nonprofit
• Working knowledge of how to leverage social media to increase a nonprofit organization's visibility and enhance its profile
• Experience working in multiracial, multicultural organizations
• Has deep understanding of the communities of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan through firsthand experience [lives or has previous work experience in the community]
• Experience in practicing and instructing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, or Mixed Martial Arts
• Experience in gym management and operations

Salary and Benefits

The Program Manager role is a full-time position, with a competitive salary based on experience. Benefits include health insurance reimbursement of up to federally-allowable threshold under QSEHRA guidelines, employer-sponsored 401(k) with 4% match, professional development fund, 21 days of paid time off (PTO) annually, and unlimited sick days.

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other eligible veteran status, or any other protected factor.

Application

Interested candidates should email cover letter and resume to ricardo@levelgroundmma.org and ali@levelgroundmma.org. Please provide 3 professional references.

For candidates that are experienced martial arts instructors, please provide 1 reference from a student you have instructed. For candidates that are experienced youth workers, please provide 1 reference from a youth you have worked with.