Adult Education Program Manager

Description

The Arab American Association of New York (AAANY) seeks an experienced and dedicated Adult Education Program Manager to bring our dynamic Adult Education Program to the next level of student-support and success. The Adult Education Program Manager will play a key role in leading ongoing COVID recovery efforts at AAANY and transitioning the Adult Education Program back to in-person and hybrid instruction. This role will coordinate established curricula including ESL, pre-literacy ESL, Women’s Empowerment, and Citizenship classes, as well as implement new workforce development programming that will serve the ESL student base.

Since our founding in 2001 in the heart of New York’s Arab American community in Bay Ridge, AAANY has held a mission of supporting and empowering the Arab American and Arab immigrant community. Today, our commitment to providing direct services integrated with robust advocacy is as important as ever, and Adult Education is a key component of our work and successes thus far. Every year, hundreds of students enroll in our program seeking to grow as leaders in their homes, families, and communities, whether by advocating for interpretation at a child’s parent teacher conference or speaking out at a rally for immigrant rights. The Adult Education Program Manager plays an essential role in leading the Adult Education Program and working with students, staff, and AAANY as a whole to envision and realize a program that supports students in meeting their personal, professional, academic, and community goals.

Reports to:

Director of Programs

Supervises:

Adult Education team members, including full-time ESL and Women’s Empowerment Instructor and part-time instructors

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Setting Adult Education program and team goals, agenda, and direction in consultation with program staff, students, volunteers, and AAANY leadership;
2. Managing all aspects of AAANY’s Adult Education Program, which includes enrolling 100+ students each quarterly course cycle for Literacy-Advanced level ESOL classes as well as elective classes including citizenship, writing, and conversation;
3. Maintaining partnerships and organizing monthly community workshops, job skills workshops, health workshops, and info sessions;
4. Supervising Adult Education team, supporting interns and volunteers within the program, and teaching as needed;
5. Training staff and volunteers;
6. Collecting and managing grant data on student attendance, improvement on BEST Plus tests, and other outcomes with support from Program Associate, teachers, and interns;
7. Providing quarterly grant reporting data and narratives to key funders including DYCD and DOHMH;
8. Collaborating with AAANY colleagues on connecting the Adult Education program with advocacy, immigration, and other initiatives;
9. Interfacing with funders and external partners;
10. Attending relevant meetings and trainings;
11. Supporting AAANY staff in working towards our organizational mission and goals; and
12. Other tasks as needed.

Required Qualifications

We are seeking experienced adult educators who excel at team and program management, have exceptional cultural competency and communication skills, and are committed to learning and growth. The ideal candidate will have:

1. At least 3 years experience in the Adult Education classroom, with the ability to teach and cover classes at any level from Literacy to Advanced. The candidate should understand the specific needs, goals, and challenges of adult immigrant learners and be able to support students in meeting their different goals;
2. At least two years of program or team management experience, ideally in the non-profit sector. The ideal candidate will be able to manage a diverse and dynamic Adult Education team, provide regular feedback and support, cultivate partnerships, and advocate for the program, staff and students;
3. Strong cultural competency and communication skills: the ability to interface with multiple stakeholders including students, staff members, volunteers, clients, funders, and external partners of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds in a way that is respectful, knowledgeable, and fosters mutual understanding;
4. Commitment to learning and growth in a fast-paced non-profit environment. The candidate should be capable of growing and strengthening the program and willing to learn and grow with it;
5. Project Management skills: staying on top of multiple projects, planning backwards and anticipating obstacles, identifying and involving stakeholders appropriately, and using resources wisely; and
6. Minimum Bachelors Degree or Equivalent Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Formal study of TESOL/adult education including certificate and/or university-level programs;
2. Conversational Arabic-speaking skills. Familiarity with the languages, cultures, and traditions of the Arab world and/or experience working in New York’s Arab immigrant community are also major assets;
3. BEST Plus certification; and
4. Experience with grant reporting and non-profit development.