Description
The Parent Engagement Institute (PEI) is seeking two new Program Support Managers (PSM) to join a dynamic team supporting and mentoring community organizations to start or grow their own Parent Mentor Programs across Illinois. One position will be based at Palenque LSNA and one will be based at Southwest Organizing Project.
The PSM ensures that the Parent Mentor Program runs smoothly, while also uplifting the community organizing roots of the model. The PSM provides support to their assigned portfolio of organization(s) through structured mentoring, coaching, and guidance, ensuring organizations have clear expectations. The PSM is responsible for bridging the relationship between PEI and the PMP partner organization. In addition, the PSM is part of the team creating the professional development and network-building work of the Illinois Statewide Parent Mentor Initiative.
Through relationships and collaboration, the PSM guides partners in implementing the PMP in a manner that uplifts the mission and vision of PEI. In line with our values, the ideal PSM will have a passion for social justice, a strong education for liberation mindset, and a history with the Parent Mentor Program.
Job Responsibilities:
Support and Guidance
You will support, guide, and mentor partner organizations throughout the fiscal year - beginning with the onboarding of PMP staff and parent mentors (PM) until the end of the fiscal year - according to the PMP timeline.
This includes but is not limited to:
Guiding organizations through all initial program activities in the fall (Staff Orientation and initial training, PM recruitment; teacher presentations; PM info session and interviews, etc.).
Ensuring that partner organizations have access to all materials and resources needed to run a successful program.
Assisting organizations in the initial budget planning process to ensure alignment with program objectives and compliance with relevant guidelines. Conducting midyear budget reviews and offering recommendations for necessary adjustments.
Relationship Building
Building strong working relationships with your partner organizations’ PMP team (Organizers, Executive Director, Coordinators, and other org staff) that work directly with the program through 1 to 1 and group meetings.
Communication is crucial to strong relationship building. As such, you should maintain constant communication with the organization's PMP team and other key staff to ensure the success of the program.
Coaching
Once the program kicks off for the school year, you will provide ongoing coaching that should include the following:
Checking in with assigned groups as needed - every organization has a different level of needs depending on their years of experience in the program and how they are performing.
Checking in regularly with the Parent Mentor Organizer to relay important updates on program policies and requirements, to ensure compliance, and to provide feedback as needed;
Check-ins can be scheduled with the Parent Mentor Organizer as needed or agreed upon by both the Parent Mentor Organizer and PEI PSM.
Conducting a minimum of 1 Monthly Coaching Session- a deep check-in to develop and follow up on goal plans for partner organizations that help build a PMP that is modeled after the mission of PEI- Prioritize Coaching Session to be in-person (ONLY do virtual when necessary).
Executive Directors must participate in at least 2 of the coaching sessions.
Meeting with each of your partners at least twice a year in person - at the beginning and middle of the year - for coaching, PM events, mid-year check-ins, etc.
Holding at least one joint coaching session with all your groups to provide opportunities for cross-sharing, relationship-building, and training.
Documenting coaching activities regularly in the document provided by the Lead PSM. If you have your own note-taking system, make sure they are updated regularly and are shared with the Lead PSMs.
Celebrate every PMP partner’s small wins along the way .
Programmatic Support
Sending friendly reminders on deadlines and due dates- meeting calendars, monthly reports, etc.
Making sure partner organizations are connected with Ladders of Opportunity and other PEI initiatives - such as the state budget campaign, PEICC, Disability Justice, etc.
Attending PM events/meeting in your organizations, such as Beyond the Classroom, local workshops, meetings with school administrators and elected officials
Supporting and training partner organizations on the importance of civic engagement and encouraging them to build strong relationships with their elected officials.
Collecting partner organizations’ questions, ideas, or concerns, and bring them to the PEI Team for consideration.
Grant Compliance:
PSMs are the lead point of communication on budget and grant compliance. You will provide answers to budget questions your partners may have, approve substantial PD expenses as needed, and make sure to keep the admin team in the loop. This includes:
Reviewing partners’ budget breakdown for accuracy before submitting it to the Grant Administrator.
Staying up-to-date with the newest guidelines on training and other allowable spending, and communicating any changes to partner organizations.
Reviewing training plans with organizations to ensure responsible spending based on the fiscal year updated guidelines.
Conducting Site Visits of organizations that you do not work with to assess how they performed during the academic year, and get feedback for PEI.
Referring a partner organization for a Corrective Action Plan when and if the program is performing below expectations in the following areas:
Recruitment Goal Success
Complete, Clean, Accurate Documentation
Attendance at statewide meetings and events
Completion of Reports and surveys
Other non-compliance issues
Participating in any follow-up needed for the Corrective Action Plan process of your partner organizations.
Team Meetings + Support
Collaborating, attending, and participating in ALL the PEI PSM team building/community of support spaces. Approximately one per month will be in person.
Regularly engaging in a culture of sharing, learning, and growing with other PSMs. This may include exchanging tools or templates, shadowing one another in your work, or offering training and mentorship to other PSMs.
Attending weekly PEI team meetings. Approximately one per month will be in person.
Collaborating and participating in the planning and execution of the monthly Statewide Partner meetings and other meetings and events.
Supporting at least one of the Wednesday workshops per week.
Documentation
Accurate, detailed, prompt, and quality completion of all documents is critical to your role as a PSM. This includes:
Completing required spreadsheets as needed to track partner progress.
Reporting back on the mid-year check in and Site Visit.
Completing the coaching document to track partners’ goal progress and other agenda items.
Keeping track of survey completion, monthly reports, and PD progress based on the PMP timeline.
Other required progress reports and documentation.
Other
Collecting partner’s program impact stories and sharing them with PEI - for program funding advocacy, branding, and improving program growth.
Co-creating power building spaces for PEI, and liberatory professional development workshops - TTT and Orientation, Program Kick-off.
Participate in creating and supporting spaces that PEI uses to plan, execute, and host PMP events. These include COOL TEAM, PEI organizing activities (e.g. state budget campaign, PEICC, Disability Justice).
Attending all PMP staff and PEI staff training including but not limited to ongoing Smartsheets, PD Tab, Budget, professional development, and any other training required by your supervisor to help you support your partner organizations.
Participating in the Parent Mentor Convention planning committee.
Participating in required staff meetings, events, and procedures of your home organization (Palenque LSNA or Southwest Organizing Project) - approximately 5% of employee’s time each week.
Performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
Deep understanding and respect for the Parent Mentor Program.
Clear communication skills (oral and written)
Strong computer skills and confidence with Google Suite and Zoom.
Experience coaching/mentoring people with patience, love, and accountability.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing situations.
Aptitude for taking initiative, working independently, meeting deadlines, and creative problem solving.
Enjoys working in a team, willing to help others and comfortable asking questions to seek clarity.
Self-reflection skills, ability to own mistakes and learn from them.
Strong social justice lens on K-12 education, community organizing, parent leadership, disability justice, and economic justice.
Commitment to education for liberation; creating a healing infused and trauma informed work environment; and centering and nurturing Black and brown leadership
Availability to work on site at Palenque LSNA (2840 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago) or Southwest Organizing Project (2558 W. 63rd St, Chicago) at least 3 days a week, and availability to travel to Parent Mentor Program partner organization sites throughout the city and state.
Desired Qualifications:
History working with the Parent Mentor Program, for example as a parent mentor, coordinator, or organizer
Comfortable with Public Speaking
Experience with community organization, public school, or community settings.
To apply: Please submit the following to [email protected] with “Application – Program Support Manager” in the subject line:
1. Resume
2. A cover letter highlighting your relevant experience
3. References
4. Statement of preference (if any) between working at Palenque LSNA (2840 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago) or Southwest Organizing Project (2558 W. 63rd St, Chicago)
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
If you have any questions about the position prior to applying, please submit them in writing to [email protected] under the subject line "Inquiry - Program Support Manager.”
Compensation and Benefits:
The starting salary for this position is $60,000, but could be more depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.
The Parent Engagement Institute is a partnership between Palenque LSNA and Southwest Organizing Project. We are hiring two Program Support Managers, with the expectation that one PSM will be based at Palenque and one at SWOP. The job description is the same for both roles; however each organization offers their own benefit packages and personnel policies. Both SWOP and Palenque offer health insurance options, 401(k) plans, and vacation and sick pay. More information can be provided upon request.
This position is open as of July 31, 2025 and will be open until it is filled.
This position cannot be held at the same time as another position with PEI, Ladders, or the Parent Mentor Program.
We are hiring 2 Program Support Managers.
About the Parent Engagement Institute
The Parent Engagement Institute (PEI) is a partnership between Palenque LSNA and Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), which builds the capacity of community organizations, parent leaders, and schools to replicate the Parent Mentor Program model and build transformative parent leadership in schools and communities across Illinois and beyond. The Parent Engagement Institute (PEI) cultivates a network of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Immigrant parents and allies who take care of one another and take strategic action to co-create the resourced, joyful, and safe schools, communities, and future that we need and deserve. Together, we support four main priority areas and goals:
Powerful parents and families
To cultivate the personal, professional, and leadership growth of parents.
Powerful students and classrooms
To foster collaborative relationships between parents and teachers to co-create nurturing classroom environments for students to learn and grow.
Powerful community-centered schools
To strengthen talent pipelines to fill school staffing shortages.
Powerful communities
To build long-term parent leadership capacity in schools and community organizations.
For each of these priority areas, the work and action lead to key outcomes for parents, families, students, classrooms, schools, and communities.
In 2025-2026, the Parent Mentor Program will be rooted in over 290 schools and 45 school districts across Illinois, led by a powerful network of 50 community organizations.
For more information, please visit www.parentengagement.institute.
