Company Overview | Close Up’s mission is to inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise the rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan leader in civic education since 1971, we believe a strong democracy requires active and informed participation by all citizens. Therefore, we seek to reach participants of every race, creed, geographical community, socioeconomic level, and academic standing. We serve approximately 25,000 participants annually through our placed-based programming, teacher professional development, and classroom curriculum.
We believe:
- Democracy requires members who reflect on their own values and interests as well as the values and interests of others, communicate their ideas, and take active steps to advance their political goals.
- Engaging young people in public policy discussion and deliberation of current controversial issues will give them the skills and desire for lifelong participation in the democratic process.
- By remaining nonpartisan and exposing young people to a variety of perspectives, we encourage them to consider a range of ideas and form their own opinions.
- Encountering and engaging with those who may have different backgrounds provides young people with a more nuanced understanding of how policy decisions affect all within a community.
Position Overview | The program leader is passionate about working with diverse students in grades 6-12 in residential, week-long academic programs. As manager of the program, the program leader ensures the safety of participants, maintains academic integrity, manages program staff, and works cross functionally within the organization and with external vendors to provide excellent customer service and respond to emergent problems. As part of the program leader team, this person helps recruit, hire, train, supervise, and develop a staff of program instructors. Program leaders utilize their expertise of curriculum and the program itself to contribute to the overall design and execution. When not on program, program leaders assist on projects that facilitate program implementation and further Foundation goals.
Primary Responsibilities | Program life moves very quickly. The program leader should expect to face a variety of complex situations simultaneously and must prioritize them based on importance and urgency.
- Serve as the administrator of record for assigned Close Up programs, be present on these programs, and be on call 24/7 during the program.
- Ensure program staff and participants follow Close Up policies.
- Provide logistical and academic leadership for a staff of about ten, including giving feedback and evaluations.
- Work with internal staff to produce the best possible program outcomes.
- Provide customer service to our partners, students,teachers, and parents.
- Maintain and improve external vendor relations in collaboration with other departments.
- Recruit, hire, and supervise program staff in conjunction with other program leaders.
- Complete other program-related tasks as assigned/necessary.
- Seek to innovate and improve program for participants and staff.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university (preferably in political science, history, education, social science, or a related field)
- At least one year of experience delivering and/or managing educational programs
- At least one year of supervisory experience, coaching and managing a team
- Willingness to travel overnight for program responsibilities
- Authorization to work in the United States for any employer
- Willingness to submit to a post-offer criminal background check according to federal regulations
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a school, camp, or other educational setting
- Interest in current public policy issues, history, politics, government, and experiential education
- Familiarity with Washington, D.C.
- A strategic thinker who can prioritize multiple tasks at once and use sound judgment in decision-making
- Ability to prepare for and react to challenging situations with program participants and staff
- Excellent communication skills, including speaking and presentation skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to be calm under pressure, to manage stress, and to balance the needs of others
Schedule | Program leaders are typically assigned to about 25 programs per year, concentrated between October and June. While assigned to a program, the program leader’s schedule is not your standard 9-5 workweek. It mirrors the program schedule to which a program leader is assigned, generally a 50-60-hour week. Program schedules typically run from 8am through 11pm most days, and programs usually start afternoon on Sundays and run through Thursday night.
Training | The program leader will have an extended training period during which they will be trained in and execute the roles that they would eventually aid in the management of, including program instructor and program assistant.
Compensation and Benefits | The starting salary range is $48,000 to $52,000 per year. In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes two robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance (more than 90 percent of premiums are company-paid), and vision coverage. Close Up pays 100 percent of the premiums for life/AD&D insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick days/holidays, paid parental leave, a Metro subsidy or free garage parking, free gym access, and a positive work environment.
Work Conditions and Physical Demands | Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time; Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another; Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly; Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound; Visual acuity: Performing an activity such as preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; reading; Environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside, potentially in extreme heat or cold, at times at a high noise level.
To apply, please upload a brief statement or cover letter describing why this position is the right fit for your skills and experience.
No phone calls or recruiters, please.
Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Close Up is an 
