Step Up Foundations Youth Services Manager

Minneapolis, MN

About PPL

Project for Pride in Living (PPL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering low-income individuals and families to become self-reliant through integrated services in housing, employment, and education. We believe in the power of community and the potential of every person. When joining PPL, you become a part of a diverse team whose goal is to assist our residents and communities with the groundwork they need not only to survive but also to thrive.

Job Summary

The City of Minneapolis’s Step Up Program connects Minneapolis young people (ages 14-21) with Twin Cities employers through paid internships that build careers and lead to a stronger workforce. Since 2003, Step Up has created over 34,000 high-quality internship opportunities. Step Up builds hope for the future by investing in the young people who will power our communities for decades to come. It expands horizons, bolsters resumes and connects youth to the places and people who will help them get where they want to be.

The Step Up Youth Services Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for all youth-facing components of the Step Up program. This position oversees youth recruitment, intake, work readiness training, internship matching, and participant support throughout the summer internship experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Recruitment, Outreach, and Intake

  • Lead and coordinate youth recruitment efforts in collaboration with community partners, schools, and the City of Minneapolis Employment & Training team
  • Oversee in person events (including Orientations and Onboarding Days), Occasional evening and weekends will be required. 
  • Collaborate with partner organizations and school-based career coordinators
  • Oversee tracking of youth participation, requirements, internship status and outcomes in Launchpad and WF

Training and Pre-Internship Preparation:

  • Manage required training components prior to internship matching; including in person Orientations, Onboarding Days, and additional outreach as needed
  • Coordinate placement of young people into online Career Exploration Program. Maintain ongoing support of programming elements in partnership with the City of Minneapolis
  • Coordinate mock interviews, resume-building activities, and workplace skill assessments

Program Implementation and Worksite Support

  • Partner with Employer Engagement Manager on employer and intern cohesion.
  • Coordinate Job Coach staffing (8-10 seasonal staff) to provide direct mentoring, safety checks, and worksite support for 600–800 interns
  • Coordinate and facilitate in-person Professional Development days during summer internship cycle

Staff Supervision and Leadership

  • Supervise Step Up Coordinators and seasonal staff supporting youth intake, training, and placement
  • Provide regular coaching, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities

Minimum Requirements

  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams and coordinate complex youth-serving initiatives
  • Proficiency in data management systems (CRM, Launchpad, WF1, or similar)
  • Experience supporting youth with barriers to employment (disability, housing instability, justice involvement, or language access)

Preferred Experience

  • Experience managing large-scale youth internship or apprenticeship programs
  • Familiarity with Minneapolis or state workforce systems and compliance requirements
  • Background in curriculum delivery, instructional design, or work-based learning standards

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in education, youth development, social work, or a related field (equivalent experience considered)
  • Minimum 3–5 years of experience in youth employment, workforce development, or education programming

Salary/Hours: Full Time/Exempt:  $61,000-$70,000/annually Exempt. DOQ

Benefits:

  • Health & Dental Insurance
  • Employer-Paid Short & Long-Term Disability & Life Insurance
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • HSA or FSA Options
  • PTO & Paid Holidays
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
  • Summer Half-Day Fridays (Memorial Day-Labor Day)
  • Meaningful work that impacts lives

Project for Pride in Living, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the organization will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.