Program Manager at the Allender Center
Reports to: Allender Center Director of Programs
Department: Allender Center
FLSA Category: Non-exempt
Average Hours per Week: 40
Summary
The Program Manager for workshops and memberships is a dual-function role responsible for overseeing both the management and administrative operations of the Allender Center’s collection of signature Healing Workshops and our new Alumni Membership online community experience for our Narrative Focused Trauma Care (NFTC) training alumni. This role ensures the successful planning, delivery, and evaluation of these offerings, overseeing the full lifecycle from development and planning to implementation and evaluation, while also managing day-to-day administrative tasks to ensure smooth operations. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, collaborative leader who effectively balances big-picture program goals with the logistical tasks required to achieve them. They work cross-functionally to deliver high-quality experiences aligned with the nonprofit’s mission and values, while engaging professionally with participants, alumni, and partners to continuously enhance the quality and impact of the programs.
The Allender Center is home to Narrative Focused Trauma Care (NFTC), a theologically & psychologically integrative model based on the lifelong work of psychologist and author Dr. Dan Allender. Housed under the umbrella of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, the Allender Center focuses on understanding the nature of trauma and abuse and healing from its impact on individuals, couples, and communities. Through healing-focused workshop experiences, formal training opportunities in the NFTC model, and a collection of public resources for anyone interested in understanding and healing from trauma, the center aims to deliver experiences that utilize and showcase our NFTC approach.
Essential Functions
The Allender Center Program Manager is responsible for:
Workshop Management
Lead end-to-end management of the planning, execution, and evaluation of 6-8 virtual and in-person Story Workshop and Recovery Week programs annually, ensuring all organizational goals, program delivery timelines and milestones, and administrative needs are met
Create and monitor event budgets, ensure fiscal responsibility through revenue and expenditure tracking, and process timely payments for program-related contracts and invoices
Serve as the primary point of contact and maintain communication with participants, instructors and facilitators, partners, and vendors, managing relationships to ensure successful program delivery
Manage participant registration and enrollment, build applications and forms, award and track scholarships, process program fee payments, and address customer inquiries, ensuring a positive experience from start to finish
Coordinate with workshop facilitation leaders to ensure group capacities for each event align with facilitator availability, manage participant data for small group placement, and collect participant story submissions when applicable
Recruit interviewers and oversee interview process for Recovery Week applicants
Handle all logistical arrangements and hosting for in-person and virtual events, including venue selection and booking, A/V, vendor coordination, hospitality arrangements, team travel arrangements and itineraries, and materials preparation
Act as an on-site event manager or virtual host for Story Workshops, ensuring high-quality participant and facilitator experiences
Collaborate with the Director and team to deliver updates and reports, assess program success through participant feedback and other metrics, implement ongoing improvements to enhance existing offerings, and develop new workshops when relevant
Maintain accurate records of participant data, program details, and financial transactions using the organization’s CRM and other data retention and tracking systems
Ensure all programs are compliant with relevant policies, regulations, and standards
Create and maintain procedure manuals, guidelines, and event planning documentation, ensuring they are up-to-date and reflect current practices
Monitor program inboxes, triage emails, and ensure timely responses to participants and stakeholders
Recruit, schedule, and coordinate volunteers for event support when applicable
Travel to events when required
Membership Management:
Manage NFTC Alumni Membership online community, ensuring consistent engagement and content that supports membership experience goals with a focus on growth and retention
Manage the alumni membership online platforms, ensuring structure and features utilized within each platform effectively supports the membership
Deliver value to members through populating various membership tiers with compelling benefits such as perks, content, community connection, and professional development
Develop opportunities and coordinate efforts for eligible alumni and Allender Center team members to take on active roles in contributing to the membership experience through elements such as digital resources, coaching, instructional webinars, or other online experiences
Manage member and prospective member communications, including membership invitations and renewals, and leading efforts (or collaborating with marketing as appropriate) to create alumni newsletters highlighting Allender Center news and alumni achievements, and other outreach strategies related to the alumni membership
Track metrics for discerning success and opportunities to strengthen membership experience, support retention, and increase growth of membership enrollments.
Collaborate with VP of Alumni & Community Relations at The Seattle School to sync and align the online membership experience with the other relationally-oriented alumni engagement strategies that are part of our broader institution
Build and manage application and registration processes for NFTC Alumni who are eligible to apply for their next level of training (i.e. NFTC Level II or Level III), and collaborate with NFTC programing staff on assessment processes and the handoff of enrolled participants to the NFTC Programs team
Collaborative Work and Special Assignments:
Participate in additional projects, event coordination, or short-term tasks to support key events and organizational goals, as is often necessary within a small, mission-driven nonprofit
Participate in collaborative spaces with teams to think with generativity toward meeting collective goals across the organization
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Bachelor’s degree preferred.
2+ years in program or event management and administration, ideally in nonprofit or social impact settings
Preference for candidates who live in the Puget Sound area of Washington state with capacity for a hybrid work schedule and periodic onsite event hosting in the Seattle area
Preference for candidates who have received training in our Narrative Focused Trauma Care certificate program, or have experience and familiarity with other Allender Center programs
Passion for trauma healing through story-based approaches; and alignment with and appreciation for the mission and values of The Seattle School and the Allender Center.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills for engaging effectively with a diverse array of customers, internal team members, and other stakeholders.
Highly personable presence and a warm professional demeanor
Strong self-starter who can take initiative and work independently to create, concretize, and implement plans, while remaining well connected to a collaborative team
Demonstrated organizational capacity, time management skills, and high attention to detail and accuracy while handling multi-layered projects and program execution
Experience managing budgets, tracking expenses, and ensuring financial compliance
Proficiency in event planning, including coordinating with internal stakeholders and external vendors, and adhering to timelines
Experience with program development and evaluation, with capacity to recommend and implement changes
Maintain productivity and composure in dynamic and evolving settings, including adapting to challenges, problem-solving, and responding smoothly to shifting priorities and deadlines
Demonstrated commitment to contribute to and advance a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in employee and participant spaces, in order to implement practices that ensure accessibility and support for all.
Proficient with G Suite, Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and project management tools (Asana experience a plus); able to learn new platforms and collaborate with IT to implement tech solutions.
Ability and willingness to handle physical event setup (lifting up to 35 lbs.)
Compensation & Benefits
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology provides a competitive total compensation package (salary, benefits, time off, and more). This is a full-time position with hybrid flexibility and an annual salary range of $58,000 – $65,000, depending on experience. We offer health care benefits (medical, dental, vision life, and long-term disability), retirement benefits, a health savings account, subsidized ORCA bus pass, and tuition assistance benefits. We also offer a flexible, supportive environment with colleagues committed to a common mission. View our websites for more information on the Allender Center or The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology
About the Employer
Established in 1997, The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology is an interdisciplinary graduate school committed to training people to be competent in the study of text, soul, and culture to serve God and neighbor through transforming relationships. We enact our mission through our various training programs in our graduate school, Allender Center, and Center for Transforming Engagement. Employees at The Seattle School strive to hold the capacity to see relationally and to allow room for the complexity and nuance needed as the global body of Christ
Federal employment non-discrimination rules preserve the freedom of faith-based organizations to hire according to faith. State and local employment civil rights laws include a similar exemption for faith-based organizations such as The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.
