Program Director - Nashville

ABOUT COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS  

Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CISTN) is a nonprofit that partners with K-12 public schools to surround students with a community of support empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. As part of the CIS national network, CISTN achieves this mission by placing program managers in schools across the state to provide school-wide interventions and case managed services for students in need. With a budget of $13M, in academic year 2026-27 we will support 98 employees in 74 schools and serve nearly 35,000 students and families across Tennessee.  

To best support the students, families, schools, community partners, and our staff members involved in this work, CISTN staff and board members center all decisions, actions, and services on the following core values:  

1. Integrity – We openly share how our work is done, and we hold ourselves accountable to the commitments we make.   

2. Empathy – We intentionally build relationships so we can learn about people’s stories, validate their experiences, and deepen our understanding of situations different from our own.   

3. Equal Opportunity – We identify and work towards removing barriers, so everyone has the opportunity to achieve.  

4. Authenticity – We create space for the people we work with, and for, to be their truthful, complete selves without judgement.   

5. Collaboration – We bring people together to plan and take action in our work, understanding we make lasting change in partnership with one another.  

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES  

The Program Director provides regional leadership to ensure Communities In Schools of Tennessee programs are implemented with fidelity and effectively support students, families, and schools. This role supervises and supports school-based Program Managers, uses data and program outcomes to strengthen practice and inform decision-making, and builds strong partnerships with school and district leaders and community stakeholders. The Program Director also contributes to statewide program strategy, professional learning, and continuous improvement while representing CISTN and its mission in the communities it serves. 

Program Leadership  

• Serve on the State Support Team with organizational leaders, making recommendations for and providing insight into the statewide operations and strategic direction of the organization.
• Develop and implement an annual program plan that outlines program milestones annually and revise throughout the year, as needed, and communicate with organizational leaders about the status of the key objectives in the plan.
• Collaborate with the Director of Professional Learning to develop and implement the organization’s  professional development plans and coordinate and deliver aligned local professional development.
• Plan and implement programmatic onboarding functions for statewide program staff, ensuring all program staff are thoroughly trained and have the resources and knowledge to best support students and families.
• Collaborate with program directors across the state to ensure program fidelity at every location.
• Embed principles of equal opportunity in all aspects of work, from program development to organizational practices. 

Supervision of Assigned Program Managers 

• Supervise and coach a team of program managers; including onboarding, training, and conducting the performance management and individual development plan processes.
• Oversee program managers’ implementation of school and student support plans. 
• Review and approve program managers’ time, budgets, and expense reports in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. 
• With support from the operations team, engage in the recruitment and hiring process for new program managers.
• With support from the data and operations teams, assist program managers by troubleshooting data systems and IT issues. 
• Ensure program managers have access to the tools needed to perform in their roles, including securing district data system access and assisting with system navigation.
• Adopt and implement policies and procedures, including updates and changes, among program managers, including but not limited to budget, human resources, operations, programming, and other necessary functions. 

Data Oversight and Management 

• Manage a database that program managers use to track the entirety of their work and programmatic outcomes and ensure program managers make regular updates.
  
• Analyze data for each school designation and provide coaching to program managers to ensure accuracy and understanding. Work with program managers to make programmatic adjustments to improve data, when needed.
• Review data at least monthly and utilize data to inform programming and team coaching.  
• Manage OneDrive and Excel databases to guarantee programmatic fidelity.
• Prepare, interpret, analyze and report quarterly outcomes to CISTN leadership, school leadership, and external partners, using data to make recommendations and changes throughout the organization. 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with school and district personnel, working with schools and program managers to market programs to the target groups.
  
• Meet regularly with existing school and district leaders in assigned regions to provide updates on data and share stories about the impact of the work. Advocate for continued and expanded support, when possible.
• Serve as a CISTN ambassador in school district meetings, community events, and committees in assigned regions.
• Keep informed of area issues and/or to represent and raise awareness about CIS in the community. 
• Create and maintain local partnerships to unlock resources for students and families.
• Implement programmatic and geographic expansion opportunities within their regions as determined by the CPO and VP of Programs.
• Support VP with local funding efforts in coordination with the advancement team.  

Currently, Program Directors are based in their specific region. The VP of Programs and the Program Director will work together to determine the work arrangements for both in-person and remote work, considering the season of work and organizational needs. Program Directors based in Nashville work a hybrid model of in-office days and work from home/remote work. Monthly travel is required to each school for formal program manager supervision and school district relationship building. Occasional travel for relevant partners and other meetings is also required. Mileage reimbursement is provided per the CISTN Travel & Expense Policy and according to current IRS rates.

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.  Other duties may be assigned by the CEO, CPO, or VP as required. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

CORE COMPETENCIES    

The core competencies of Program Directors include, but are not limited to:   

• Team Leadership: Supervises and coaches program managers to effectively assess needs and deliver student supports in alignment with program standards; establishes goals and expectations for the team and individual members to include ongoing evaluation, support, and collaboration; co-creates professional development for program managers; communicates relevant information including agency and school policies/procedures/practices to the team and sets organizational culture among the team. 

• Partnership Development: Cultivates and sustains strong working relationships with various stakeholders, including individual donors, corporate philanthropy, private foundations, school district leaders, principals, and external organizations. Provides excellent customer service and upholds the organization's core values in all interactions. 

• Administrative Proficiency: Navigates internal systems, software, and databases efficiently, with minimal intervention. Consistently completes data entry and reporting accurately and on time. Manages department budgets effectively. 

• Time Management and Planning: Appropriately prioritizes workload and manages multiple projects simultaneously. Sets objectives, develops schedules, and anticipates and addresses challenges to ensure timely and effective project completion. 

• Decision Making and Problem Solving:   Analyzes complex problems, identifies underlying causes, and consults appropriate resources to make informed decisions in a timely manner. Takes accountability for decisions and ensures proposed solutions are thoughtful, inclusive of varied perspectives, and responsive to the needs of different stakeholders. 

• Cultural Competence: Demonstrates a clear understanding of racial and other forms of discrimination, including but not limited to historical discrimination, that may impact students and families and applies that understanding to work in schools and across the organization.    
  

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE  

• Bachelor's in social work, counseling, youth development, education or a related field, with a preference for a master's. 
• Work experience can be substituted for those without formal education, requiring four to eight years of direct experience. 
• A minimum of 2 years supervisory experience, with a preference for multi-site supervision.
• Previous program manager and/or working knowledge of CIS Model preferred. 
• Must have a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance. 
  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

Salary range is: $68,555 - $80,653

Benefits include:    

• Employee medical, dental, vision, short-and-long-term disability insurance premiums are 100% employer-paid, with some dependent health plans including an employer contribution.
• Paid parental leave.  
• 15 paid vacation days, 10 sick days, 4 floating holidays, 10 other paid holidays, and an extended winter break. 
• 401(k) match up to 2%.     
• Cell phone stipend.
• Individual professional development budget and up to $1,500/year educational expense reimbursement. 

HOW TO APPLY  

Interested applicants may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter via https://www.cistn.org/careers.  Applications will be accepted starting August 18 through September 1, 2026.   

A criminal background check is required for any candidates who are offered a position with CISTN and will be administered after an offer of employment is made. Criminal background histories will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the position, criminal history, time, etc.