Program Manager

Program Manager, Take Action Lab: Environment and Sustainability

Penang, Malaysia

LOGISTICS & INFORMATION

Location : Tilting Futures is seeking a Program Manager for Take Action Lab: Environment & Sustainability in Penang, Malaysia. For this role, we are only accepting applicants with significant lived experience and legal authorization to live and work in Malaysia. Start date : The ideal start date is March 3, 2025. Compensation : The compensation for this contract role is MYR $9000-$13000 per month. This range reflects the full compensation, as contractors are responsible for managing their own taxes, benefits, and other related expenses. We value transparency and are happy to discuss further details with candidates during the application process. Application process : This is an outline of our typical hiring process. Depending on the needs of the role, the individual stages may change. Only qualified applicants will be advanced at each stage.

1. Submit an application: it will be reviewed by real humans, not bots!
2. Screening interview: a quick “get to know you” call
3. Candidate exercise: a chance for us to learn more about you and for you to understand some of the expectations of the role
4. Hiring manager interview: you’ll chat about your exercise and meet this role’s supervisor.
5. Senior Leadership Interview: we are a small organization and our leadership is deeply invested in making sure we hire the right folks for each role.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Program Manager will be joining our global Programs Team to curate and facilitate the in-person curriculum and student programming components of our Take Action Lab (TAL): Environment and Sustainability program in Penang. You will operate as the main, on-the-ground lead between our global team, our Take Action Lab students, and our in-country partners. Working with a small team in person and a larger remote team, your primary responsibilities will focus on developing innovative experiential learning opportunities that contextualize TAL’s curriculum with the students’ immersion experience in Penang. You will also manage Tilting Futures’s relationships with partners in Malaysia and be the primary point of contact for student support and well-being. The Program Manager reports directly to David Arenas, Director of Global Programs. The other primary stakeholders for this role are Marc Seidel (Senior Manager, Risk Management), Rebecca Warren (Senior Manager, Teaching, Learning, & Enrollment), and Carla Emanuele (Senior Manager, Program Operations).

YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT

Lead in-person learning components of the program: design and facilitate a powerful learning experience by developing experiential learning activities in line with TAL’s curriculum.

• Identify learning opportunities in Penang that support TAL’s learning outcomes.
• Lead trainings, orientations, and learning and reflection activities with students.
• Provide mentorship and coaching to students through their experience. Identify the learning moments of their experience and support their personal development.
• Develop relationships with local leaders/communities that add value to students’ immersion in Penang.

Partnership management: proactively develop relationships and maintain close contact and communication with local partners.

• Establish weekly touch points with the local team to foster collaboration, provide support, and proactively address any challenges, ensuring smooth program planning and implementation.
• Escalate administrative and/or operational issues to the Director of Global Programs that impact our relationship with the local partner or the sustainability of the program.
• Proactively cultivate relationships with partners who can help us achieve our program goals in Malaysia.

Manage students’ program preparation: develop, implement and maintain systems to support students’ onboarding to the program.

• Support students’ preparation for their time in Malaysia, through information sessions, written documentation, and responses to student and family inquiries.
• Manage systems to track visas, travel plans, and other important information.
• Identify and take action to correct students who are not on track to participate in the program.
• Ensure local partners receive timely information to allocate students’ apprenticeships and housing.

Incident Management & Emergency Response: support students’ socio-emotional health and learning, and in coordination with the emergency provider program partner, support students in emergency response.

• With support from the Global team, deliver training to students in risk mitigation, and health and safety protocols.
• Manage health & safety incidents, coordinating with partners, team, and global staff in decision making, response and reporting.
• Provide student emotional support during any hospitalization or other major incidents.
• When on emergency duty, be available and remain within cell service at all times.
• Direct communication with students’ families at home during hospitalizations or other emergencies.

Team Management: build and lead a high-performing team passionately committed to empowering youth and driving impactful programs.

• Hire, train, and retain a diverse, high-performing team.
• Supervise and develop staff and contractors through 1:1s, coaching, feedback, and evaluation.
• Foster a positive, Tilting Futures values-aligned team culture.
• Guide the team to deliver high-quality, consistent program implementation.
• Support ongoing professional development for all team members.
• Manage TAL’s in-country budget.

WHO WILL THRIVE IN THIS ROLE

We are looking for more than just hard skills; we want teammates who will add value to our organizational culture by bringing these mindsets to their work:

• Strategic Thinker: Understands the broader context to design meaningful experiential learning opportunities that integrate curriculum with local immersion.
• Decisive Leader: Acts with confidence and agility to address program needs and make timely decisions on the ground.
• Sound Judgment: Evaluates complex situations to form well-informed decisions that prioritize student well-being and program success.
• Clear Communicator: Articulates ideas effectively through both spoken and written communication, ensuring alignment among global, local, and student stakeholders.
• Team Player: Collaborates seamlessly with in-person and remote teams to achieve shared goals and deliver exceptional programming.
• Mentor and Coach: Develops and supports team members to enhance their skills and performance through feedback and guidance.
• Empathetic Connector: Builds trust and rapport by understanding and responding to the needs and emotions of students, partners, and team members.
• Student-Centered: Prioritizes and proactively addresses the needs, safety, and well-being of students throughout their immersive experience.
• Resourceful Problem-Solver: Identifies creative solutions to overcome challenges and optimize program delivery in a dynamic environment.
• Self-Driven Professional: Demonstrates initiative and perseverance to ensure program excellence and sustained impact.

The following are required:

• 5 years of experience facilitating outdoor education, experiential learning and/or youth development programs for youth ages 17-25.
• Experience managing staff from different backgrounds.
• Experience developing and delivering participatory training sessions and thematic seminars for different audiences e.g. youth, community stakeholders, non-profit organizations.
• Experience cultivating and managing program partnerships.
• Background in Education (serving youth aged 17-25), Cultural Anthropology, Social Work or International Development.
• Legally able to live and work in Malaysia full time.
• Familiarity with Malaysia’s social impact sector.
• Spoken and written fluency in English.
• All routine immunizations and vaccinations, including COVID-19, must be complete and up to date according to WHO guidelines.

Bonus points if have/are:

• Experience managing health and safety protocols
• Basic first aid training
• Bilingual or multilingual familiarity with any of the following languages: Malay, Mandarin and/or Tamil

YOUR LEGACY

As Program Manager, you will help equip young people from around the world to tackle global issues through a one-of-a-kind hybrid immersion program for the first time in Penang. By fostering strong partnerships and delivering a transformative student experience, you will play a key role in shaping the program’s success and impact.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Day-to-day activities will depend on the stage in the program cycle: planning season & immersion experience. Planning season: daily activities during this stage include identifying and developing in-person learning activities that support the curriculum competencies and learning outcomes; prepare and roll out training for local partners; prepare orientation materials and resources for students’ onboarding to the program; provide feedback & input for future iterations of the program. In addition, this stage includes monitoring and tracking students’ pre-departure tasks (e.g. visa applications, travel plans, health and safety forms, housing & apprenticeship allocations). Immersion experience: this is the most dynamic stage of the cycle consisting of a 90-day student immersion in Penang. Day-to-day activities will include: managing communications with the local operational partner; leading reflection/learning activities for students; supporting and managing health and safety incidents; planning and executing activities that build community and a sense of belonging to Tilting Futures. Tilting Futures is an equal opportunity employer. We know a diverse team produces the best results and we believe our team should reflect the diversity of leadership we aim to inspire. Applicants who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr