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Special Projects Manager

Job Title: Circles Special Projects Manager
Location: In-person, Fayetteville
Position Type: Full-time, salary
Reports To: Circles Program Director
Compensation: $55,000-$60,000 per year

To Apply: Send your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest and how your experience aligns. Direct emails to Laura Robards at apply@circlesnwa.org. Rolling deadline until roll filled. Early applications encouraged!

About the position:

The Special Projects Manager is a highly organized, proactive team member responsible for coordinating and advancing a variety of mission-aligned projects across the organization. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on juggling multiple priorities, enjoys bringing structure to complex efforts, and can keep projects moving forward in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. Working closely with the Senior Director of Initiatives and other team members, the Special Projects Manager ensures that strategic initiatives, key projects, and development campaigns are well-planned, well-executed, and aligned with organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Manage multiple concurrent projects across strategic initiatives and development campaigns, ensuring timely execution and alignment with organizational goals.
  • Support the Senior Director of Initiatives in advancing mission-driven projects within our strategic initiatives portfolio by translating project goals, scope, timelines, and resource needs into actionable plans.
  • Lead and coordinate projects to meet goals, timelines, budgets, and quality standards, while maintaining clear communication with team members and stakeholders; manage spreadsheets and tracking tools to organize tasks, data, and information accurately.
  • Take initiative to explore early-stage ideas and create summary materials to support informed decision-making.
  • Proactively identify risks, monitor progress, and drive continuous improvement to enhance project scalability and long-term impact.
  • Collaborate with internal teams, leadership, and external partners to build organizational capacity and ensure successful project outcomes.

Key project examples include:

  • Managing the Driving Change: Fair Auto Financing program pilot
  • Support the planning and execution of key development campaigns such as Community Committed, NWA Gives, and Year-End Giving.
  • Coordinating data collection and reporting alongside the Executive Director to support annual reports, grant applications, and fundraising efforts.
  • Identifying and managing contractors for special projects including video production, graphic design, and other strategic communications.

Qualifications:

Required

  • Proven experience (3+ years) managing multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced setting
  • Proficiency with spreadsheets, tracking tools, and project management software (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, Monday.com)
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with attention to detail
  • Proactive problem-solver who takes initiative and follows through to completion
  • Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams, including leadership, staff, volunteers, and external partners
  • Commitment to the organization’s mission and community-centered values
  • Equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered
  • Demonstrated commitment to the Circles NWA mission and values
  • Experience working respectfully and effectively with people from a mix of socioeconomic backgrounds

Note: This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it. Circles NWA reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.

Circles Northwest Arkansas is an equal opportunity employer.

Circles Program Manager

Job Title: Circles Program Manager
Location: In-person, Fayetteville
Position Type: Full-time, salary
Reports To: Circles Program Director
Compensation: Commensurate with experience

To Apply: Send your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest and how your experience aligns. Direct emails to Laura Robards at apply@circlesnwa.org. Rolling deadline until roll filled. Early applications encouraged!

About the Position:

Innovative Poverty Solutions is looking for a Program Manager for the Circles NWA Program in Fayetteville. The Circles Program Manager will work closely with the Program Director in all aspects of the Circles Program planning and coordination to ensure its smooth operation and growth while focusing on the success of the participants (Circle Leaders) and the relationships among participants and volunteers (Allies). The Program Manager role requires a candidate who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and possesses a strong mix of administrative, communication, and interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively engage with diverse groups, build positive relationships, and communicate clearly and empathetically with participants, team members and volunteers.

 Key Responsibilities:

  • Serve as the point of contact for cohorts providing weekly communication and instruction while offering guidance and support for participants and volunteers. Foster a supportive environment of trust-building within the groups.

  • Work with Circle Leaders to pursue a positive economic trajectory, monitor and track goal progress, maintaining a strong understanding of the health of participant/volunteer groups.

  • Work with Circle Leaders and Allies to track and leverage social capital and networking connections and resources.

  • Assist the Program Director in day-to-day operations of the Circles program in accordance with the Circles A to Z program guide.

  • Help coordinate the Circle Leader and Ally recruitment process, identifying and attracting individuals who are committed to the program’s mission.

  • Assist with interviews, selection, and enrollment of new Circle Leaders and Allies.

  • Drive community awareness through tabling events, speaking engagements, and media outreach efforts.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 2 years of experience in program management or related roles.

  • Strong administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple moving parts of a community-driven program.

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups.

  • Experience with volunteer management and recruitment.

  • Experience working with marginalized populations. This can include personal or lived experience and/or academic training in areas like social work, sociology, public health, or psychology, or experience in nonprofit work.

  • Must be able to work sensitively and effectively with individuals of diverse educational, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds.

  • Leadership experience.

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher.

  • Background check required.

Preferred Skills:

  • Familiarity with benefits cliffs, “ALICE,” and poverty-related challenges.

  • Knowledge of the social service resources in the NWA community and how to access resources.

  • Excellent organizational and time-management skills.

  • Ability to ensure confidentiality in all communications–both written and verbal.

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Drive.

Note: This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it. Circles NWA reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.

Innovative Poverty Solutions exists to develop and implement community-driven, innovative solutions to ending poverty in Northwest Arkansas. Our vision is a community committed to removing the barriers that keep people in poverty.

Circles NWA is an initiative of the nonprofit organization Innovative Poverty Solutions. Circles is a poverty reduction initiative designed to help people achieve upward mobility from poverty.

The VOIS Institute stands for “Voices of Influence and Storytelling” and is our newest initiative focused on community dialogue, advocacy, learning, and leadership development.

© 2025 Circles NWA