PROGRAM MANAGER (OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY & ENGAGEMENT)

PROGRAM MANAGER (OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY & ENGAGEMENT)

Salary

$61,767.00 - $78,753.00 Annually

Location

Columbia, SC

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202600217

Department

OPERATIONS ADMIN (ACM)

Division

ACM OPERATIONS (CR)

Opening Date

08/07/2026

Closing Date

8/16/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

114

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Under the direction of the Director, the Program Manager for the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) is responsible for managing the daily operations and implementation of the Offices violence prevention, intervention, outreach, and community engagement initiatives through a public health and community-centered approach. The Program Manager oversees the coordination of programs, grant-funded initiatives, community partnerships, and strategic projects designed to strengthen neighborhoods, support youth and families, and improve community safety. This position provides leadership in program planning, implementation, grant management, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal funding requirements. The Program Manager serves as a liaison between the City, community organizations, residents, schools, faith-based organizations, public safety agencies, and other stakeholders to advance the Offices mission. In the absence of the Director, the Program Manager provides operational oversight and ensures continuity of services, strategic initiatives, and daily operations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple projects, coordinate diverse partnerships, and implement innovative strategies that promote neighborhood safety and community well-being.

The work is considered sedentary in nature and involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10lbs of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential function: hearing, mental acuity, speaking, standing, visual acuity, and walking. The work requires professional dress and appearance with the ability to make a positive first impression.

Work environment involves exposure to no known environmental hazards; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Overnight domestic and international travel may be required.

Essential Job Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Manages community engagement and neighborhood safety initiatives;
• Coordinates violence prevention and intervention programming;
• Assists with implementation of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies;
• Develops and maintains partnerships with nonprofits, schools, healthcare systems, faith-based organizations, residents, and City departments;
• Oversees daily program operations;
• Supervises staff, interns, volunteers, and contracted providers;
• Assists with grant implementation, compliance, reporting, and budgeting;
• Coordinates community meetings and public engagement activities;
• Represents ONSE at meetings, events, and collaborative initiatives;
• Utilizes data and performance measures to evaluate programs;
• Supports trauma-informed, restorative, and community-centered practices; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

DEVELOPMENT AND GRANTS

• Assists in the development, implementation, and management of local, state, and federal grants that support violence prevention, community engagement, youth development, and neighborhood safety initiatives;
• Identifies and researches funding opportunities through public and private partnerships to support strategic ONSE priorities and long-term program sustainability and assists the Director with grant development efforts;
• Collaborates with City departments, community organizations, stakeholders, and funding partners to implement and strengthen grant-funded initiatives and community-based programs;
• Assists with monitoring grant compliance, reporting requirements, budgets, deliverables, and program outcomes to ensure accountability, effectiveness, and adherence to funding guidelines;
• Coordinates grant-related activities, maintains supporting documentation, and assists in evaluating program performance measures to ensure alignment with City goals, community needs, and funding objectives;
• Prepares, reviews, and submits grant reports, reimbursement requests, invoices, performance measures, and supporting documentation in accordance with funding requirements and established deadlines;
• Assists in the administration and monitoring of grant-funded contracts, scopes of work, and partner deliverables to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and City requirements;
• Collaborates with the Director to develop and implement sustainability strategies that strengthen ONSE programs and expand community resources through strategic partnerships;
• Maintains accurate grant files, financial records, and performance documentation to support audits, monitoring activities, and program evaluations; and
• Performs other grant administration and program management duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• A bachelors degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Sociology, Counseling, Social Work, Public Health, Public Administration, Criminology, or a closely related field. A graduate degree in one or more of the aforementioned fields is preferred;
• Three (3) to five (5) years of prior relevant experience in program management, grant administration, community engagement, public administration, violence prevention, and/or coalition building.
• Prior experience managing community-based initiatives, developing strategic partnerships, coordinating cross-sector collaborations, and administering local, state, or federal grant-funded programs is strongly preferred;
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered;
• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Drivers License;

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and managing community-based programs, strategic partnerships, grant-funded initiatives, budgets, and cross-sector collaborations.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, public speaking, and strategic planning skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple projects, priorities, and initiatives simultaneously.
• Demonstrated management or administrative experience in a government, public, or nonprofit organization, including experience supervising projects, coordinating teams, and managing operational activities.
• Knowledge of grant administration, budget management, contract compliance, and program evaluation, including experience monitoring performance measures, reporting requirements, and funding deliverables.
• Ability to utilize data-informed decision making by analyzing reports, interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, assessing trends, evaluating program outcomes, and preparing reports and recommendations for leadership and policymakers.
• Demonstrated experience fostering community engagement through coalition building, stakeholder collaboration, and the development of strategic partnerships with residents, community-based organizations, schools, healthcare systems, faith-based organizations, and other public and private partners.
• Knowledge of violence prevention, Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies, trauma-informed practices, restorative approaches, and community-centered engagement models.
• Demonstrated cultural competency with the ability to effectively engage and build authentic relationships with individuals and communities from diverse racial, cultural, socioeconomic, gender, and lived-experience backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain professionalism, and serve as a poised, tactful, and effective ambassador for the City of Columbia while representing the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other technology platforms used for program management, grant administration, reporting, presentations, and data analysis.

The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Part-time or temporary employees, including interns, are not eligible for City benefits.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at:

https://hr.columbiasc.gov/benefits/

01

Do you have a valid Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

02

Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed?

• Some high school, did not graduate
• High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (GED)
• Some college
• Associate degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Professional degree
• Doctorate degree

03

What is your major / area of study?

04

How many years of relevant experience do you have?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• Over 1 year but less than 2 years of experience
• Over 2 years but less than 3 years of experience
• Over 3 years but less than 5 years of experience
• Over 5 years but less than 7 years of experience
• Over 7 years of experience

05

In which of the following do you have prior experience? (Please select all that apply)

• Coalition Building
• Community Engagement
• Coordinating Cross-Sector Collaborations
• Developing Strategic Partnerships
• Grant Administration
• Managing Community-Based Initiatives
• Program Management
• Public Administration
• Violence Prevention
• None of the above

Required Question

Employer City of Columbia

Phone 803-545-3010

Website https://www.columbiasc.gov