Operations / Administration Program Manager, Events and Volunteer Engagement
Job Description
Our Commitment to You
The NYCUDL is firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for all in all phases of employment, including the application process. We know that applying for a new job can be a daunting process. But we encourage all candidates with interest in joining our organization to apply. You may be just the person we need. If you have any questions about your application or the interview process, please email us at jobs@debate.nyc.
NYCUDL Mission
The New York City Urban Debate League (“NYCUDL”) unlock the transformative power of debate for New York City public school students to develop the next generation of informed, compassionate, and courageous leaders.
NYCUDL Description
The New York City Urban Debate League is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to competitive debate across New York City, with a focus on teaching underserved students. To advance this mission, the NYCUDL provides comprehensive support for students, educators, and schools—including year-round instructional coaching for educators, student workshops, over 35 annual debate tournaments, four weeks of Summer Debate Institute, and the development of original curriculum, including more than 100 lesson plans for educators each year. The League has experienced significant growth in recent years. Since the 2018–2019 school year, student participation has grown by nearly 80%, from 2,260 to just over 4,000 students annually. The number of participating schools increased by 60%, from 160 to 250, and the number of Title I schools served nearly doubled. With active partnerships in all five boroughs, the NYCUDL is proud to be the largest urban debate league in the country and remains deeply committed to teaching debate, fostering student voice, and supporting academic confidence and civic leadership across New York City.
Position Overview
The NYCUDL is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Events and Volunteer Manager to join our team. This role is essential to the success of our programs, managing the logistics and coordination of approximately 40 debate tournaments annually, along with professional development sessions and special events, including our gala. The ideal candidate is a skilled project manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys working with diverse stakeholders, and is passionate about supporting youth development through educational programming.
This position reports to the CEO and works collaboratively with team members across all departments to ensure seamless execution of events that serve elementary, middle, and high school students throughout New York City.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and execute approximately 40 debate tournaments annually, ranging from District Tournaments (70-200 students) to large-scale Open League and NYC Reads tournaments (600-700+ students)
- Identify and secure venue partnerships with local public schools and external partners throughout NYC
- Coordinate all tournament logistics, including procurement of food and beverage, materials, and supplies
- Develop and manage comprehensive run-of-show documents for each tournament
- Confirm staffing plans and book part-time staff as needed for each event
- Map out room usage and scheduling for multiple rounds of debate across tournament days
- Confirm and coordinate volunteer judge pools to ensure adequate staffing for all debate rounds
- Manage tournament-specific logistics using tournament software for debate operations—training provided
- Travel to tournament sites throughout NYC to provide on-site support and coordination
- Other duties as assigned
- Plan and coordinate approximately 10 full-day professional learning sessions annually for debate coaches
- Manage venue setup, materials, catering, and logistics for daylong workshops at the NYCUDL office
- Oversee and coordinate Summer Debate Institute staffing, planning, and program execution
- Plan and coordinate the Cross District & Summer Institute topic field trips
- Coordinate with program staff to ensure all training materials and resources are prepared and accessible
- Support, as needed, the CEO Office and development team in planning and executing the annual Champions of Debate gala as well as special events with organizational partners, including law firms and donors
- Develop and execute recruitment strategies to attract a diverse pool of judges, including alumni, law school students, corporate partners, and community members across NYC
- Send and update logistics emails and respond to volunteer inquiries
- Act as one point of contact for volunteers on-site
- Build event project roadmaps and track timelines, deliverables, and cross-functional collaboration across all events
- Maintain organized systems for vendor relationships, venue contacts, and event documentation
- Work collaboratively with team members across all departments to ensure alignment on event goals and execution
- Manage budgets and expenses related to events in coordination with finance team
- Create and maintain comprehensive event checklists, timelines, and communication protocols
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 5+ years of professional experience in event planning, coordination, or related field
- Demonstrated project management skills with ability to manage multiple complex events simultaneously
- Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including students, teachers, volunteers, and community partners
- Proficiency with Google Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Drive)
- Experience with SharePoint applications
- Comfort with Slack and other digital communication platforms
- Ability to work flexible hours, including approximately 10 Saturdays per academic year and early mornings or late evenings based on event schedules
- Willingness to travel regularly to event sites throughout New York City
- Commitment to educational access and youth development
- Legal clearance to work with minors
- Must pass a background check
Preferred:
- Experience with Asana or similar project management software
- Previous experience working with youth-serving organizations or educational nonprofits
- Knowledge of or experience with competitive debate or NYC public schools
Work Week
Employees are expected to work in-person, 5 days a week (a majority of Mondays & Fridays are remote in practice), including Saturdays when needed (not more than 2 per month throughout the school year). The expected work week is 40-50 hours. Comp time is offered for a full day of weekend work, with some stipulations.
Compensation
- Salary: $85,000 – $95,000 annually.
- Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with $0 employee contribution for individual plans
- Commuter Benefits: Monthly subway pass (OMNY/MetroCard) provided
- Time Off: 20 days of total annual leave (10 vacation, 5 sick, 5 personal), plus additional wellness benefits
The NYCUDL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions, in accordance with state and federal law. We are committed to a diverse workplace and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities. Send questions to jobs@debate.nyc. All inquiries are confidential.
