Program Manager, Speech and Debate (YPIE Yonkers

Organization Overview

YPIE creates pathways to college and career success. With a focus on mid‑size cities, our proven approach is grounded in high expectations, personalized opportunities, and community partnerships. We envision a future where all young people are equipped to thrive in communities that support their pathways to success. Youth in mid‑size cities often face significant barriers to achieving economic mobility and may lack the sustained support systems needed to navigate college and career pathways.

YPIE is working to change that. Across Yonkers, Jersey City, and Nashville, YPIE partners with public schools and local organizations to provide students with a comprehensive, 9th grade‑to‑career continuum of support. Through deep, high‑touch relationships, real‑world skill development, strong community and corporate partnerships, and a culture of high expectations paired with meaningful support, YPIE helps students prepare for college, persist through graduation, and launch into careers that lead to long‑term opportunity.

Today, YPIE serves more than 2,500 students across these three cities, building on a model with proven results in expanding access to higher education and economic mobility. Our recent outcomes data demonstrates the positive impact that YPIE has on the communities we serve: increased college readiness, enrollment, degree attainment, and career access.

YPIE Program Managers support high school students on their path to college and career success through a combination of academic coaching and career-focused instruction. This YPIE Program Manager, Speech & Debate, will lead the YPIE Speech & Debate Major, supporting student success through high-quality instruction, coaching, and preparation for speech and debate competitions. The Program Manager oversees a cohort of 9th–12th grade students, providing classroom instruction and small group/individual coaching in public speaking, argumentation, research, and critical thinking.

• Develop curriculum and teach YPIE Speech & Debate daily after school at the YPIE College Zone
• Coach students in speech writing, debate case development, research, and argumentation for participation in local speech and debate tournaments

• Support students in selecting events, developing original speeches or debate cases, conducting research, structuring arguments, and refining delivery and rebuttal skills
• Provide ongoing feedback on speeches, debate cases, performance rounds, and written materials
• Competitions:
• Research and select speech and debate events appropriate for YPIE students across grade and experience levels
• Attend speech and debate events with students
• Support competition preparation, logistics, and post‑competition reflection to strengthen student performance

• Develop strong professional relationships with students in order to:
• Provide tutoring in Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics
• Foster self‑advocacy so students identify and seek support
• Collaborate with volunteers to assist in providing services to YPIE students.
• Maintain active, collaborative relationships with key family figures in students' lives, coordinating to address students’ challenges and reinforce goals.

• Manage student records and leverage data systems to proactively identify student challenges and concerns.
• Manage relevant program logistics and communicate with key stakeholders about timelines and necessary tasks.
• Recruit for a new cohort of YPIE Scholars each year, proactively collaborating with district partners to identify target students and deliver info sessions and presentations.

• expect more, holding ourselves and our students to high expectations and demonstrating fierce accountability in all that we do.
• pursue relentlessly, doing whatever it takes to achieve our goals with integrity, while sweating the details and never compromising on quality.
• are always learning, approaching our work with curiosity and a growth mindset, continuously seeking feedback and opportunities to improve.
• drive results that matter, staying focused…