Employment Opportunities
Project Associate
Quality Standards and Practice
(EXEMPT)
The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) seeks a committed and motivated individual with a vision for quality and continuous improvement for youth-serving organizations, communities and systems to serve as a full-time Project Associate for its Quality Standards and Practice initiatives. Established in 1979, NYEC is a national membership network of over 250 youth employment/development organizations that improves the effectiveness of organizations that seek to help youth become productive citizens. To learn more about NYEC, visit www.nyec.org.
The Project Associate will be an integral member of NYEC's team and work with the Director of Quality Standards and Practices to achieve NYEC's strategic goals to expand the use of quality practices and build the evidence base for these practices across youth-serving organizations, communities and systems. The Project Associate will work on efforts related to NYEC's Promising and Effective Practices Network (PEPNet), an initiative dedicated to improving the effectiveness of youth-serving organizations and public policy through the development, dissemination and implementation of quality standards and practices. For more information about the PEPNet resources and tools visit www.nyec.org/pepnet
This position provides a tremendous opportunity for a self-starter to assist youth programs, policymakers, donors and others improve options for youth, and to work with a variety of national, state and local organizations involved in youth employment, youth development and education across the nation.
Responsibilities include:
-Providing information on PEPNet and effective practices to a broad audience of youth employment/development/education professionals, including practitioners, policy makers,
researchers, funders and other stakeholders
-Supporting the expansion/awareness of the PEPNet tools and resources
-Organizing, planning and presenting at PEPNet workshops
-Maintaining and enhancing the PEPNet web site (www.nyec.org/pepnet)
-Maintaining PEPNet databases and information collection efforts
-Assisting with development and dissemination of publications
-Supporting a national advisory group on Quality Standards and Practice
-Informing ongoing development and improvement of PEPNet tools, materials and processes
-Contribute to the overall work of NYEC by assisting with member meetings and conferences and providing support to member organizations
-Developing and assisting with PEPNet projects, including timelines, activities and tracking mechanisms
-Participating in the organization's Quality and Team Building (QTB) initiatives
-Conducting site visits
Qualifications:
-Strong interest in youth development, employment and education issues. Experience in youth employment/development or related field a plus
-Bachelors degree plus 2-3 years related experience, or commensurate experience; Masters degree preferred.
-Strong writing, oral communication, and interpersonal skills
-Comfort in presenting to and working with groups and diverse audiences
-Demonstrated ability to be highly organized, dedicated, responsible, team-oriented, and flexible
-Ability to work independently, self-structure and connect tasks to broader project/organizational goals
-Experience in organization of projects, meetings and events
-Superior attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks
-Advanced knowledge, skills and experience working with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), and other standard business software; proficiency with web editing
-Ability to distill information gathered from different audiences and communicate it effectively
-Enthusiasm, positive attitude, and sense of humor
-Strong office skills and work ethic
-Comfortable working in a shared office space and a team environment
Compensation: Commensurate with experience, plus an excellent benefits package.
Hours: 9:00am - 5:30pm
To apply:
Forward a letter of interest, salary requirements, resume and two short writing samples (examples: papers, articles, and/or memos) to jobs@nyec.org and include Project Associate position in the subject line. Re-location expenses will not be covered.
No phone calls please.
Deadline:
We are currently interviewing and will hire as soon as we identify the right candidate.
The National Youth Employment Coalition is an equal opportunity employer.
Director of External Relations and Deputy Director
Spark National and Bay Area
Spark's mission is to provide life-changing apprenticeships to youth in underserved communities across the United States. Spark, a national nonprofit with offices in San Francisco, Redwood City, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia. offers a unique program that re-engages middle school students in their education through hands-on apprenticeships and leadership curriculum. Spark partners with schools and workplaces in six cities coast-to-coast to match low-income 7th and 8th graders with mentors working in career fields aligned with the students' strengths and interests. Spark's parallel in-school curriculum reinforces the link between classrooms and careers while helping students build skills key to success in the 21st century. After eight years and more than 2,200 apprenticeships, the results are clear: Spark students consistently gain confidence, key skills, and positive relationships, and have a graduation rate far above the national average. Spark's unique approach and positive outcomes have earned national attention.
Director of External Relations
The Director of External Relations (DER) enables Spark LA's sustainability and impact by building corporate partnerships, engaging individual donors, and ensuring Spark has a high profile in the LA community. Reporting to Spark LA's Executive Director (ED), the DER develops and implements strategy around communications, events, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. The DER supervises the Regional Development & Operations Coordinator, and works closely with Spark's Chief Advancement Officer in the headquarters office. The position requires an active, hands-on leader and team-builder with outstanding managerial, communication and relationship-building skills.
This role supports Spark LA's 2013 budget of approximately $800,000, serving 5 public schools in low-income areas and providing individualized apprenticeship programs for 350 students. Spark LA is on a path of significant growth, adding several new schools over the coming year, and this position will be part of a dynamic team leading that growth.
Across the functional areas described below, the DER will spend approximately 50% of his/her time outside of the office, directly building and stewarding key relationships. At the same time, the individual is responsible for internally-related processes including creating and maintaining systems to ensure fundraising efficiency and success. The remaining time will be spent on strategy development,
management, and playing a key "right hand person" role to the ED.
Spark seeks an experienced communications and marketing professional. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer on Spark's National Team, the Deputy Director's chief responsibilities include building and implementing a highly effective multi-media communications and marketing strategy to support national brand building, regional presence, and revenue generation. The Deputy Director is responsible for increasing Spark's brand presence through media exposure (social, traditional, and otherwise); positioning Spark in education reform and workforce development conversations; and attracting potential donors, funders, mentors, corporate partners, and media outlets.
Given that Spark is positioned at the intersection of education and the business community, we seek a professional who can build a messaging bridge between those two worlds. This role is responsible for coaching staff and board members to be effective ambassadors and story-tellers about Spark's mission and progress.
Deputy Director
The Deputy Director will also serve as the Chief Advancement Officer's 'right-hand' and will manage the National Development and Communications Manager.
Key Responsibilities
- Create and implement an organization-wide communications strategy including web, print, and social media.
- Lead brand building initiatives for Spark and ensure consistency and look-and-feel of content across all regions, including a Spark-wide style guide.
- Develop tailored communications strategies for each of Spark's targeted constituents.
- Maximize media exposure for Spark through traditional media placement, social media and online presence. Serve as Spark's primary media contact, generate press releases/blogs, pitch stories, prepare presentations and scripts, and coordinate photography needs and video segments.
- Build tools and serve as coach for national and regional staff and board members on media engagement and marketing including: talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting materials as needed.
- Work with regional leaders to create and implement localized annual communications, marketing, and media plans.
- With the National Program Team, monitor and research current and emerging trends in education reform and workforce development.
- Work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions. Define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
- Help drive messaging and positioning for Spark's programmatic growth and strategic plan initiatives, including the organization's growth story, successes and other key areas of focus.
- Assist in branding and collateral development for special events.
Travel & Location
While Spark's aim is to identify a Deputy Director already in or willing to move to the San Francisco Bay Area, the organization will consider candidates who would work out of Spark�¢??s Chicago, Philadelphia, or Los Angeles offices. To maintain a strong connection to Spark's culture and impact in each region, and for general management and support, the Deputy Director visits each current Spark region annually.
Qualifications
- Significant professional experience creating and managing communications functions such as messaging, brand management, collateral materials, website development and social media.
- Creative and innovative on how new media technologies and strategies can be utilized to drive results.
- Strong relationships with media outlets a major plus.
- Honed ability to develop and implement communications initiatives in a fast-paced environment with appropriate input from leadership and staff.
- Familiarity with education reform, workforce development, foundations, nonprofits, or social entrepreneurship.
- Able to execute on a number of diverse projects simultaneously; comfort with taking initiative and making progress amidst competing priorities.
- Proven storyteller capable of creating a great narrative.
- Exceptional verbal and written communications skills.
- Education: A Bachelor's degree is required, with a relevant graduate degree preferred.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
- Health Benefits: Full health coverage, including medical, dental, life and vision insurance.
- Learning Benefits: Spark staff and students are fellow learners, and the organization highly values staff's personal learning pursuits. To that end, Spark offers an Annual Paid Sabbatical to each full-�¢?�?time staff member, enabling staff to 'walk the talk'and experience the excitement of being a Spark student. Each sabbatical is a week-long deep dive into a learning topic of interest to the staff member, regardless of their professional role, and is supported by the organization with a learning stipend and paid time off; as with Spark students learning opportunities, the sabbatical concludes with a �¢??teachback to share learning with other staff.
- Retirement Benefits: Spark matches contributions through a SIMPLE IRA plan up to 3% of salary.
- Paid Time Off: Spark has a unique flexible time-off policy, which empowers staff to collaboratively determine and schedule time off as needed. Rather than setting and tracking specific numbers of days off, Spark staff may take time off based on the status of their work-related goals and results within the organization. This policy is part of Spark's focus on a balanced and healthy life for staff.
- Non-monetary compensation: The opportunity to be the leader of an energetic, innovative, hard-working and rapidly growing team, within an organization that has the potential to significantly change American middle-school education.
Spark is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, and evaluate all candidates based on merit.
Timeline & Application Instructions
Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2013 with a target start date of July 1. To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter to bajobs@sparkprogram.org. Please indicate 'Deputy Director Search' YOUR NAME in the subject line.
Chief Executive Officer
See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Schools
See Forever Foundation/Maya Angelou Schools (SFF/MAS) seeks a proven and experienced executive who has the drive, creativity, management, and leadership skills to lead a fast-moving organization focused on educational excellence for young people most at risk. The Chief Executive Officer directs the work of the See Forever Foundation and provides oversight and strategic leadership for a network of four unique schools:
Maya Angelou Middle School
Maya Angelou High School
Maya Angelou Young Adult Learning Center
Maya Angelou Academy at New Beginnings
The organization's mission is to serve young people who have not been successful in school. The Maya Angelou Schools fulfill this mission through a network of schools that address the need for dropout prevention (middle school), intervention (high school), and recovery (Young Adult Learning Center, Academy) within the District of Columbia.
The Chief Executive Officer would build upon See Forever/Maya Angelou's successful foundation and reputation, while resolving challenges that face the organization and actively identifying new opportunities to meet the needs of struggling youth and young adults in the District of Columbia. The organization is currently in the process of renovating its existing school site to provide a state of the art educational campus for the middle and high school and Young Adult Learning Center.
The Position and its Primary Responsibilities
The successful candidate will assume responsibility for key executive functions of the See Forever Foundation, the nonprofit organization that provides support and management to the schools and will provide oversight and strategic direction to the Maya Angelou Schools. The Chief Executive Officer reports to the See Forever Foundation Board, and serves as a member of the Maya Angelou Public Charter School Board. The latter is the board governing the three charter schools. The organization is conducting a national search for the Chief Executive Officer, and is looking for the candidate to assume the position in the Spring of 2013. There will be some overlap with the outgoing leader.
The Chief Executive Officer leads a senior leadership team that includes a Chief Operating Officer, Chief Academic Officer, and Chief Development Officer as well as key directors of administration, data and programming for alumni. This team supervises and supports the network of See Forever schools with over 160 employees and an annual budget of approximately $17 million.
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for ensuring the organization's unique position in the education and juvenile justice sector and has primary responsibility for:
- Strategic planning and implementation to establish and achieve near and long-term priorities and goals, including the multi-million dollar renovation of the existing school site
- Oversight and management of the network of schools to ensure organizational effectiveness, high quality staff and high staff performance, accountability to key stakeholders/parents, and student success
- External relationships with key stakeholders to advance organizational goals, advocate on behalf of our target population, and secure resources to support the organization's short and longer term goals
- Development and communications to maintain private revenue base necessary to support programming and build awareness and profile of our programs and students
- Financial management and fiscal accountability for operational needs and planning for long term financial sustainability
- Board relations with the See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Public Charter School boards through regular meetings and engaging members in an ongoing advisory capacity
- Policy/advocacy to promote alternative education, advance new accountability frameworks, promote community wide collective action on behalf of youth at high risk for not reaching their potential
Working with its multiple stakeholders, the Chief Executive Officer ensures that See Forever's programs and initiatives are in line with its mission and are responsive to the needs of its target population. It is crucial that the Chief Executive Officer also sets the tone for collaborative working relationships and practices that empower high performance, leadership and ethical behavior within the organization. The incumbent will be expected to enthusiastically pursue new and ongoing funding opportunities, partnerships, and venues for visibility and exposure for the organization as a whole, while inspiring and guiding staff.
Desired Skills, Characteristics and Experience for Chief Executive Officer
The ideal candidate will have at least five years of management experience, with a number of them at a senior level, preferably in the nonprofit sector. Experience in the field of education, youth development or juvenile justice is strongly preferred. A graduate degree in education or a management-related field is also preferred but not required.
Other desired qualifications include:
-Demonstrated strong management skills
-Exceptional oral, written, listening and interpersonal skills
-Substantial experience with educational programming in the context of alternative education or juvenile justice and a strong understanding of positive youth development principals and practices
-Ability to inspire and build positive rapport with diverse stakeholders, such as staff, board, students and parents, benefactors, and community partners in support of program and students
-Substantial experience in fundraising and developing in-kind and public support
-Strong community relations experience and familiarity dealing with local policy making and state education authorizers
-Experience in designing and managing organizational systems
-Experience leading an organization through strategic planning and implementation
-Analytical and problem solving skills, including fiscal oversight experience
-An entrepreneurial problem-solving approach and spirit
-Demonstrated commitment to the education attainment of students who have struggled in education
Background on See Forever
See Forever Foundation (SFF) opened in 1997, with the mission to create learning environments where young people who have not been successful in traditional schools will reach their potential. We want our students to develop the academic, social, and employment skills they need to build rewarding lives and promote positive change in their communities.
See Forever currently runs a network of four schools. Three schools operate under the Maya Angelou Public Charter School: a middle school, a high school, and the Young Adult Learning Center for young adults (age 17-24 years old). These three campuses are co-located at the W. Bruce Evans building located at 5600 East Capitol Street NE in Washington, DC. In 2007, we assumed operation of the education program at the New Beginnings Youth Development Center: the District of Columbia's long-term secure facility for youth who have been adjudicated delinquent, located in Laurel, MD. The school is known as the Maya Angelou Academy.
The education program at the See Forever/Maya Angelou Public Charter School has a number of unique features. Classes are small, and at the high school, they range in size from 5-15 students. The middle school has an average class size of 22 students. School days are extended, where possible, running into the evening. Supplementary tutorial enrichment occurs in the evenings and/or on Saturdays. We support year-round school activities for students. Our schools have a strong mental health component as well, providing group counseling to all students and individual counseling as needed. Our high school students at Maya Angelou also have the chance to learn job skills while on paid work assignments.
Our results show that we are achieving our goals. At the Maya Angelou Schools, students transform "risk" into resilience, enabling them to outpace their peers and improve academically at rates that far exceed their previous paces of learning.
At our public charter school:
- 73% of our graduates enroll in post-secondary education, as compared with approximately 65% of local low- income African American high school graduates.
- In the four years since implementing our Alumni Support program, our graduates' first year persistence in post-secondary education has increased from 50% to 83%.
At the Maya Angelou Academy:
- Students improve 1.3 years and 1.4 years in math and reading, compared with advancing 0.5 grade levels per year in those subjects before attending the Academy.
- Students earn credits at an 86% rate, more than 3 times the rate they were achieving before attending the Academy.
If you are interested in learning more about the See Forever Foundation and the Maya Angelou Schools, please visit our website at: www.seeforever.org .
Compensation
See Forever offers competitive salary and benefits, including health care coverage, a 403(b) savings plan, and a computer purchase assistance plan. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications and competitive with similar positions at other community-based nonprofit organizations of comparable size in Washington, D.C.
To Apply
If you are interested in applying for this position, please prepare a cover letter that includes your salary history and highlights your relevant experience for the position. Send the cover letter together with your resume to: hr@seeforever.org. Resumes and cover letters should be written in MS Word and sent in one file as an e-mail attachment.
See Forever is an equal opportunity employer and persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Job Description - Brandeis University Office of High School Programs
Title: Director
Reports to: Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Job purpose: Responsibility for the overall management of all current Brandeis University high school programs (BIMA, Genesis, Impact Boston, Escola Beit Ya'akov in Sao Paulo Brazil, Ramah and Vienna) as well as the strategy and development of new programs.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
1. Work closely with the senior administration of the University to develop a strategy for new program development and implementation.
2. Develop and maintain relationships with funders (individuals and foundations) including regular reporting functions both internally at Brandeis and externally.
3. Oversee the development of recruitment strategies and plans.
4. Build, maintain, and oversee relationships with external program partners (i.e. BBYO).
5. Supervise all recruitment and hiring and ensure adequate supervision and professional development of all staff (full time and part time).
6. Overall responsibility for the health and safety of all program participants and staff.
7. Oversee the development and maintenance of the budget as well as ongoing oversight of all finances.
8. Oversee the participant application process including the maintenance of a computerized participant, professional and prospect database.
9. Develop and maintain relationships with an advisory committee.
10. Oversee all curriculum and program development.
11. Develop and maintain relationships with relevant offices / programs / departments on campus.
12. Oversee the regular and ongoing assessment and evaluation of all programs.
Qualifications:
- Full-time position based at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
- During the summer, residency on campus is required - room and board on campus is provided for the Executive Director and his / her family.
- 3-5 years of management experience with residential programs for high school students.
- Strong leadership and management skills including the ability to set and articulate an organizational vision; manage from a big picture perspective, be decisive and inclusive in the decision making process; be pro-active and employ critical thinking skills.
- Open and flexible leadership and management style conducive to fostering collaboration and a team approach. Ability to build consensus and engender cooperation.
- Keen understanding of running a mission based business. Able to integrate business sensibility with the core values and philosophy of Brandeis University.
- Understanding of the market; ability to communicate with parents and students; knowledge of new social media marketing tools and techniques; ability to generate and execute fresh marketing ideas.
- Experience in fundraising; comfort and willingness to engage actively in fundraising efforts.
- Ability to persuasively articulate the mission to current and potential donors and major stakeholders.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Flexible, warm and approachable, while also unflappable in extenuating circumstances.
- Excellent interpersonal, political and diplomatic skills.
- Ability and willingness to accommodate travel as required.
To apply click here: https://careers.brandeis.edu/psp/CAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=520517&SiteId=1&PostingSeq=1
Operations Associate, Health and Barriers to Employment
MDRC is seeking an Operations Associate to join a multidisciplinary team engaged in program evaluation and policy related to low-income populations. The new staff member will work in our Health and Barriers to Employment policy area, leading and participating in technical assistance and site development activities.
Responsibilities:
For its growing youth agenda, MDRC seeks an individual who combines strong technical assistance, program operations, and management skills with knowledge of employment and education services for youth. The position provides the successful candidate an opportunity to:
- Assess organizational capacity and strength of program intervention(s) to determine fit with MDRC projects;
- Conduct reconnaissance and recruit sites into MDRC evaluations;
- Develop, lead, and deliver technical assistance and program-related support to service providers;
- Serve as liaison between selected sites and MDRC project directors;
- Assess and monitor ongoing program planning, implementation, and operations in program locations and provide formative feedback;
- Conduct interviews and observations with a broad group of administrators, program staff, policymakers, and other key stakeholders; and
- Write reports and disseminate results to policymakers, practitioners, and social scientists.
Qualifications:
Four or more years of experience working with youth-focused service providers, including conducting assessments of their program operations, service delivery capacity, and identifying technical assistance needs. A bachelor's degree is required and an advanced degree with social science, public administration, or public policy background is preferred (in some cases, relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree). Prospective candidates should possess the following requisite qualifications:
- Project management experience;
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
- Ability to collaborate and work with diverse program teams;
- Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, as well as analytical ability;
- Demonstrated sensitivity to conduct research and technical assistance in diverse communities and the ability to relate to program management staff, site staff, community residents, and program clients; and
- Comfortable working in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment.
For consideration, mail, fax, or email your resume to:
Human Resources Department
[2102-12] HBtE Operations Associate
MDRC
Fax: (212) 532-8453
Email: jobs@mdrc.org
Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, MDRC strongly encourages minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities to apply. Legal work authorization required.
