Position Profile: Director of Education,
Education and Youth Program
Application Deadline — April 21
Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000 per annum, depending on experience
Director or Education: The National Urban League, Education and Youth Program
Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000 per annum, depending on experience
Position Summary:
The National Urban League (NUL) Education and Youth department seeks a Director of Education and Youth Development (EYD). Under the general supervision of the Vice President for Access & Opportunity, with latitude to exercise independent judgment, the Director of Education and Youth Development provides leadership, guidance, and overall direction to enhance the college and career readiness of African American/Black youth and similarly situated young people in urban settings. This is accomplished through working for enhanced practice and outcomes, improved policy, and increased opportunities in education and youth development.
The Director is on the leadership team for the EYD division and is primarily responsible for directing the day-to-day operations of NUL’s signature Education and Youth Development program, Project Ready, and other programmatic, advocacy, and policy work across the Education and Youth Development portfolio. The Director is primarily responsible for providing administrative direction, oversight, and high-quality management to the programmatic and process work for Project Ready.
Project Ready Overview:
Our approach is to ready African American and other urban youth for college and career utilizing a set of evidence-based standards, impactful local and national partnering, innovative content, asset-based approaches, professional development, and practical tools specifically designed for and unique to the Urban League Movement. In order to grow into healthy, responsible adults, youths require a range of developmentally appropriate supports, services, and opportunities, only some of which are provided in schools.
The National Urban League has developed programmatic approaches to help young people progress academically and intellectually, benefit from cultural enrichment opportunities, and develop important skills, attitudes, and aptitudes that position them well for success during and after high school. For the National Urban League, readiness means that youth have the necessary skills, attitudes, information, perspective, and intellectual and social capital necessary for success and achievement without needing remediation in the first year of college or career.
Providing youth with productive exposure to an array of learning and developmental opportunities, knowledgeable adults outside their families, and motivated peers can result in very different levels of student development and achievement. In fact, research demonstrates that a substantial percentage of achievement and academic success for high-income students can be explained by their increased access to educational opportunities in non-school settings.
Essential Functions
— Effectively lead, manage, document, and direct a national multi-site portfolio of 20-30 local Urban League affiliate sites operating our signature program, Project Ready. As a skilled project manager, the Director directs the administrative and operational functions of the Education and Youth Division, primarily as related to the Project Ready portfolio.
— Provide direct supervision to assigned staff engaged in program planning and monitoring, ensuring that all program standards are met, all reporting is completed in a timely and efficient manner, and all contract monitoring is appropriately and accurately completed.
— Lead the refinement of program designs and supports, including the remote and hybrid delivery of Project Ready, making the program even more engaging and impactful for African American/Black youth and subcategories of youth (first-generation, immigrant, and newcomer youth (LGTBQ+, etc.). Design and apply corrective action plans and professional development, capacity building, and training activities and strategies for Urban League affiliate staff and leadership designed to advance National Urban League goals, deliverables, and outcomes.
— Meaningfully contribute to developing program enhancements, pilots, and initiatives focused on Black/ African American, first-generation, urban, or vulnerable student populations.
— Assist the division and department in preparing and drafting grant proposals, reporting documents, and other correspondence as necessary.
— Direct the timely and comprehensive record-keeping, data collection, analysis, visualization, and presentation of Project Ready across multiple indicators and portals. Maintain program records, evaluations, resource materials, and all other documents related to the Project Ready portfolio and the overall youth-focused work of the Programs Department.
— Provide primary direction and support to all National Urban League Education & Youth Development programs, initiatives, projects, and events, including the design, execution, and management of the annual Youth Leadership Summit.
— Provide professional insight to the agency on the education and youth development opportunities of African Americans and other similarly situated youth of color.
— Track research, policy, legislation, regulations, other government, university, and foundation initiatives that directly impact Project Ready and the overall mission and programs of the Education and Youth Development division.
— Work cooperatively with public and private sector agencies, local community development groups, and national nonprofit boards to enhance and develop the Education & Youth Development division programs.
— Develop and implement professional development and capacity building opportunities for national and affiliate staff on post-secondary success, college and career readiness, positive youth development, academic/intellectual development and achievement, social and emotional development, out of school time, teen health and wellness, mental health, and trauma-informed care mentoring, the promotion and support of youth voice and agency, and Science, Technology Engineering, Arts/Agriculture and Math/Medicine (STEAM).
— Refine the integration of NUL’s youth-facing and youth-serving portfolios of work into a single youth approach that results in a more comprehensive set of outcomes, strategies and narratives focused on youth success.
— Work collaboratively with Urban League affiliates to advise on the effective development and implementation of Whole Child Equity, Positive Youth Development, and Out of School Time (OST) strategies, programs, supports, and developmental opportunities.
— Effectively represent the Education & Youth Development division in internal meetings and convenings with external partners.
— Conduct an ongoing needs assessment to determine future direction and refinement of national and affiliate EYD programs. Develops and recommends new partnerships, pilot initiatives, and events that further the mission and vision of the Education and Youth Development division.
— Prepare and manage the sub-grant process, affiliate timelines, work plans, and budgets. Advise the Vice-President on affiliate program performance across the portfolio. Advise the Vice-President on process development/refinement of program management and reporting across the portfolio. Strategically identify and document those affiliates who demonstrate effective partnering, program innovations, case management, parent engagement, and advocacy services.
— Develops and recommends new partnerships, pilot initiatives, and events that further the mission and vision of Project Ready, the Programs Department, and the National Urban League.
— Maintain positive and effective contact with funders, government agencies, professional organizations, and others working in education, college and career readiness, out-of-school time, and positive youth development.
— Appropriately and professionally represent the National Urban League in public convenings, meetings, and presentations.
— Ensure high-quality customer service is provided in response to inquiries from affiliates, partners, funders, and the general public.
— Foster and contribute to a proactive learning community among staff members and key program stakeholders to encourage best practices, interdepartmental collaboration, and continuous program improvement.
— Perform related work as assigned by the Executive Leadership of the Department.
Education
— A Master’s degree is preferred, but Bachelor’s degree is required.
Experience
— 2-3 years of supervisory experience required.
— 3-5 years of relevant experience or education required in two or more of the following areas: Education, College, and Career Readiness and Counseling, Social Work, Positive Youth Development, Youth Health & Wellness, Psychology, Social Work & Counseling, College Admissions, Student Affairs, Nonprofit Management, Training, and Technical Assistance, Public Policy, or Program Design and Evaluation Knowledge of multi-site project management, indicators of youth program impact and performance, asset-based youth development, out-of-school time program development and management, college and career-readiness, and fiscal management are essential.
— Demonstrated experience in practicing asset-based and positive youth development principles and working with urban youth ages 12 to 18.
— Demonstrated understanding of youth culture, as well as their opportunities and challenges in an urban setting.
— Ability to multi-task and attend to details while focusing on the big picture and mission of the National Urban League.
— Minimum of three years of management experience in a public or private social service agency.
Skills and Knowledge Requirements
— Excellent project management skills.
— Prior experience with writing interim and final grant reports, briefs, success/impact stories, and with social media.
— Prior experience managing multi-site programs, initiatives, or pilots.
— Proficiency in project management software, outcome reporting, and Microsoft Office Suite required.
— Practitioner of interrelated and intersecting approaches, and self-starter with demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team and Departments.
— Supervisory and/or administrative responsibility in educational program design, community organization/planning, and community-based educational programming.
— Ability to work independently and as a team leader.
— Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills.
— Travel required 40%.
— Innovative, creative, and flexible thinker.
— This position is hybrid.
Physical Requirements:
— Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
— Must be able to lift to 15 pounds at times.
— Following extensive monitoring, research, and advice from internal and external experts, the National Urban League has required all full-time and part-time employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment as of September 13, 2021. “Fully vaccinated” is defined as both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a booster shot. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, either because of a medical condition or disability or a sincerely held religious belief, can request a reasonable accommodation. Successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 per the above policy. Mandatory vaccinations support the National Urban League’s commitment to making our workplace and public events as safe and welcoming as possible.
To Apply: Submit resume, cover letter and writing sample by clicking the link: https://bit.ly/diredu2022
►Deadline to Apply: April 21, 2022
WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The National Urban League is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws. The National Urban League strictly prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual’s race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion or creed, national origin, alienage, citizenship, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health decisions or decision making (of employees or their dependents), familial status, marital status, partnership status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre- employment criminal conviction record, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all National Urban League activities, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, discipline, and discharge. This policy also bans discriminatory harassment. Employment at the National Urban League is at-will.
