Associate Director of Program, Chicago

iMentor is seeking an Associate Director of Program to join the regional program leadership team and oversee high school curricular preparation to lead direct reports in implementing a high-quality program, and in maintaining and strengthening school partnerships. Each AD will ensure that iMentor Chicago achieves organizational outcomes and impact. They will join a results-oriented team working within schools in Chicago Public Schools. The ideal candidate will have 5 or more years of professional experience with at least 3 years working in an educational or youth services environment and experiences in the field of college access or success.

Candidates should display strong youth development knowledge, academic and personal coaching skills, and extensive relationship building skills. Applicants must also display strong people management abilities with demonstrated supervisory experience and superb communication skills. The ideal candidate will believe that every student should be encouraged to go to college and that mentoring is a catalyst for personal and academic success. They will possess a strong customer service orientation, and the ability to connect with and motivate individuals of all ages and backgrounds. This person would report to the Program Director, High School, Chicago. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Staff Management & Program Implementation

• Manage a team of (4-5) Program Managers towards successful program implementation.
• Oversee Supervising PM and Senior PM project and other initiatives that build capacity for the Program Team
• Cultivate a high achievement, results-driven environment that supports the implementation of iMentor’s grade team model and effectively meets programmatic outcomes and strategic vision.
• Ensure Program Managers are effectively running the iMentor program in schools, including facilitating iMentor classes and events and forming relationships with key school stakeholders to improve program quality across the grade level.
• Conduct recurring site visits, support Program Managers in schools, conduct formal classroom and event observations of each Program Manager.
• Work additional evenings per week and provide event support for region-wide initiatives including mentor huddles/trainings.
• Support Program Managers as they provide cohort level and individualized coaching to mentors as they work with students in the iMentor program.
• Ensure direct reports perform case management responsibilities including advising, documentation, tracking and follow-up.
• Guide Program Managers to use data to track progress towards individual and grade team goals, identify necessary interventions to increase success, and identify pairs that need additional coaching or support.
• Utilize data and benchmarks to set goals and create manage performance.
• Provide supervision at least weekly, differentiated coaching, and twice-annual performance reviews for all direct reports.
• Ensure cohorts have completed post-secondary planning, college preparation checklists and/or applications, and matriculation checklists. 

Strategic Partner & Grade Team Leader

• Collaborate with HS Program Director and the Program and Partner Success team to support local trainings, planning meetings and professional development opportunities for staff to improve program quality and impact.
• Collaborate with HS Program Director and the Program and Partner Success team to plan and manage PM recruitment and selection.
• Lead grade level team(s), ensuring that Program Managers have the right training, materials, and coaching to ensure they can meet appropriate non-cognitive and college success goals to fidelity and to mobilize grade team members to address grade level supports through managing working groups.
• Lead onboarding and ongoing learning experiences across the region.
• Along with PIL team (Program Implementation Leadership team) serve as a liaison to partner schools (or team leads) through monthly reports, conduct mid-year an end-of –year meetings, and school recruitment.
• Help assess risk and ensure safety compliance across the program and region. 

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 or more years of professional experience with at least 3 years working in an educational or youth services environment and/or in the field of college access or success.
• Experience managing or supervising staff in a performance-driven, fast-paced, dynamic and diverse environment is required.
• Superior relationship development skills with experience in partnership building and stakeholder accountability.
• Acts as champion of organizational vision and drives change processes to motivate, inspire and coach team to success.
• Strong organization and project management skills with ability to balance multiple priorities and high-volume tasks in a fast-paced setting, while maintaining a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Skilled in quantitative analysis to monitor performance toward goals and develop strategies to achieve outcomes.
• Exceptional communication, presentation and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and inspire direct reports.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams, departments and external partners to drive regional/national initiatives, mentor fundraising, mentor experience and hiring.
• Can effectively set expectations, leads with authenticity, self-awareness and humility, using emotional intelligence to drive culture and inclusion across team.
• Strong interest in supporting youth in a results-oriented environment and an ability to operate within a defined program model and work to ensure fidelity across different school context.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong volunteer and student engagement practices across team to increase participation and accountability for mentors and mentees.

About iMentor 

At iMentor, we believe in the transformative power of mentorship as a force for good. We partner with schools in communities in which a majority of students will be first-generation college students. iMentor matches every 11th and 12th grade student in our high schools with a committed mentor – offering each mentee, regardless of background or GPA, a champion for their success. 

Mentors can provide students with a level of personalized support that cannot be achieved through traditional school counseling alone. Of the most recent graduating high school class, 81% of students learned about a new post-secondary pathway through iMentor and 93% were accepted into college and intend to enroll. Since 1999, iMentor has served more than 42,000 students and is poised to scale our model to make mentoring accessible across the country.

Our Commitment to Community, Educational Access, and Opportunity 

Central to our mission is a dedication to creating an environment where all stakeholders, including students, mentors, and staff, feel valued and supported. We are committed to the ongoing effort and investment required to ensure that all students have access to the resources and support needed to succeed. Recognizing that historical and systemic challenges continue to impact educational outcomes, we focus on addressing economic and structural barriers that affect the communities we serve. 

How to Apply

Visit www.imentor.org/jobs to submit a resume and detailed cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

iMentor is an Equal Opportunity Employer