The specific location of this role is tentative, as we are still establishing and finalizing partnerships in this region. We are hoping that this staff person will be supporting potential programs in Washington, Lamoille, Caledonia, and/or Orange counties, and so travel to these various sites will be expected.

Interested in making an impact in the lives of high school and elementary aged youth? Join DREAM’s Guided Mentoring program and become an influential figure in the lives of youth. As a Youth Service Manager (YSM) in this two-tiered, cross-age Mentor-in-Training program you will lead programs that provide high school students with the tools, resources, and confidence to provide mentorship to elementary school-aged youth.

The Experience of a YSM:

As part of the Guided Mentoring team, you will partner with and support Mentor Guides to lead school teams in your region of around 5-10 high school mentors. You will focus on engaging and supporting teams with the curriculum and practices of the Guided Mentoring program. You will help plan and facilitate lessons and activities which are fun, play-based, and help youth dream big. These activities will be delivered through weekly school day classroom programming and out of school time adventure experiences (these will sometimes be over weekends and during the Summer) to maintain relationships and expand horizons.

Our objectives include helping to prepare high school youth to have effective, impactful mentorship relationships with elementary age youth, and provide opportunities for them to strengthen and expand their sense of place, identity, and meaning and purpose.

• The YSM works with the direction of the Guided Mentoring Program Director to oversee this program’s sessions in addition to managing a number of relationships between school partners and DREAM.
• You will be engaging in person-to-person communication with your team and DREAM’s stakeholders on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, both virtually and in-person.
• You will be supervising a group of AmeriCorps Mentor Guides to support their experiences and ensure that they have the skills and tools necessary to be successful in their roles.
• You will participate as a member of DREAM’s employee team by attending regular meetings and driving the strategic direction of the Guided Mentoring program.
• You will be a part of a staff team that is passionate about mentoring, youth development, and love to have fun!!!

You should expect to work a schedule that fits the schedule of those you are serving. This means there will be some regularly scheduled hours and some hours that are responsive to volunteers, youth, and family demands, and as such will be a mix of daytime, evenings, weekdays and some occasional weekends. You have agency over your schedule as long as it serves those you are supporting well.

Daily and weekly schedules will likely change in Summer as the transition is made to creating and delivering activities that build engagement, enrichment, and fun for youth, as well as supporting other DREAM programs.

Primary Objectives of the YSM:

• You will create powerful, developmentally appropriate mentoring relationships with high school mentor groups and individual high school mentors.

• You will support and attend weekly programming sessions with mentors and mentees.

• You will foster a bonded, positive, and supportive community of high school aged mentors and elementary aged mentees.
• You will be the leader with your teams in ensuring thoughtful and thorough curriculum lessons and activities, incorporation of the Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework and Mentor’s Elements of Effective Practice, and formal reflection assessments. These will help each high school mentor to be prepared, trained and ready to provide a safe and culturally appropriate experience to elementary school aged mentees.
• You will be the leader with your teams in ensuring, primarily through curriculum lessons, activities, and reflections, that high school mentors have a strong understanding of the four curricular themes: mentoring, identity, sense of place, and meaning & purpose.
• You will be the leader with your teams in cultivating a holistic experience that goes beyond mentoring time with retreats, field trips, service learning and other out-of-school "relationship accelerators" in support of mentoring.
• You will be the leader with your teams in facilitating development of high school mentors’ organizational and time management skills.
• You will be in communication with the Mentors in your teams and support Mentor Guides’ communication with them weekly.
• You will be the lead in thorough communications and dialogue with DREAM youth and their families to support them in having agency and influence over their DREAM experience.

Secondary Objectives:

• You will be the lead in building connections and relationships with parents and community partners.
• You will be an integral part of recruiting, training and supporting volunteers (both AmeriCorps and mentors).
• You will help foster a cohesive staff team, including employees and AmeriCorps Members.
• You will support fundraising and cultivating opportunities in the community for field trips and adventures.

Required Qualifications/Experience:

• College Degree and/or Post Secondary Education Certification or Training.
• Desire to enhance existing skills and develop new skills necessary for your role and responsibilities.
• Commitment to serve as a role model for youth.
• A passion for supporting the ongoing work around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• A dedicated personal, off site, non DREAM supported space for work, with:
  • An internet connection capable of easily handling Google Workspace apps and specifically, a Google Meet.
  • Access to resources necessary to support your remote work/service experience (electrical power outlet to keep devices charged, reliable wifi connection that can connect with our cloud-based softwares).
• Ability to regularly meet in person with your team or your service assignment in their assigned location (including responsibility for transportation to and from).
• Access to a reliable phone.
• Valid driver's license and insurance.
• Willingness to undergo state and federal background checks, including driving record.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

• Youth one-on-one and group facilitation experience.
• Interest and investment in youth development.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Commitment to holding unconditional positive regard for DREAM youth.
• Experience supervising and leading a staff of employees, service members and volunteers with forward thinking and strategy.
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills.
• Experience overseeing an organizational property, office, or program space.
• Computer proficiency: comfort with Microsoft Office apps, Google's GSuite and email communication; Innovative Mentoring Systems (IMS) experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time and set priorities while giving consideration to staff, the organization, and the self.
• Experience working or living in a diverse and inclusive environment with elevated, demonstrated awareness of issues of social equity and social and racial justice, and in a way that is respectful and aware of the community's experience.
• Demonstrated practice or education around serving diverse communities in an equitable manner.

Position type/expected hours of work: This is a full time, salaried, exempt position. The position will average 35-45 hours per week with regular evenings and occasional weekend events over the course of the year. Participation and leadership at regular multi-day retreats is required (typically one each quarter).

Compensation and benefits:

• $42,500 - $46,000 annual salary.
• Employer-sponsored health plan (or cash-in-lieu of option); with additional employee-paid options and optional dental coverage.
• Retirement savings plan with 3% employer match
• Access to Employee Assistance Program.
• Opportunity for professional development.
• DREAM gear/uniform provided and required.
• Paid professional association membership and professional development opportunities.
• Free access to Amazon Prime and video streaming services.
• Reimbursements for work-related travel.
• Incredible, life-changing experiences!

Supervisory Responsibility: This position supervises the team assembled to support the programs DREAM operates in the locations they are assigned. Teams may consist of AmeriCorps members, volunteers and/or full or part-time employees. You will be overseeing a cohort of high school students. Additionally, this position is responsible for the supervision of any office or program space and its assets that DREAM occupies/owns.

Work environment: This position operates in multiple spaces. The spaces included are primarily an indoor/outdoor environment with active children, within the school communities we serve, in public/field trip spaces in the local area, and occasionally in a workplace environment for planning and meetings. You may also be visiting our rustic Camp DREAM. The role also may at times utilize equipment characteristic of an outdoor and indoor youth day camp (pop-up shade canopies/tents, hand tools, activity supplies, food preparation equipment, storage spaces and sports equipment/toys). This role routinely uses computers, as well as phones and printers for communications and activity planning. During the summer, conditions will be warm and activities will often be held outdoors.

Physical demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee/member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• This position requires comfort working in outdoor environments, regardless of the weather. This position is very active and frequently requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to communicate with individuals who talk and hear.
• The employee/member may occasionally lift and/or move items over 50 pounds.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to observe and comprehend using vision abilities that include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Travel: Travel includes local travel to the sites being served by this role during the work hours described. Out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be occasionally expected. Reimbursement is offered.

AAP/EEO Statement: The DREAM Program is an equal opportunity employer and an incorporated 501(c)3 charitable organization. The DREAM Program prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At will employment: The DREAM Program is an at will employer. Employment with The DREAM Program is voluntary and is subject to termination by you or The DREAM Program at will, with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time. The policy of employment-at-will may not be modified by any officer or employee.

Other duties: Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee/member for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.