Internship Program Lead

POSITION SUMMARY

Urban Alliance is seeking an Internship Program Lead (IPL) in the Detroit, MI region. The IPL is responsible for ensuring the organization is providing high quality internships and delivering workforce training for high school students. To effectively drive this mission, the IPL manages a caseload of students, is the first point of contact for mentors and corporate sponsors and handles workforce development training. The position reports to the region’s Program Director.

ABOUT URBAN ALLIANCE

Urban Alliance (UA) believes that all young people deserve equal access to the work experience, professional networks, and skills training needed to achieve economic mobility. For more than 25 years, UA has provided thousands of young adults from historically excluded communities with the skills, social capital, and career exposure needed to overcome systemic barriers to equal employment and economic mobility. UA is a bridge between young adults, employers, and schools that provides high school students with comprehensive soft skills and digital literacy training, paid internships with local employers, individualized mentoring and case management, and ongoing post-high school planning support.

QUALIFICATIONS/ KEYS TO SUCCESS

Youth Development and/or Youth Case Management Experience: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, Counseling, or a related field or demonstrated ability/experience in youth development and career counseling in lieu of a degree. All candidates will have at least two years of experience working with youth or young adults in career or college counseling or other areas of youth development. The ideal candidate will possess facilitation or teaching skills including planning and monitoring participant engagement and learning.

Relationship Management: The ideal candidate will have the ability to manage business relationships with corporate mentors, internship employers, and school staff. The candidate will have experience in escalating, mediating and/or problem-solving critical issues with external stakeholders (employers, mentors, and/or school staff.)

Professional Written and Verbal Communication Skills: The candidate must effectively and proactively communicate daily priorities to internal (direct supervisors, program team, C-Suite leaders, etc.) and external stakeholders (interns, mentors and corporate partners). In addition, candidates must have experience in conducting trainings by using materials and conversational language.

Project Management/Business Acumen: Strong project management skills include the ability to independently and proactively manage time, follow-through on action items, meet deadlines, and be accountable for expectations. The ideal candidate can manage multiple workstreams and projects. The candidate will also have experience in making data-informed decisions to drive strategic needs. Candidates should be able to prioritize their workload and organize documentation in a matter that’s easily shared among several partners in the organization.

Commitment to racial equity and social justice: The ideal candidate will be dedicated to the organization’s mission and committed to understanding the program model. The candidate will have a commitment to advancing racial equity and will ensure that it is reflected throughout the organization’s work.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As Internship Program Lead you will:

Program Delivery

• Conduct the recruitment of program participants by visiting and conducting information presentations at high schools
• Facilitate professional development workshops for high school interns (prior to internship and then weekly during internship) to ensure interns build 21st skills identified for career and academic success

Caseload Management

• Support and monitor the professional and academic performance of approximately 30-35 high school interns
• Communicate with interns regularly regarding attendance, program expectations, individual issues, skill development, and milestones
• Support interns with planning for post-high school options including college or work including developing a resume, creating a LinkedIn site, applying for college and financial aid, and preparing for interviews
• Provide case management for interns related to individual needs in the preparation for post-high school plans
• Communicate with mentors regularly regarding intern outcomes, issues, and milestones

Data-driven Decision Making

• Document intern progress throughout the program year using data systems,
• Review and analyze intern and program data to inform decisions, provide differentiated support to interns, and identify issues.
• Use feedback from interns and colleagues to inform practice and identify professional development needs and goals.
• Work collaboratively with the team to identify trends and issues across the region (and organization) and utilize information to adjust program or practice.

Relationship Building

• Maintain a positive rapport and professional relationship with high school students to ensure the development and full participation of interns in the program
• Maintain professional relationships with corporate partners by consistently managing the interns’ performance, ensuring mentors have adequate workplans, and assisting students meet critical developmental goals
• Collaborate with mentors to conduct formal evaluations for the intern’s job performance and skill development
• Serve as the first tier of escalating problems, mediating and troubleshooting for conflicts with interns and employers; understand when issues need to be escalated to management and regional leadership

DEI

• Serve as an ambassador for our organizational efforts in improving outcomes for racial equity and social justice initiatives
• Prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion standards into advocating for interns from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds

VACCINATION

As established by the Urban Alliance Board of Directors, all employees are required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, unless a medical or religious reasonable accommodation is approved. If offered a job, the candidate must be able to prove that they have been vaccinated with one of the CDC-authorized vaccines, including either Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson / Janssen or request and be granted an accommodation before their start date.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Urban Alliance is a racial and social justice organization committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Urban Alliance is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Applicants from all underrepresented groups, including people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and DACA recipients are encouraged to apply.