Program Specialist

About Us

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area (BBBSBA) envisions a world where all youth achieve their full potential. Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Join our team at BBBSBA to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people, families, and mentors in our community

Role Overview

The Program Specialist, Education & Workforce (E&W) is essential to the growth of the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) brand, with the primary focus of providing college and career support for mentees, specifically students in middle school, high school and early college, low-income, first-generation. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Education and Workforce Programs, the Program Specialist will provide direct coaching to young people in our program and collaborate with the entire agency to connect our mentoring matches to resources that support their college and/or career pathway, ensuring a future towards economic mobility. The ideal candidate for this role enjoys facilitating trainings and small group activities, and is innovative, organized, and takes initiative to establish new partnerships and collaborate with multiple internal and external stakeholders. This role will have a blend of work in office and in school/community partner/workforce sites throughout the nine Bay Area counties.

Key Responsibilities

Case Management and Match Support (40%)

• Manage a caseload of 30-40 youth every 3 months in our Big Futures Intensive Program, completing 4 coaching calls with them to track their progress towards post-secondary roles and recommend tailored resources and trainings.
• Assess and provide for individual coaching needs, for each youth or match participant to assure a positive development experience, specifically as it relates to College & Career opportunities.
• Ensure participants are effectively connected to postsecondary opportunities, resources and scholarships.
• Work with Match Support Specialists to provide individualized support for students and mentors as needed– ex: college admittance processes, financial aid applications, connection to other resources.
• Manage scholarship application processes and selection.

Events, Workshops & Community Collaboration (35%)

• Facilitate 1:1 and small group mentoring cohorts at schools, community colleges, and/or workplaces that focus on character building and increasing college and career readiness.
• Facilitate trainings, events and workshops open to all 14+ year olds in our program on a variety of topics to help youth prepare and plan for college and career (ex. interview skills, financial literacy, how to apply for FAFSA, etc.).
• Develop and deliver large and small group presentations virtually and in-person.
• Coordinate involvement from skilled volunteers and corporate and community partners to enhance the mentees' exposure to a variety of career fields and resources.

Data Entry & Digital Resources (15%)

• Utilize technology, such as Acuity scheduling, Dialpad phone, and Google calendar to keep a detailed scheduling calendar and call log. Utilize Gemini Ai and MatchForce (BBBS's version of Salesforce) to log, report, synthesize and analyze data.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records in the MatchForce database, with documented meetings, notes, and participant attendance.
• Develop and manage college and career digital resource library and Big Futures monthly newsletter to share community resources with program participants.
• Set individual youth outcomes goals and update progress.
• Ensure quality services and measurable outcomes.

Team Collaboration & Innovation (10%)

• Consult and collaborate with Match Support team members and other team members on a regular basis.
• Collaborate with our site-based planning taskforce to generate new ideas for program delivery.
• Attend team meetings and agency events as needed throughout the nine Bay Area counties to support recruitment and promote match activities, such as winter match party, summer match celebration, annual gala, and other recruitment and match events.
• Connect with other BBBS agencies to learn best practices in the network and incorporate new ideas.

Miscellaneous

• Keep inventory of Education & Workforce Materials (ex. graduation gifts, Big Futures materials, etc.). Liaise with supervisor and Operations team to purchase supplies when needed.
• Other duties as assigned – including but not limited to assisting with organizational events, community meetings, recruitment events, fundraising events, donor site visits.

Core Competencies

• Knowledge of College and Career Resources: Understanding of where to find resources that will support first generation students with support for college and career pathways. Ability to research and stay up to date with evolving trends.
• Stakeholder Relationship Development & Communication: Quickly develop positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate with a variety of folks and tailor communications to diverse audiences.
• Task & Data Management & Prioritization: Demonstrate a strong ability to balance multiple competing daily priorities, leveraging technology and data systems effectively and efficiently. Demonstrate an ability to prioritize, and take action accordingly, while documenting all work.
• Innovative Thinking: Demonstrate curiosity and be open to different and new ways of doing things, leveraging new technology. Use a growth mindset and belief in the potential to build on one's own and others' talents, finding lessons in failures and successes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required
• 2+ years experience training, teaching, and/or coaching high school and/or post-secondary students
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and customer service skills
• Excellent time management and attention to detail, must work independently
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google eWorkspace and interest in incorporating Ai into workflows
• Resourceful and flexible self-starter who takes initiative
• Skill in presenting to a variety of audiences, including high school students, parents, corporate
• Knowledge of local college & career resources, specifically for first gen, low income youth
• Collaborative team player - Confidence in juggling relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Value Diversity - Able to seek out and work effectively with others who have diverse perspectives, talents, backgrounds, and/or styles; contribute to a team climate in which differences are valued and supported. Ability to relate well in multicultural environments
• Ability to effectively assess and execute the following relational support skills: guiding, supporting, confronting, advising and/or negotiating.
• Must have reliable transportation to facilitate independent travel to meetings and activities in the agency's service area
• Passion for the mission of BBBS Bay Area

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in college admissions/counseling for a college readiness
• Experience in workforce development
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM

Our Values

Our values guide us every step of the way: Connection, Adaptive Growth, Resourcefulness, Empathy, and Safety. We bring together people who might never have met otherwise, forging bonds that change lives. We embrace challenges with flexibility and creativity. We lead with compassion. We prioritize safety. We work tirelessly to break down barriers so that every young person has access to the brighter future they deserve.

Equal Employment Opportunity

BBBSBA provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap or disability.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to perform the essential duties & responsibilities either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. The organization shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $58, $71,016.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Oakland, CA 94612