UP for Learning

UP for Learning Getting to ‘Y’ Program Director | Full Time

Category: Education

Location:

Overview: 

At UP for Learning we believe educational equity is a basic human right and all young people deserve to be meaningfully engaged in their education and community. UP for Learning supports systemic transformation in educational communities, engaging all stakeholders and increasing the authentic voice of youth in learning and decision-making. UP provides facilitation, training and coaching for youth and adults to share in a process for change through a theory- and research-driven approach.  Young people are empowered, within the context of authentic youth-adult partnerships, to shape their environment in order to best meet the needs of ALL youth. UP’s mission is empowering youth and adults to reimagine and transform education together.  

Over the past fourteen years, UP for Learning has grown from a demonstration project with a staff of one to a dynamic, growing, non-profit serving educational communities in VT and throughout the country, with a team of ten dedicated and innovative changemakers.  

Getting to ‘Y’ (GTY) is an evidence-based program with over a decade of experience and evaluation in Vermont, and is expanding to multiple replication sites around the country.  The GTY Program Director is responsible for managing all aspects of the GTY program.  The GTY Program Director will lead with other programming as appropriate and will represent UP for Learning in other professional settings in agreement with the Executive Director. 

EQUITY:

Diversity, justice, and inclusion are core values at  UP for Learning. We are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive, equitable working environment for our team. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by contributing unique perspectives and ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and facilitate change. UP is striving to be actively anti-racist in our work as an organization, as well as in our lives as the youth and adults who form our organization. We commit to bringing humility and an eagerness to learn from our partnerships with people and organizations who share our mission of advancing educational equity and opportunity for all youth.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Work as a creative and innovative lead collaborator with Program Associates and Directors and Youth Facilitators on:
  • Design and facilitation of UP for Learning’s programs and curriculum as appropriate. Deep listening and proactive response to felt needs.
  • Outreach to school and community partners.
  • Coaching with teams and individuals.
  • Communications to teams and other community partners.
  • Logistics of team meetings, program retreats/workshops, and conferences.
  • Network with agencies, coalitions and organizations that share UP’s mission and vision, continually exploring meaningful opportunities for youth to assume authentic roles in school change as partners.
  • Assist with development efforts, creating, expanding and tending donor relationships and seeking new opportunities for grant expansion.
  • Maintain sound administrative practices.

Oversee and manage all aspects of Getting to ‘Y’ program(s), including:  

• Lead the development, preparation and implementation of GTY trainings in collaboration with UP staff.
• Take the lead in coordinating GTY replication out of state.
• Develop and maintain materials and contact list in collaboration with Executive Director and Operations Director.
• Create and implement a yearly outreach and recruitment plan for GTY.
• Create communications media for GTY outreach in collaboration with the Executive Director and Operations Director. Prepare brief updates on GTY for UP staff, Board of Directors, website, and publications. Produce a comprehensive Getting to Y newsletter at the end of the academic year.
• Follow-up with and provide ongoing coaching to GTY schools and adult advisors.
• Identify and collaborate with youth facilitator interns and potential facilitators. 
• Take the lead on GTY grant management, data tracking, and implementation. Be the GTY liaison with current grants as appropriate. Collaborate with the Executive Director and Operations Director to write grant requests and quarterly reports.
• Collect documentation of the effectiveness/impact of the program.
• Maintain GTY background history.

Preferred Qualifications: – Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• A deep belief in the innate ability of youth to contribute to the change we need in order to create equitable and antiracist educational communities.
• A Master’s degree in public health, social work, education, social justice education, health education, health promotion, counseling or related field; or the equivalent combination of education and experience.  Experience with public health and/or prevention are particularly relevant and preferred.
• Experience working with youth in the areas of public health, prevention, social work, wellness, health education, identity, power, privilege, bias, intersectionality, intergroup dialogue, dialoguing across difference, diversity and inclusion, social justice, restorative justice and practices, cultural competency.
• Experience designing and facilitating interactive and engaging workshops both in person and virtually.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, able to effectively communicate across a broad array of ages and personality types.
• Demonstrated ability to foster positive and productive relationships with a variety of stakeholders (youth, school staff, and community partners).
• High degree of comfort working as a part of a flexible team and scheduling structure, possessing a keen ability to move between projects, adapt to new situations, and stay focused on a wide variety of tasks and assignments.  
• Excellent organization skills, with attention to detail. 
• A self-initiator, able to work independently, managing time and resources well. 
• Proficiency with online/cloud resources for collaboration and document work.
• Willingness to be an integral team member.
• Sense of humor, curiosity and optimism. 
• History of advocacy for educational change, including elevating the roles & responsibilities of youth as full partners. 

Important Information: 

UP for Learning is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. UP for Learning retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position. 

All UP for Learning staff work primarily remotely and travel to our Montpelier office.  Additional travel to schools, and other locations for meetings, training, workshops, conferences, and presentations is reimbursed. Reliable transportation and ability to travel throughout the state of Vermont is a requirement. 

This salaried full time position requires availability within a standard work day and a willingness to be flexible in scheduling to respond to the needs of the UP schedule. 

Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Salary range $65,000-$70,000. Benefits include vacation/medical earned leave, retirement, health insurance contribution and a commitment to a healthy work-life balance.

Deadline: November 18, 2022 12:00 am

To Apply:

Please forward a resume and detailed cover letter to GTY Hiring Committee at admin@upforlearning.org. Applications due November 18, 2022 by 3pm. Position will begin January 2023.