idealist.org

Title: Senior Director of Corporate Apprenticeships

Location: Boston, MA
Ideal Start: October 2009

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
Year Up is a non-profit organization with a mission to prepare urban young adults aged 18-24 for life and work in our technology-driven society, while guiding them toward successful careers and higher education. Through a one-year, intensive training program, students receive a unique combination of hands-on technical and professional skills, college credit, and corporate internships.

In our ninth year of operations, Year Up serves more than 800 students per year across six sites in Boston, Providence, Washington, D.C., New York City, San Francisco and Atlanta, and expects to add 1-2 sites per year over the next 4 years. Year Up has received numerous awards, including Fast Company Magazine’s Social Capitalist Award for innovative business model and social impact in 2005, 2007 and 2008. See www.yearup.org for more information about our program.

POSITION OVERVIEW: Year Up’s Boston Corporate Apprenticeship team – whose members are the epitome of hard business skills talent in a mission-driven setting – connects top corporations in need of entry level talent with college trained, high-potential urban young adults. Generating approximately 60% of Year Up Boston’s 2009 budget, the 5-person team is seeking a new leader, as the current director transitions to a national apprenticeships role. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Boston, this position will have tangible targets in developing leads, following up on leads, closing sales, managing client accounts and relationships, and developing and coaching a team. The ideal candidate should desire to leverage his or her demonstrated for-profit management and sales experience in a mission-driven social enterprise.

In keeping with Year Up’s values, the Director of Corporate Apprenticeships will also interact with students, participating in creating and sustaining a positive educational environment with trust among students, faculty and other staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Team Leadership
• Manage 5 direct reports in a collaborative, team-based environment
• Develop annual business plan, with Executive Director and team members, detailing activities to follow during the year
• Hold team and self accountable to executing results against goals
• Develop Boston’s apprenticeship budget and attend quarterly national apprenticeship meetings
• Embody “servant leadership” style to empower strengths of all team members, and flex individual style to most effectively lead/coach/mentor/manage team members
• Leverage influence skills to work within and across organizational teams – obtain input, build buy-in, etc.
• Collaborate with apprenticeship staff at national and other sites, holding Boston accountable both to Boston targets as well as overall organizational apprenticeship goals
• Design plans, set milestones, and oversee implementation and follow through of large projects and processes related to apprenticeship account management

Revenue Generation (for both new and existing leads)
• Sell corporate apprenticeship seats to top companies in the greater Boston area, maximizing all opportunities in the process of closing a sale and consultatively making recommendations on the various solutions, partnerships, and volunteer opportunities Year Up offers
• Engage with C-level executives and decision makers at all organizations, from Fortune 500s to small local businesses in a variety of settings from one-one-one meetings to large events
• Create and conduct effective proposal presentations and RFP responses that identify Year Up’s innovative model and past successes for solving corporate partner entry level talent needs
• Maintain accurate records (in Salesforce.com) of all sales and prospecting activities including sales calls, presentations, closed sales, and follow-up activities

Relationship Management
• Identify appropriate account managers, including self, to manage all aspects of corporate partner relationship, including while students are serving on site (interfacing with partner, students, staff members as needed)
• Oversee logistics related to client accounts (ensuring students are placed on site, training partners and students on roles and responsibilities, holding students accountable to Year Up values and contract during the apprenticeship period)
• Embrace the mantra of “high service, high support, high expectations” in interactions with corporate partners and apprentices

Staff and Student Relationship Management
• Facilitate collaboration across functional teams, specifically, development, volunteer, and career services
• Work closely with Program leadership to ensure students are prepared in alignment with corporate partner needs and that students receive consistent support during apprenticeship
• Serve as a backup for high-level and/or emergency situations facing Boston apprentices
• Create greater understanding of apprenticeship program for all Year Up staff members

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
• Commitment and passion for the mission of Year Up
• 7-10+ years experience in sales, client service, development and/or management roles
• 3+ years management experience of 3+ direct reports in a collaborative environment
• Demonstrated ability to generate leads and close business
• Minimum previous annual sales targets of $1m across 10-15 accounts
• Documented strengths in meaningful relationship building, management and growth
• A consummate net-worker who is able to move comfortably and credibly in the community
• Demonstrated ability to set direction and execute large, complex projects with a team
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail
• A professional and resourceful style with the ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative and manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
• Able to collaborate across teams to support students and resolve issues
• Enjoy working in a fluid, dynamic organization with a minimal amount of direction
• Ability to plan, introduce and lead a process that enables high quality growth
• Ability to lead, willingness to be led, and comfortable with situational leadership
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office required; Salesforce experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required

TO APPLY:
E-mail a resume and thoughtful cover letter stating the skills/experience you have that match the qualifications of this position as well as how you heard about the position to Mirosia Kishenyuk at mkishenyuk@yearup.org. Please title the e-mail “Boston Director of Corporate Apprenticeships.”