Instructor

About Us 

The Greater Memphis area has more than 45,000 young adults, ages 16-24, who are out of school and out of work. Nearly half of these young adults are in poverty, and only 1% will be on the path to a living wage by the time they are 28.

The young adult population represents the next generation of community, business, and political leaders. It is imperative that they are equipped with the skills and support they need today in order to guide Memphis toward tomorrow. The Collective Blueprint advances a community framework that reflects the personal and economic aspirations of the city’s young populace.

The Collective Blueprint was started in 2016 and is the only local organization specifically tailored to the needs of young adults. We provide relationships, resources, and a network of support to help young adults discover and develop their unique talents in order to advance their personal and professional objectives. Our Vision is that all young adults have the power to live their best lives and the tools to make that a reality. 

The Collective Blueprint Model 

The Collective Blueprint is building the framework to reach economic equity for all young adults in the following ways: 

1. Programs: Establish career pathways for young adults that will put them on track toward a living wage
2. Advocacy: Advocate for equitable policies and programs that meet the unique needs of young adults
3. Systemic Change: Bring about systemic change that will enable young adults to identify, pursue, and achieve their life goals

Overview of Collective Blueprint Programs  

The mission of The Collective Blueprint is to increase socio-economic mobility for young adults by building pathways to thriving careers. To that end, the Program division at The Collective Blueprint (TCB) designs and provides robust support, tools, and learning opportunities for young adults ages 18-30 as they enter in-demand career pathways. The Program team at TCB works with young adults on a holistic level; we seek to understand a person’s strengths, areas of growth, hopes, wishes, desires, and potential barriers in order to fully understand and support the young adult as an individual.

The program team at The Collective Blueprint provides these services in the following ways: 

1. School and Career Sessions: These training sessions are designed to provide information, skills, and tools for navigating either the school process (choosing, applying, and paying for school), or identifying in-demand careers and how to navigate the ‘working world.’ Young adults not only receive information, but are provided with opportunities to connect with industry professionals, set goals, and opt-in to receiving additional intensive support related to schools and careers. Where possible, the program team strives to be of service to the greater Memphis community by delivering our workshops in other settings such as other community organizations, schools, etc.
2. Intensive School and Career Coaching: Our team of Persistence and Employment coaches are charged with providing deeper and more robust support for young adults looking to take information and put it into action. Coaches work with young adults to build soft skills (professional communication, interviewing skills, elevator pitch, etc.) and hard skills (resume and cover letter), as well as life skills (life mapping, goal setting, time management, etc). Laying this foundation is essential, as the goal of the intensive support is to help young adults either get to and through school (short-term certification programs) or help young adults obtain employment and retain it. The Persistence coaches work closely with schools and the Employment coaches work closely with our job partners to find the right fit for the needs of the young adults. 
3. Work Exposure and Job Placement Opportunities: Young adults who are looking to obtain full-time employment and are undergoing intensive employment coaching will have the opportunity to gain work experience either by stepping into our paid work experience opportunities (internships), or interviewing with our employer partners for potential job placement.  
4. Additional Alumni Supports: All former participants in any of our above programming are eligible for Alumni support, such as opportunities to connect with each other and network with industry professionals, specialized and ongoing employment/retention workshops, access to mental health supports, referrals to our employer partners, etc.

The Collective Blueprint has ambitious goals to scale its programs to reach thousands of young adults. We are looking for staff who enjoy being in a start-up environment and are excited about the prospect of building and growing dynamic programs. 

Position Responsibilities 

The Instructor plays a crucial role in ensuring our young adults reach their vision and dreams. A critical member of the Programs team, the instructor creates and facilitates many of the professional and skill development sessions that young adults participate in during their time in the program. 

The Instructor’s most important objective is to provide tools, skills and resources for our young adult program participants, called Leaders, to develop into young professionals. Additionally, the Instructor participates in new initiatives that require training and facilitation as well as staff-wide activities, organizational recruitment, and other areas of program support as needed.

The Instructor is responsible for: 

1. Instruction (40%)
   1. Serve as primary instructor for TCB programming, facilitating sessions centered around a variety soft skills and professional development
   2. Model a variety of instructional methods designed for adult learners with a variety of learning styles
   3. Track progress toward learning objectives and goals 
   4. Support program team members and other staff in facilitating workshops and training sessions
   5. Update, organize, and track Leader resumes and other employment materials
   6. Coordinate additional academic support opportunities for Leaders as they persist through their training programs (connecting them to academic resources, coordinating study groups, introducing study skills, etc.)
   7. Ensure classroom environment is set up and conducive to learning and collaboration
2. Curriculum (30%)
   1. Create curriculum, lesson plans, workshop sessions aligned to professional skills 
   2. Design industry and pathway-specific curriculum and exposure events to deepen participant understanding of their chosen field and the professional world
   3. Ensure that the curriculum aligns with industry standards and employer needs, in collaboration with instructional, coaching, and careers teams
   4. Develop, curate, and manage educational and training resources, ensuring they are tailored to meet industry standards and the specific needs of participants
3. Admissions Support (20%)
   1. Serve as primary point of contact for applicants, providing information and timely support throughout the admissions process
   2. Manage entrance exam process for school partner admissions
   3. Support with planning and facilitation of recruitment events and workshops 
   4. Maintain timely and accurate admissions data 
4. Administrative Support (10%)
   1.  Track young adult attendance at trainings and workshops
   2. Request supplies and food orders for trainings
   3. Support with set up and breakdown of classroom
   4. Serve as point person for programs team on use of instructional technology

Other relevant duties, as assigned

Qualifications

The successful candidate should meet the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred; The Collective will consider meaningful educational, work and/or military project management experience in exchange for degree requirements where appropriate.
• Professional experience in the education and/or nonprofit sectors. 
• Demonstrated experience in teaching/facilitating in small and large groups, and in tracking participant progress over time.
• Strong, intuitive communicator who is comfortable presenting to, and engaging with, young adults.
• Experience building, establishing, and maintaining effective instructor/learner relationships with young adults.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a small team setting.
• Excellent organizational and data collection skills.
• Ability to execute on multiple projects with variable deadlines requiring high levels of coordination.

Flexible Work Arrangement

The TCB team enjoys a flexible work arrangement where some of our work can be done remotely. Our physical office in Memphis is always available for the team, and whenever gathering in-person is both safe and in service of our goals, we do so. For our education and career programs, we have found that in-person programming is more reliably effective and supports the development of relationships that are integral to our work with young adults and that work is typically delivered in a classroom setting. This role is Memphis-based. 

Application Instructions 

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to assume a pivotal role in the evolution of a fast-growing organization. We are seeking an individual of outstanding quality, with a proven track record and a passion for young adults. The Collective Blueprint is prepared to offer an attractive compensation package, as well as health, 401(k), and vacation benefits. Starting salary is $52,500, negotiable based on experience. We also provide relocation assistance for applicants 100+ miles from Memphis. To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter. 

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