Manager of College & Career Readiness

POSITION SUMMARY

The manager, College and Career Readiness (manager, CCR) will bring essential youth development and socio-emotional learning knowledge and resources to CPF including key responsibilities in the following areas: maintenance and delivery of our CCR curriculum, oversight and administration of paid internships, related staff training and support, socio-emotional learning resources, and program management regarding partnership development, program assessment and support of recruitment and retention.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

City Parks Foundation (CPF) seeks a youth developer with experience in youth internships and the out-of-school time (OST) education field. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to cultivate strong relationships with CPF and Partnerships for Parks staff, key program partners, students and families.

The manager, CCR, will lead CPF’s CCR program and will provide support in youth development principles and strategies to frontline staff with special attention to strengthening curricula, assessment and protocols relating to job readiness and socio-emotional learning. The position will require an innovative leader who can proactively and enthusiastically achieve the full potential of CPF’s youth and workforce development programming.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong connections in the youth and workforce development fields and provide a bridge to workforce and college networks and related social services for CityParks Learn, which runs programs primarily for historically marginalized and vulnerable NYC youth in all five boroughs. Through staff training and development, assessment and consultation and/or referrals for students, the managers, CCR, will increase the capacity to provide holistic and comprehensive education to our students. Understanding that outdoor education is central to all we do, the Manager, CCR will work collaboratively both internally and with partners as we strive to connect NYC youth to the natural world through experiential learning and to workforce opportunities in NYC Parks and more broadly in STEM fields through practical training.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Implementation and Administration

• Supervise the internship program, overseeing program development, curriculum/lesson planning and implementation of cross-departmental CCR training workshops for high school and college students each year
• Take the lead and work in collaboration with relevant staff to recruit and onboard all interns
• Offer practical training and support to CPF staff in youth development principles and socio-emotional learning
• Support internship training and supervision including thorough preparation for summer programs
• Support CPF staff outside of the Learn department with intern hosting in regards to preparation, implementation, trouble-shooting and assessment
• Work with Director of Education to support the development and implementation of program evaluation and student assessment in order to measure program impact and learner outcomes
• Evaluate key challenges and opportunities, set goals and implement program expansion, program modification and new program initiatives within and outside your immediate program relevant to CCR
• Continually investigate best practices through professional development for yourself and team members. Participate in citywide coalitions and groups that are connected to program focus in order to stay abreast of changing models and developments in the field
• Oversee the input of intern data and reporting for the purposes of long-term impact assessment

Partnership Development

• Ensure the principles of youth development are central to our work by collaborating regularly and consistently with CPF staff and students
• Cultivate healthy, productive relationships with the Career Internship Network, the College Access Consortium of NY, the Department of Parks and Recreation (site staff and borough staff), the Department of Youth and Community Development (program managers, support staff), City University of New York, NYC Public Schools staff (principals, counselors, parent coordinators, teachers), and others to ensure that outreach and recruitment are strong and programmatic resources are robust
• Identify, develop and maintain relationships with viable social work and workforce development colleagues and networks to bring resources to the program and interns

Social and Workforce Development

• Develop sound communication practices that allow for consistent outreach to current and past interns and alumni of any career-related opportunities including but not limited to further scholarships, internships, job training, jobs, etc.
• Steward alumni relations to share resources and engagement opportunities including maintenance of a robust listserv and the creation of periodic newsletters and/or timely announcements
• Provide resources to staff in safety and crisis assessments as well as day-to-day non-emergency interventions

Qualifications and Desired Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Youth Development or Social Work with at least 3 years of practical experience in the youth development/out-of-school time field OR 6 years of equivalent experience in youth development/out-of-school time field
• At least 1 year in leadership position with program development and management experience
• Direct experience in education/out-of-school time field with early adolescents and teens
• Proven competencies in training, curriculum development, and assessment
• Demonstrated track record in meeting, or exceeding, recruitment and retention goals
• Demonstrated track record in collaboration and teamwork
• Salesforce or similar database experience;
• Understanding of and experience with DYCD and NYCPS compliance
• Willingness to operate CCR workshops on weekend days during the program season and represent CPF at professional events on occasional evenings and weekends
• Deep understanding of socio-emotional development, the principles of youth development and student-centered learning
• Passion for working with youth including a positive outlook and highly personable approach
• NYS Valid driver’s license a plus
• Bilingual a plus

WORKING FOR CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

This position will be working from the organization’s offices at 1234 5th Avenue at 104th Street. Benefits include excellent health care and dental packages, vacation, paid holidays, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Transit Check program, life insurance, and flexible spending plan. City Parks Foundation is a collegial, mission-focused organization that values its employees and encourages professional growth and advancement.

CONTACT

Interested parties should email cover letter, resume, salary requirements and a description of a program or curriculum you developed to: education[at]CityParksFoundation.org. Put title of position in subject header.

Thank you for your interest in City Parks Foundation, an equal opportunity employer. Only potential candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

City Parks Foundation (CPF) is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in public parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. We are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community development, and education programs for all New Yorkers. Our programs and community building initiatives -- located in more than 400 parks, recreation centers, and public schools across New York City -- reach 300,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

• We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment with education programs that provide learning experiences through classroom and hands-on activities in parks, urban forests, coastal areas, gardens, and recreation centers.
• We present the largest free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC through SummerStage, presenting artists of the highest quality across multiple disciplines and genres, and marionette puppet theater in all five boroughs with our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and the roving PuppetMobile.
• Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, supports and champions a growing network of leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of their neighborhood parks.
• Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.

Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks reflect thriving communities.

WORKING FOR CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

This position will be working from the organization’s offices at 1234 5th Avenue at 104th Street. Benefits include excellent health care and dental packages, vacation, paid holidays, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Transit Check program, life insurance, and flexible spending plan. City Parks Foundation is a collegial, mission-focused organization that values its employees and encourages professional growth and advancement.