Deputy Director of Mentoring

ABOUT US

Apex for Youth empowers Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds to unlock their potential today and a world of possibility tomorrow.

With 1 in 2 Asian American youth living in or near poverty in NYC, our holistic approach is responsive to our youth’s age, racial identity and socioeconomic status. Our programs combine impactful mentorship with access to critical resources for our youth and their families that would not have otherwise been available.

Apex creates systems of support for youth from elementary school to young adulthood. Based on shared identities and experiences, we foster transformative relationships with a community of caring adults — from mentors and therapists to athletic coaches and career guides. Through Apex programs, low-income Asian American youth have the resources and support to break through socioeconomic and racial barriers, creating their own future with a sense of agency, belonging and confidence.

Apex for Youth's over 40 staff equip and empower almost 1,000 volunteers to serve more than 2,500 youth across the country online and in person in New York City.

We are building a world without limits for all Asian American youth.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Deputy Director of Mentoring is a senior leadership role within Apex's Program Department, reporting to the Director of Programs. The Deputy oversees all mentoring programming across Apex's sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and is responsible for both the day-to-day execution and the long-term growth of the mentoring portfolio. This includes directly supervising two Associate Directors, one overseeing Elementary mentoring across all three boroughs, and one overseeing Middle School and High School mentoring in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Deputy will also oversee the Volunteer Manager, whose role is to oversee the volunteer pool across all programs. The Deputy will co-lead strategic planning efforts to expand programming across all sites.

The Deputy Director of Mentoring is a key thought partner to senior leadership and brings both a high standard of operational excellence and a vision for what mentoring at Apex can become.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning and Thought Leadership (30%)

• Partner closely with the Director of Programs to drive thought leadership, and develop and implement a multi-year strategic plan for Apex's mentoring programs
• Lead expansion planning to bring Middle School and High School mentoring to Queens, building on the foundation of Apex's existing Elementary programming there
• Drive outcomes by shaping program goals, targets, and operational plans in collaboration with Associate Directors and program staff
• Identify opportunities to strengthen program infrastructure, design, and systems to support sustainable growth
• Provide oversight of volunteer management strategy across all mentoring programs, ensuring robust systems for recruitment, retention, and appreciation of Apex's mentoring volunteers

Supervision (30%)

• Foster a collaborative and mission-driven team culture that centers the needs of Apex's youth and volunteers
• Lead a team of 14–16 full-time staff members, along with interns and part-time facilitators, providing direct supervision and support to two Associate Directors overseeing Elementary and Middle/High School programs.
• Support Associate Directors in managing their own teams, budgets, and program portfolios
• Supervise the Volunteer Manager in overseeing 1,000+ volunteers, providing strategic guidance on recruitment, training, retention and engagement of long-term volunteers while ensuring efficient coordination of one-time participants.

Program Management (25%)

• Set and uphold program-wide standards, policies, and protocols to ensure consistent, high-quality mentoring experiences across all sites and grade levels
• Ensure program and curriculum design reflect department-wide impact goals and are implemented with fidelity across all mentoring programs
• Ensure mentoring team uses program evaluation data and site visit findings to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making
• Oversee budget management across the mentoring portfolio, ensuring Associate Directors have the guidance and tools to manage their budgets responsibly

Partnerships and Collaboration (15%)

• Represent the Mentoring Department at leadership meetings and external convenings with key partners and funders
• Support Associate Directors in building and maintaining strong collaborative relationships with other Apex program departments — including Mental Health Services, College and Career Success, and Athletics — to ensure youth are connected to the full range of support and resources available to them across the organization
• Collaborate with internal Apex departments including Marketing, Development, and Operations to support organization-wide initiatives
• Partner with the Associate Director of Research and Evaluation to support program measurement and evaluation

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA or BS required; Master's degree in education, social work, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred
• 8-10 years of experience in youth-serving programs, of which, 5-6 years of program management and at least 2 years supervising managers required
• Deep knowledge of best practices in youth mentoring, including evidence-based approaches to mentor recruitment, match support, and program quality
• Demonstrated understanding of the developmental needs of elementary, middle, and high school-aged youth, and how mentoring supports positive youth outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to think and execute strategically — comfortable building long-term plans while managing day-to-day program needs
• Experience using data and program evaluation to assess mentoring program quality and drive continuous improvement
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders including youth, families, volunteers, and organizational partners
• Ability to work independently as well as cross-functionally within a team
• Candidates are expected to commute to Apex's Manhattan office and program sites on a monthly basis; travel across Brooklyn and Queens sites is required
• Ability to work Saturdays as needed, with Sunday and Monday as the weekend

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume and cover letter to Yaya Yuan at yaya.yuan@apexforyouth.org and include “Deputy Director of Mentoring” in the subject line.

OVERVIEW OF BENEFITS

Paid time off: In the first year of employment, employees are eligible for approximately a combined 40 days of vacation, holiday, personal, and sick leave (10 vacation days, 12 paid holidays, org-wide closures for one week over the winter holidays and one week during the Fourth of July, 5 sick days per year, 3 personal days a year). Additional vacation days accrue according to years worked in the organization.

Medical and other benefits: Employees are eligible to participate in a range of medical, dental and vision insurance plans with Apex covering the majority of the cost for employees; 401K plan with employer matching; flexible spending account; commuter benefits; paid parental leave; and professional development stipend.

Hybrid workplace: Apex provides for a flexible remote work schedule on specific days of the week and requires employees to be on-site for other days of the week, and for special events and programs.

Organizational Culture: Apex is a highly collaborative, flexible, and employee-centered workplace. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity both within our organization and in how we collaborate with others. If you love to work with a team and have exciting ideas you would like to explore and grow, we encourage you to join Apex