Director of Career-Connected Learning (Volunteer)

Director of Career-Connected Learning (Volunteer)

PromiseRise | Career Pathways, Workforce Development & Experiential Learning

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Hybrid / Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type: Volunteer (Leadership Role)

Reports To: Chief of Education / Chief of Career Readiness & Pathways

Works Closely With: PromiseLink Program Director, Director of Service-Learning, Program Leadership (MAP Roots & Connect), Partnerships Team, Policy & Advocacy Team

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, social-emotional learning (SEL), and long-term opportunity pathways.

Our work centers dignity, equity, and accountability—ensuring that young people are not only supported in the present, but prepared for meaningful futures.

About PromiseRise | Career Pathways & Workforce Development

PromiseRise is MAP’s division focused on career exposure, internships, workforce readiness, and long-term opportunity pathways. The division connects young people to real-world experiences that build skills, confidence, and access to future careers.

Career-connected learning at MAP bridges education and opportunity—ensuring students can see, experience, and prepare for life beyond the classroom.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Director of Career-Connected Learning to design, lead, and scale MAP’s career-connected learning strategy across programs and partnerships.

This role ensures that students are exposed to meaningful career pathways through structured, developmentally appropriate, and accessible experiences—including internships, project-based learning, mentorship, and workforce exploration.

The Director will build systems that connect academic learning to real-world application—ensuring that students develop not only knowledge, but direction, agency, and opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Program Design

• Lead the development of MAP’s career-connected learning framework across grade levels (K–12+)
• Design pathways that connect education, mentorship, and workforce exposure
• Align career programming with academic curriculum, SEL, and service-learning initiatives

Program Implementation

• Develop structured experiences including career exploration, internships, job shadowing, and project-based learning
• Ensure programs are accessible and inclusive for all students, including those experiencing housing instability
• Build progression models that support long-term student development

Partnership Development

• Build and manage partnerships with employers, organizations, and institutions
• Coordinate opportunities such as SYEP, internships, and career exposure programs
• Collaborate with community partners to expand access to opportunities

Youth Development & Equity

• Ensure programming is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and dignity-centered
• Support students in developing career awareness, identity, and confidence
• Address systemic barriers to opportunity through program design

Impact & Evaluation

• Define success metrics and track student outcomes related to career readiness
• Collaborate with PromiseMeasure to assess program effectiveness
• Support reporting for stakeholders, partners, and funders

Systems Integration

• Align career-connected learning with PromiseLink pathways and organizational strategy
• Collaborate across divisions to ensure continuity from education to opportunity
• Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace

Qualifications

Required

• Background in education, workforce development, career pathways, or related field
• Experience designing or managing career-connected or experiential learning programs
• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to design systems that connect education to real-world outcomes
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values

Preferred

• Experience with youth workforce programs (e.g., SYEP, internships, career readiness initiatives)
• Experience working with underserved or high-need populations
• Familiarity with career pathway frameworks and workforce development systems
• Experience in program evaluation or impact measurement
• Experience working with schools, nonprofits, or community-based organizations

Commitment

• Volunteer leadership role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Hybrid / remote with optional NYC-based collaboration

What You’ll Gain

• Leadership experience building a comprehensive career pathway system
• Opportunity to directly impact students’ long-term futures
• Collaboration with education, policy, and workforce partners
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful role advancing opportunity and equity

Impact of This Role

Your work will help ensure that students:

• Understand and explore career pathways early
• Build real-world skills and experiences
• Access internships and employment opportunities
• Develop confidence, direction, and long-term goals

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant experience in career-connected learning, workforce development, or education and interest in MAP’s mission

Help connect learning to life—so every student can move from potential to pathway, and from pathway to possibility.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.