Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence

Position: Lead School-Based Mentor

Location: Philadelphia, PA (on-site Schools 4-5 days/week)

Employment Status: Non-exempt, Fulltime

Reporting to: Manager, In-School Program

Salary: $45,000 to $48,000

AGENCY OVERVIEW 

JOIN A FORWARD-THINKING AGENCY THAT SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence (BBBSI) is the largest BBBS agency in the state and one of the largest in the nation. Our mission is to ignite the power and promise of youth and close the mentoring gap, by creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships and strengthening the quality of the mentoring field.

You will love it here if you (1) set the bar high, (2) are intentional and thoughtful about their choices, (3) collaborate as a means to community solutions, (4) are positive, can-do, and solution-oriented, (5) embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and (6) are accountable and get it done.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence (BBBSI) seeks a Lead School-Based Mentor will support approximately 50 middle school students (grades 6-8) through group and individual mentoring sessions. Based at an assigned school in North, West, and/or Southwest Philadelphia, the Lead Mentor will provide positive role modeling, help mentees set goals, and develop social and emotional skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Youth Mentoring:
  • Mentor a caseload of ~50 youth during the school day.
  • Facilitate individual (10 students) and group (40 students) mentoring sessions.
  • Implement a curriculum focused on social-emotional learning, goal setting, and risk avoidance.
• Youth Enrollment & Support:
  • Collaborate with school staff to recruit and enroll participants.
  • Communicate with parents/guardians and school staff regarding program details.
  • Conduct interviews and recommend mentoring matches.
• Progress Monitoring:
  • Maintain attendance records and session details in an online database.
  • Review progress data and attend weekly check-ins with the Mentoring Manager.
  • Complete assessments and paperwork as required.
• Partnership Engagement:
  • Build and maintain relationships with school leadership, counselors, and staff.
  • Participate in monthly feedback meetings with school leadership

Academic/Educational Requirements: 

High School Diploma with a minimum of 4 years relevant work experience in related fields, such as social work, counseling, social services, child development, or education. Previous experience working in school classrooms or other coaching situations is strongly preferred. Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.

Skills and Professional Requirements:

· Minimum 2+ years functional experience in a human service or teaching environment required (e.g., paraprofessional, coaching), preferably in Grades 6-8

· Passion for youth development and a commitment to BBBSI mission, vision and values

· Shared lived experience with Littles is ideal

· Education experience (e.g., paraprofessional, coaching), preferably in Middle Schools

· Bilingual skills, particularly Spanish and English, preferred

· Demonstrated ability to work with and motivate a wide variety of diverse groups, with a preference for candidates with lived experience in racially, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse urban and/or recent immigrant communities. 

· Attentive and active listening skills, organization, flexible thinking, attention to detail, ability to function well in a fast-paced environment and works well on a team

· Strong understanding of child development and family dynamics

· Ability to effectively interview, assess, and manage cases 

· Ability to build and foster collaborative relationships with school staff, Lead Mentor, families, and Littles based on positive youth development and volunteer satisfaction

· Ability to effectively assess and execute the following relational support skills: guiding, supporting, confronting, advising, and/or negotiating

· Ability to maintain positive and productive relationships with school personnel; ability to effectively and proactively communicate and collaborate with school and program staff

· Strong group facilitation and public speaking skills, specifically working with youth

· Ability to work autonomously with drive, enthusiasm, and flexibility to go along with a willingness to work as needed to accomplish job requirements

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM/Case Management packages required (Salesforce preferred)

· Flexible to accommodate job responsibilities (including ability to work evenings/weekends as required)

Work Environment: This position will be based out of an assigned school in the Philadelphia School District. Attendance at the BBBSI headquarters will be required when school is not in session and as needed. Regular hours will be Monday through Friday, aligning with the school hours.

Ability to commute to school site and BBBSI offices 5 days a week is required.

COVID-19 vaccinations or medical/religious exemptions are required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing work in a school and office environment and include the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: the ability to work independently; remain sedentary for extended periods of time (6+ hours per day); lift 10-15lbs; push, pull, bend kneel, as needed for normal operations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

BENEFITS 

BBBSI offers a robust benefits package including but not limited to paid vacation and PTO, 403(b) retirement plan, medical/dental/vision options, telemedicine, employee assistance program (EAP), life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent day care, commuter benefits-parking & transit). Please note that some of these offerings may require full-time employment. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

If interested, please apply with resume and cover letter.  Only those applicants believed to be viable candidates for this opportunity will be contacted. No phone calls or 3rd party solicitation please.

WHO SHOULD APPLY 

At BBBSI, we serve many youths annually in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey. Our aspiration is to develop an organization that reflects our constituent base. We embrace justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). We recognize, affirm, and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, lives, and experiences of all of our stakeholders, including youth, families, donors, volunteers, and staff. Candidates with lived experience similar to the youth in our programs are encouraged to apply. This relevant lived expertise is highly valued.

BBBSI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, first and second-generation immigrants, and people from low-income families, or any legally protected factor.  Please review our JEDI Intentionality Statement.