JOB CLASSIFICATION: Full-time exempt

REPORTS TO: Associate Director, Mentoring Grants and Community Engagement 

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The Governor's Prevention Partnership (The Partnership) actively supports Connecticut's youth by focusing on preventing underage drinking and substance misuse. As the Connecticut affiliate of MENTOR, the organization plays a pivotal role in supporting youth mentoring initiatives across Connecticut. The Partnership works collaboratively with businesses, community groups, educators, and families to create safe and supportive environments for young people. Their approach is about bringing everyone together to share knowledge and resources, making sure that young people have the guidance and support they need to make healthy choices and build a promising future.

At The Partnership, we are deeply committed to our core values that prioritize the success of Connecticut’s youth and ensure that our efforts effectively meet the needs of the communities we champion and serve. We stand firm in our commitment to provide inclusive and comprehensive support that guides young people toward a positive and healthy future. Our core values are the foundation of our strategic approach, influencing every decision and action we undertake in our mission to support Connecticut's youth.

SUMMARY

The Project Manager for Mentoring and Prevention Program Providers will join a team of passionate professionals. This position is tailored for a proactive and skilled professional focused on enhancing the effectiveness of program implementation and the capacity of partner organizations. The primary focus of the position will be to oversee The Partnership’s contract(s) with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and to serve youth with effective mentoring services. They will manage all aspects of fiduciary relationships with contracting agencies in developing, managing, and facilitating training and technical assistance while also building relationships with local organizations providing services for the grant(s); they will spend up to 50% of the time in the field, on-site with local mentoring and prevention programs, to develop and strengthen program practices and to ensure that all deliverables and outcomes are met. The manager is expected to participate in continuous professional development and the management and implementation of specialized projects centered around grant-focused objectives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Subcontractor Management, Budgeting, and Reporting – Works with mentoring and prevention providers and sub-awardees to build and monitor program activities, schedules, outcomes, budgets, data collection, and reporting

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the funding agency
• Manage fiduciary responsibilities such as invoicing and cost reimbursement for matches
• Ensure mentor/mentee match and retention rates are on target and maintain systems of internal controls and compliance
• Plan and conduct site visits to help assure positive youth outcomes
• Assist funded mentoring programs to identify and assess resource for program implementation and improvement
• Ensure accurate and timely reports to primary and secondary funders and other stakeholders as needed
• Assess and advise on use of Innovative Mentoring Software (IMS) as a database (case management) tool for mentoring program providers

Build and maintain positive professional relationships with OJJDP, sub-awardees, and other partners

• Create and Sustain partnerships that support mentoring programs in the targeted schools and communities
• Facilitate state/regional mentoring network meetings to ensure high -impact mentoring opportunities for youth, peer coaching, and exchange of materials, tools, and resources
• Coordinate access to prevention and wrap-around services in targeted communities
• Conduct asset and resource mapping within targeted communities

Develop and implement methodologies, resources, and training programs

• Develop and implement training on appropriate mentoring quality standards and youth development to support and guide youth practitioners, referral sources, and to engage families
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the newest research, trends, policies and emerging issues
• Track progress of work plans and timelines to meet deliverables using organizational systems and tools
• Develop and disseminate tools and resources and link programs to state and national resources
• Deliver technical assistance, training, and materials for mentoring programs and mentors that address the needs of special youth populations
• Update and maintain training materials in collaboration with team members
• Facilitate training schedules, communications, and coordination of training, registration and evaluation
• Utilize training evaluation questionnaires and follow-up measures to assess capacity and performance. 

State and Local Outreach, Partnership Development, and Mentor Recruitment

• Ensure “on the ground” relationships with constituents including key stakeholders involved in mentoring in state agencies and communities, etc. to ensure quick mobilization for grant submissions
• Increase awareness of the value of quality standards and correlation to positive youth outcomes
• Support leveraging opportunities to develop advanced trainings and services provided to youth practitioners through National partnerships
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

1.Broad knowledge and experience in mentoring, prevention, public health, and/or youth development and programming and the development and administration of ongoing program quality improvement.

2.Identifies all required components to achieve goals, objectives or results.

3.Capable of changing or adjusting to meet particular or varied needs.

4.Respects team members and their individual perspectives.

5.Makes team objectives a priority.

6.Works toward consensus when team decisions are required.

7.Strong knowledge of the nonprofit and business environment.

8.Demonstrated ability to oversee and manage multiple projects simultaneously and provide expertise and guidance in a timely fashion.

9.Proactive, self-starting, and strong attention to detail, ability to follow through on multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

10.Demonstrated ability to manage a team, contractors, or sub-awardees.

11.Proficiency in data management and technology applications.

12.Knowledge working with grants and associated software such as IMS, Monday.com, or JustGrants.

13.Adaptability to technology including new software and virtual meeting tools.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

1.Education: Master’s degree in education, social work, public health, or related field or equivalent professional experience.

2.PMP certification a plus

3.Five+ years’ experience in youth prevention services, youth development, community-based mentoring experience, and with collective impact groups or coalitions.

4.Ability to work and connect with communities, people, and partners and a commitment to promoting inclusion in all practices and efforts. 

5.Ability to plan, organize, and think strategically.

6.Strong written and verbal communication and public presentation skills.

7.Ability to work and communicate effectively in a team environment with practitioners, community stakeholders, and volunteer.

8.Strong proficiency in data management and technology applications such as IMS, Monday.com, Microsoft, SPSS, Learning management systems, etc.

9.Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to programs across the state for training and technical assistance.

10.Experience managing projects and processes to ensure that high-quality deliverables are produced on time. Experience coordinating across teams and deliverables

11.Must be available to travel and attend meetings, conferences, and other events during normal business hours, and occasionally during evening and weekend hours.

TRAVEL 

This position requires travel within CT. Up to 50% of time spent is in the field, including remote and in-person. 

WORK CONTEXT

The work environment is hybrid. Must be available to travel and attend meetings, conferences, and other events during normal business hours, and occasionally during evening and weekend hours. The workweek is 37.5 hours with additional hours as projects, clients, and/or situations require. During the first 30 days, team member will be required to be in office 4 days each week.

The job requires the use of electronic mail, reading and writing letters, memos, and other correspondence, and requires telephone and face-to-face conversations with external customers and other constituents both individually and in groups. The job requires meeting strict deadlines and being highly accurate. The job offers opportunities to make decisions without supervision and the flexibility to determine tasks, priorities, and goals. The job includes responsibility for work outcomes and results. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The job requires sitting/standing and utilizing a computer on a daily basis and using other office equipment such as copier/printer, scanner on an as-needed basis. The job requires occasionally lifting up to twenty pounds to transport materials to and from meetings, events, and trainings. The work environment is such that deadlines may fluctuate in accordance with project needs or constraints.