JOB TITLE: Program Specialist, E-Mentoring
REPORTS TO: Manager of Site-Based Facilitated Programs
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: No
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt, Salary
LOCATION: Hybrid with in-office requirement in Nashville, TN
BIGGER AND BETTER TOGETHER
About Us For over 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee has served young people in the Middle TN region. Our work supports our belief that every child has the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (Bigs) and youth (Littles). Through our commitment to quality, innovation, and the passion we have for our work, we develop and sustain positive, life-changing relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of our youth and the adults who mentor them.
Our Mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. As noted by our Vision, we are driven by a future in which all youth achieve their full potential.
WE ARE AN AGENCY THAT CELEBRATES DIFFERENCES
We show each other dignity through our partnerships, decisions, and language. We intentionally engage, represent, and partner with our diverse communities. We demonstrate our values by learning together with staff, board, volunteers, youth, families, and investors to think and act with sensitivity and intentionality. Driven by the voice of our stakeholders, our agency develops responsive and respectful programming and builds strategic and thoughtful alliances. We want people of all backgrounds to see themselves represented and included in our work, so we actively seek to diversify our team and bring more voices to the table.
WE PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF OUR TEAM
We know that teams perform at their highest when they feel supported and that they belong. Each of our team members brings unique perspectives and skills, and we are committed to building a culture where voices are heard, differences are celebrated, and everyone has the opportunity to do meaningful work. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN, you will be inspired by talented, passionate colleagues who will motivate you to do and be your best. We have built an environment focused on meaningful and supportive relationships. We see our team as more than just employees – we know and respect them as people.
We are honored to have been selected as one of the Nonprofit Time’s Best Nonprofits To Work For in 2024 and named a 2024 Inclusive Workplace by the Best Companies Group and COLOR Magazine. We are bigger and better together!
About the Role
Each employee at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee helps extend the agency’s mission in particular ways, as outlined in the position description. The essential functions of the position include but are not limited to the following:
Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks a Program Specialist who will thrive in a growing organization that is dedicated to positively impacting more youth through high quality, 1-to-1 mentoring. In this role, you will provide support and strengthen mentoring relationships between youth and positive adult mentors matched in our site-based program. This role will primarily work within our E-Mentoring program. E-Mentoring is a virtual mentoring program that gives Bigs the flexibility to mentor on their own time and build a connection with a teenager using technology as a shared space. This program strives to help high school students develop personal, academic and career skills. This program is a blend of virtual and in person mentoring. Your coaching and guidance will help empower and inspire youth to reach their full, inherent potential, especially youth of color who are disproportionately impacted by systemic barriers. Primary responsibilities will include providing support to new and existing BBBS matches to ensure child safety, positive outcomes for youth, healthy and satisfying relationships between children and volunteers, and a strong sense of affiliation with BBBS. Other responsibilities will include facilitating lessons to high school youth on life skills, college, and career readiness, the interviewing and assessment of volunteers and youth, facilitating the introduction of new mentoring relationships, and conducting orientation for new volunteers interested in the site-based program. As a member of the larger Site-Based team, this role will occasionally provide support to Sports Buddies and School-Based programming which may include occasional Sports Buddies Saturday activities as well as traditional school-based interviews and assessments.
Evening and some weekend hours are required.
Day to day:
- Manage a caseload of volunteer adults (Bigs) and youth (Littles) who have been paired in a mentoring relationship. Through regular support calls, continually assess the match relationship focusing on: child safety, match relationship development, positive youth development and volunteer and family satisfaction.
- Conduct in-person match introductions between the Little and Big in order to help facilitate early relationship development.
- Identify, address and resolve existing and/or potential match challenges through regular coaching conversations and in-person meetings.
- Provide on-going coaching, support and training to help develop and sustain lasting match relationships that have a positive impact on the youth served.
- Facilitate lessons to high school youth on life skills, college, and career readiness
- Assess volunteers and children for appropriate program participation by conducting initial and update interviews, orientations, and training. Obtain collateral material needed for assessment purposes, including criminal background checks and references.
- Complete timely and comprehensive written assessments and recommendations for participation in the program based upon assessments of each individual.
- Maintain up-to-date, accurate and detailed documentation and database records according to Big Brothers Big Sisters standards.
- Work schedule includes regular evening and some weekend hours to best meet the needs of our families and volunteers.
- Provide program participants with solution focused strategies, resources and training that will help to further support match participants.
- Participate in professional training as provided by the agency and the National office to achieve maximum development of professional skills when required.
- Perform other duties dependent on departmental needs throughout the year.
- Assist with agency priorities centered on resource development (relationships, resources, tools)
- Support and attend agency functions, both advancement-specific and broader agency events
