JOB TITLE: Program Specialist
REPORTS TO: Manager of Community-Based Programs
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: No
FLSA STATUS: Salary, Exempt
LOCATION: Hybrid with on-site 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.
WHAT DRIVES US
Our mission is fueled by the values that guide our work every day – relationships, ownership, and evolution. We build strong, trusted relationships that allow us to make a greater impact in our community. We take ownership of our commitments, striving for excellence and continuous improvement. We embrace evolution, approaching challenges with curiosity, optimism, and a solutions-focused mindset. Together, these values shape our culture, drive our success, and ensure we deliver on our vision for the youth we serve.
WE PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF OUR TEAM
We know 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, relationships are valued, and everyone has the opportunity to do meaningful work. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN, you will be inspired by talented, dedicated colleagues who will inspire you to do and be your best. We have created an environment centered on meaningful and supportive connections, where team members are seen and respected not just as employees, but as people.
We are honored to have been selected as one of the Best Company Groups Best Nonprofit Workplaces in 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as being 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 enroll volunteers and youth, connect them, and support positive mentoring relationships between them. 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. This staff member is primarily responsible for screening, interviewing, assessing, and matching volunteers, parents & children, but will also be cross-trained to provide 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.
Our ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, be organized, be able to provide a positive customer experience, be able to multi-task, and have a passion for improving the lives of young people and our underrepresented youth. This team member will be passionate about and able to engage mentors and community partners from diverse communities, especially within communities of color. Evening and some weekend hours are required. People from the communities we serve are especially encouraged to apply. Beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, we expect team members to demonstrate a commitment to excellence and consistently reflect our agency’s values in how they show up, collaborate, and make decisions.
Day-to-day:
- Temporary Duties During Team Transition:
- Oversee interim family enrollment responsibilities, including:
- Guide prospective families through the intake and onboarding process, including eligibility screening, orientation scheduling, and enrollment interviews
- Ensure families complete required parent safety training, Your Child’s Personal Safety, prior to enrollment in the Community Based Program
- Maintain accurate enrollment records and complete six month and annual updates for families waiting to be matched, ensuring compliance with Big Brothers Big Sisters standards
- Ongoing responsibilities include:
- Assess and onboard volunteers, youth, and families for program participation through interviews, background screening, and eligibility review, providing thoughtful recommendations for enrollment and match readiness
- Create and support strong mentoring relationships by making informed match decisions, coordinating match introductions, and guiding participants through the early stages of relationship development
- Manage and support a caseload of Bigs, Littles, and families by monitoring match progress, ensuring child safety, and providing coaching, resources, and problem-solving support to strengthen relationships
- Maintain accurate documentation and program records in accordance with Big Brothers Big Sisters standards and ensure timely completion of required updates and reporting
- Contribute to overall program success by participating in professional development, supporting agency events, and assisting with additional program functions as needed
- Organizational Alignment
- Demonstrate agency values (Relationships, Ownership, Evolution) in your actions, decisions, and interactions
- Assist with agency priorities centered on resource development (relationships, resources, tools)
- Support and attend agency functions, both advancement-specific and broader agency events
- Work Environment & Requirements
- Hybrid work model with a minimum of 3 days per week on-site.
- Regular travel within our 8-county service area (valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required), mileage is reimbursed.
- 2 evenings per week and 1 Saturday per month is required to meet the needs of volunteers and youth
Benefits
Because we hire the best people and value our staff, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN works hard to provide competitive benefits to our team. Our comprehensive benefits package, which helps to support a healthy work/life balance, includes:
- 20 days of paid time off
- 16 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Years
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) – a generous portion is paid by BBBSMT
- Company Paid Text Care Concierge Medicine, providing our team and family members free 24/7 text communication and care with medical providers
- Parental Leave Benefits
- Domestic Partner Benefits
- Company Paid Life Insurance
- Company Paid Short and Long Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- Immediate enrollment in our 403B – We match 50% of employee contributions up to 6% and staff are vested after 12 months of employment
- Training & development programs
- Opportunities for advancement- we promote from within!
- Monthly cell phone stipend
- Flexible work schedule with a hybrid work environment with 3 days on-site (schools, community, office, external meeting space)
- Professional resume, LinkedIn profile, and headshot
Americans with Disabilities Act
We are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive workplace. Consistent with the ADA, we provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodations to perform the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to let us know so we can ensure you have what you need to succeed.
Job Responsibilities
The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities, and competencies necessary to perform the job’s essential duties and responsibilities. They should not be regarded as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. BBBSMT may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the organization’s needs.
To see more of the impact we are making: http://www.mentorakid.org