Careers

Friends of the Children-New York is a chapter of a nationwide organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring. We select children facing multiple systemic obstacles from Harlem and the South Bronx and commit to working with those children from kindergarten to graduation - 12+ years, no matter what.

Basic Function / Position Objective:

The Program Manager is responsible for supervising, guiding and supporting a roster of 7-9 Friends. The Program Manager is a role model and mentor for Friends, acts as a team facilitator and organizational motivator, and facilitates effective communication in all directions. The Program Manager is responsible for supporting the development, onboarding and supervision of the Friends on their team, as well as supporting the onboarding and training of all New Friends. Program Managers will also be an integral contributor to helping to design new programmatic elements and initiatives to help scale the Program Department. In addition, Program Managers are responsible for referring and connecting all families on team roster to support resources and external opportunities when necessary. A Program Manager must know, understand, honor and support the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles, be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function, and must have a demonstrated desire to participate in the management of the organization.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Develop and sustain honest and trusting relationships with colleagues, and inspire and motivate team members. Serve as a role model both for effective Friend/child relationships and as a professional. Act as a resource for Friends by providing support, guidance, direction and resourceful solutions to concerns and challenges.
• Ensure compliance with and accountability to the organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook. Contribute to the development of any of these as required. Demonstrate support of organizational decisions in a constructive and effective manner.
• Responsible for managing the performance of Friends on team, including completing and conducting annual appraisals. Hold Friends accountable for work performance: adequacy of time spent with children, quality, intentionality and diversity of activities with children, and administrative responsibilities. Have continuing performance discussions to provide feedback and to ensure that goals and objectives are being fulfilled. Provide continuous constructive feedback and coaching as necessary, and work with HR and the Program Leadership Team to resolve issues as needed. Manage any required performance improvement activities.
• Know and understand the needs and issues of each youth and family served by Friends on assigned team. Meet with each team member one-on-one 2X a month, and review Roadmaps, Vacation Plans, Extended Leave Plans, and Transition Plans, as necessary. Develop knowledge of academic performance for each child, and assist in setting realistic goals for the children. Assure that each Friend has helped develop a specific area of interest or talent for each child.
• Submit monthly Achiever Progress Reports (APR) detailing the progress and development of every Achiever on Team
• Lead and facilitate effective, bi weekly Team Meetings ensuring focus on child and Friend successes, setbacks, issues, concerns and ideas. Create a safe and comfortable team environment so Friends feel supported and open to discuss child and work issues. Also must ensure focus on the communication of organizational information or issues to team, and to solicit feedback from team.
• Support Program 2GEN Model of Service by referring and connecting youth and families to external supports and resources when necessary
• Actively participate on the PLT and provide insight, input and solutions to programmatic and organizational issues and challenges.
• Communicate effectively and appropriately in all directions regarding organizational issues, concerns, policies and procedures. Raise and resolve issues appropriately. Advocate for Friends, representing the best interests of your team, youth, families, and organization, and doing so in an appropriate and timely manner. Understand, implement and support organizational policies and procedures.
• Solicit and obtain feedback from all parents on team roster monthly.
• Design and lead New Program Initiatives to help facilitate growth of Program Services
• Support with Program and Organizational Projects, when necessary.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Development Department to help highlight work of Program Department and with expansion of Organizational Brand.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, and help others do the same;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation and follow-up skills.
• Effective, appropriate and professional supervisory and leadership skills and behaviors;
• Demonstrated ability to influence the behavior of others to achieve necessary results;
• In depth understanding of the role of a Friend, as well as of the issues faced by our Program children.
• Ability to relate to peers, subordinates, and other members of the management team, and to develop and sustain trusting, supportive relationships with them;
• Ability to use creativity and initiative in guiding others to plan activities that continually develop children
• Ability to work as a team player, as well as the ability to lead a team
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively exercising appropriate discretion and judgment, and ability to manage others in doing the same
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment related to maintaining confidentiality and communicating appropriately within the workplace, and to hold others accountable for the same
• Ability to assist others in setting goals and developing plans to meet those goals to ensure the development of each child
• Ability to hold others accountable in all aspects of required performance, including completing administrative tasks accurately and on time
• Ability to cultivate relationships with children, families, school personnel, organizational supporters and community partners
• Proficient computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Outlook and ETO or other database applications
• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress, and to develop others to do the same.

Required Education, Experience, and Abilities:

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree strongly preferred
• Minimum 4 years of prior supervisory experience OR 4 Years as a Friend

To ensure the continued safety of our staff and family, proof of vaccination will be required upon hire.

Friends of the Children - New York (Friends NY) is looking for a passionate, committed, professional mentor, who we call Friends, to join our family. Friends NY is a chapter of a nationwide organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring. We select children facing multiple systemic obstacles from Harlem and the South Bronx and commit to working with those children from kindergarten to graduation - 12+ years, no matter what.

Basic Function:

A Friend works intensively with eight vulnerable youth. We are currently seeking a mentor for our Childhood program (Kindergarten to 5^th Grade) to serve as a positive adult role model to eight elementary children and develop loving, caring, and sustained relationships with each child. For each child, a Friend will set positive expectations; nurture and promote each child’s strength, talents, and abilities; help ensure physical and emotional well-being; teach life and academic skills; provide enrichment activities; and model responsible behavior. A Friend will fully document activities and participate in the ongoing evaluation process. Friends will work primarily one-on-one with their children. A Friend must know, understand, honor, and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles, and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop and sustain a long-term, caring, protective, and loving relationship with each child
• Spend time with children, one-on-one
• Set realistic expectations and goals based on each child’s strengths, talents, abilities, and needs
• Teach life skills and help develop a talent/skill/area of interest with each child
• Provide enrichment resources and activities that include opportunities for cultural awareness
• Develop positive relationships with families, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life
• Reinforce basic academic skills
• Maintain a 40-hour work schedule that includes afternoons, evenings, and weekends (normal working days are Tuesday through Saturday with Sundays and Mondays off)
• Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines
• Complete, distribute, and collect time summaries, activity journals, short-term plans, expense reports, and evaluations materials accurately and in a timely manner
• Attend and actively participate in team meeting and staff functions
• Maintain First Aid/CPR certification
• Provide information and support to the development and executive team on related activities
• Fulfill other responsibilities as requested

Additional Qualifications:

• Two-year experience working with children a plus
• Willingness to commit for a minimum of three years
• Advocate to secure additional resources, opportunities, and services for youth as appropriate
• Assist with systems navigation in NYC schools to secure conditions for optimal academic success
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with children in varied capacities and settings
• Ability to develop trusting relationships
• Ability to work independently and as a team player
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• A sense of humor is a plus

Salary

$45,000

BENEFITS

Comprehensive

LEVEL OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

English (Bi-lingual Spanish/English a plus)

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED:

High School Diploma