Stamford Cradle to Career
College and Career Readiness Manager – Full Time
United Way of Western CT is seeking a candidate to fill the position of Stamford Cradle to Career
College and Career Readiness Manager. This is a full-time exempt position (37.5 hours per week) based in our Stamford, CT office - currently taking place on a hybrid schedule.
GENERAL STATEMENT
The Stamford Cradle to Career (SC2C) College and Career Readiness Manager will report directly to the Vice President of Strategy and Operations.
The College and Career Readiness Manager will play an integral role on the Stamford Cradle to Career (SC2C) backbone team reporting to the Vice President of Strategy and Operations. SC2C (www.stamfordcradletocareer.org) is a collective impact organization with the mission to collectively align community resources to ensure equity and excellence in education, for every child, from cradle to career. Our goal is that all students in Stamford, CT, have the access and support they need to graduate high school and be prepared for college and career. SC2C works closely with Stamford Public Schools and community organizations to coordinate efforts. SC2C is dedicated to eliminating racial inequality in education and creating opportunities for children and youth to succeed. All staff must possess an ability to work with multicultural communities.
Three specific goals for this position are:
Lead and revise as needed our Youth Leadership Internship. A key goal of SC2C is to partner with students and parents. This role will lead the work with our five Youth Leadership Interns, manage the annual process to recruit and hire new interns, revise our Youth Engagement Framework as needed, and coordinate the process and structure to ensure youth are involved in SC2C’s planning and decision making.
Manage ongoing implementation of Bridge to College (B2C). B2C is a summer program which supports high school graduates with the transition from high school to college. This includes leading the Bridge to College workgroup annual planning, working closely with partner Stamford Public Education Foundation to hire and onboard summer counselors, managing the Signal Vine text messaging platform, planning the Keys to Success summer workshops, and coordinating program implementation and data tracking along with SC2C’s Data Manager, Stamford Public Schools, and Norwalk Community College.
Manage ongoing implementation of Skill Building for Success (SBFS). SBFS is a multi-pronged approach to helping youth gain the eight essential skills needed for success in college and careers. This includes leading the SBFS workgroup, reviewing and updating resources and communications materials as needed, and training and supporting organization staff and youth to use the SBFS resources.
The CCR Manager will accomplish these and other goals by coordinating SC2C’s Transition to Post-secondary, College and Career Community Action Network (Transition CAN). The Transition CAN is a group of approximately 20 members that meet monthly to discuss, share and guide Stamford’s college and readiness work. Members include youth serving non-profit staff, Stamford Public Schools staff, local college staff, community members, and youth. The CCR will facilitate meetings and work closely with partnership members and various local and statewide college and career readiness focused groups and resources. The role includes revisiting needs and goals of the CAN and adjusting the focus as needed to best meet the needs of youth and young adults in Stamford.
Essential Functions
Collaborate with CAN tri-chairs to plan and facilitate monthly Transition to Post-secondary, College and Career Community Action Network meetings. This includes developing meeting agendas, writing up meeting minutes, and following up to ensure next steps are implemented before next meeting. Follow up will include managing smaller work group meetings to work through specific steps for each initiative, including the Bridge to College Program, Skill Building for Success (developing non-academic essential skills that youth need to be successful in college and career), and supporting city-wide FAFSA completion.
Lead SC2C’s youth engagement work including the Youth Leadership Internship, incorporating youth voice into the Transition CAN and SC2C’s overall planning and decision making, and coordinating/aligning other youth internship and engagement opportunities.
Manage the ongoing implementation of Bridge to College.
Manage the ongoing implementation of Skill Building for Success.
Manage and cultivate relationships with members of the Transition CAN, including recruiting new members and chairs as needed, to ensure effective representation.
Work closely with SC2C’s Data Manager and Vice President for Strategy and Operations to establish quantitative and qualitative success metrics aligned to the goals in the Position Summary. Collect and analyze data to learn and make improvements to initiatives through a continuous learning process.
Research and participate in local and statewide youth and college and career readiness related groups including but not limited to: Focus on Youth/LIST, CT Governor’s Workforce Council, MYLC (Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council).
Job Expectations
Expected to successfully complete the goals and essential functions outlined above.
Communicate concisely, respectfully, and professionally with co-workers, community partners, community members, youth, and funders.
Co-facilitate monthly Transition CAN meetings and completed identified follow up work.
Participate in SC2C staff meetings and support SC2C community wide work, including attending events.
Participate in United Way of Western CT staff meetings and trainings.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s Degree or Associates Degree and equivalent work experience.
Experience working with high school and/or college aged youth. Some experience in working with middle-school kids a plus.
Bi-lingual (English and Spanish or Haitian Creole) strongly preferred.
Candidates must understand the challenges and barriers faced by marginalized communities, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, class, ability, immigration status, gender and their intersections, and have experience engaging with and working alongside communities of color.
Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
Data entry, collection, quantitative analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Strong results-orientation to achieve or exceed performance metrics.
Project management and organization skills, including ability to meet deadlines.
Demonstrated attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal and communications skills.
Availability to work flexible hours to include evening and weekends.
Self-starter who takes initiative to learn and make connections with new resources and ideas.
Team player willing to support team members and team goals.
Resume, cover letter and salary requirements should be submitted to: Lauren.Scopaz-Daunais@uwwesternct.org.
Statements in this Job posting are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.
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