Job Description
Title: exalt Program Coordinator
Reports to: Director of Core Programs
Summary:
exalt youth is seeking a dynamic, passionate person to join our team. exalt elevates expectations of personal success for youth ages 15-19 who’ve been involved in the criminal justice system. We inspire youth at a critical crossroads to believe in their worth, from the first steps in contemplation through the journey to create lasting behavioral change. Our powerful combination of structured classes for tangible skill development, individualized support to navigate the education and justice systems, placement in paid internships and an alumni network of resources equips youth with the tools and experience to avoid further criminal justice system involvement. At exalt, we empower youth to see a future filled with hope – and we provide the road map to get there.
The Program Coordinator (PC) is an analyst and a strategic and critical thinker who is passionate about permanently moving young people’s trajectories away from systems of incarceration and court-involvement. The PC manages young peoples’ entire process through their experience with exalt, from initially assessing them in the interview phase, to meeting with them individually throughout all phases of the program to help them set and meet goals, monitoring and supporting them in internships, and collaborating with additional resources and institutions in their lives such as external stakeholders, schools and criminal justice constituents. This individual will build and manage, along with various assigned Lead Teachers, 3 cycles per year. They will be expected to be flexible to meet expectations to come into the office for in-person operations to our office and classroom space in downtown Manhattan, as well as work remotely through our virtual model, as needed.
Responsibilities
- Interview, assess and select youth referred to exalt through candidate assessment interviews and a range of additional base-line assessments.
- Build (perform initial outreach, interviews, pre assessments and screens) as well as manage 3 cycles per fiscal year.
- Observe, assess and develop growth plans based on participants’ participation, development, strengths and challenges in exalt classes.
- Work with the Court Liaison team to screen participants who are eligible for ATI contract services.
- Collaborate with classroom teachers to develop strategies for participants to increase participation, maximize learning, and connect classroom learning to key outcome areas including avoidance of further criminal justice system involvement, increased persistence/investment in school, and long term employability.
- Meet with assigned teacher weekly for the duration of the cycle to discuss individual student progress and overall cycle health.
- Meet individually with participants throughout the duration of the program to assess their progress and support them in meeting program goals; track goals and progress through Individualized Personal Plans (IPPs).
- Devise strategies to address the diverse needs of students at risk of program incompletion.
- Support young people with school re-enrollment, transfer and to set and make progress on educational goals.
- Maintain timely and professional communication with a diverse range of external constituents including lawyers, probation officers, judges, other nonprofit staff, ensuring information is effectively conveyed regarding youth served.
- Conduct regular outreach to internship sites throughout duration of internships through regular site visits, phone calls to support youth and employers.
- Assist in developing internships throughout New York City in a wide range of employment sectors to meet youths’ various interests, experience and skill levels.
- Develop and connect participants to external resources beyond exalt’s scope to provide holistic support.
- Work closely with Managers, Directors, Teachers and other staff to collaboratively and continuously advance young people so they can attain and exceed their goals and to meet youth and employer needs and interests.
- Program Coordinators will work collaboratively with Teachers in assigned cycle to ensure 70% student retention rate per cycle.
Competencies
- Demonstrated ability to work one-on-one and in a classroom setting with high school age youth typically resistant to educational settings. Must balance clear structure, accountability and discipline with engaging discussion and facilitation style to motivate participants towards high participation and commitment to program goals.
- Adaptability: Able to adapt quickly to new information and unexpected obstacles. Approaches change positively. Is able to adapt approach to specific needs, learning styles and personalities of each student.
- Applied learning: Able to learn and apply new position-related information quickly i.e. all exalt youth interface with the juvenile or criminal (adult) justice systems. Program Coordinator must become familiar with these systems to understand their role in students’ lives and meaning in our curriculum.
- Cultural competence: has strong familiarity with and understanding of exalt students’ histories, cultures and the socio-economic and political factors which have shaped those, and can use culturally relevant and contextualized lessons in one-on-one discussions and groups. Program cohorts are typically comprised of 80% Black American and Caribbean youth and 20% Latino youth.
- Communication: Clearly and effectively conveys and receives information and ideas. Demonstrates strong written, oral and listening skills.
- Planning and Organizing: Organizes work, sets priorities, determines resources requirements and seeks input and support from supervisors/colleagues; determines necessary sequence of activities needed to achieve goals.