Professional Mentor, K- 5 & Teen

Friends of the Children – Seattle (Friends-Seattle)

Seattle, WA

• This position requires a vehicle and valid driver's license and active insurance coverage.

Friends of the Children’s mission is bold: Impacting generational change by empowering youth who are facing systemic barriers through relationships with professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what. Friends of the Children is a nationally recognized dynamic mentoring organization. To learn more, go to friendsseattle.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Professional Mentor, Teen is a role model for Friends. This non-exempt full-time salaried position that reports to the Program Manager –Teen (PM-Teen) and is part of the Teen team. This position provides support to youth in 6th-12th grade to be an ear, friend, guide, and role model. A Professional Mentor is a positive influence that will nurture and promote the strengths, talents, and abilities of our youth. This person will help youth navigate trauma through a social emotional lens.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Program Execution

• Manage a case load of 8-10 youth ranging between 6th grade 12th grade.
• Schedule and meet with each youth for a minimum of 4 hours per week to review their caseload
• Keep consistent contact with youth’s teachers and caregivers and to monitor each youth’s academic progress
• Provide support and resources, and monitor and guide the youth and family/caregivers they work with to help foster positive skill growth
• Participate on various committees and provide input to help improve the organization
• Actively support school contacts and monitor/support children’s school performance (course performance, attendance, and behavior)
• Seek assistance for students when at risk of falling behind, including meeting with appropriate staff to develop a school success plan, seeking tutoring, or other educational support
• Act as a resource for youth by providing support, guidance, direction and resourceful solutions to concerns and challenges
• Demonstrate compliance with and accountability to the organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook
• Demonstrate support of organizational decisions in a constructive and effective manner
• Accountable for work performance: adequacy of time spent with children, intentional planning, quality and diversity of activities with children to build Core Assets and reach Roadmap Goals
• Create a safe and comfortable environment so youth feel respected, listened to, and encouraged to discuss goals, concerns, or any other issues
• Stay informed about research and best practices in youth development and educational attainment
• Participate actively in coordinating, planning, and conducting outings with youth
• Actively build positive relationships between youth’s families and our organization, and to support families’ involvement in their children’s activities and learning

Cross Team Collaboration

• Partner with PM-Teen to develop and execute annual work plan with support of the teen team for performance management and professional development.
• Prioritize professional development workshops/trainings and committees.
• Contribute toward occasional fundraising activities as assigned
• Communicate organizational information or issues to team
• Demonstrate support of organizational decisions in a constructive and effective manner.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement and development of systems to track progress towards key goals
• Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events and opportunities relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural humility
• Contribute toward a positive, inclusive work environment, and participate actively in staff meetings and events, as required

Required Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience strongly preferred
• 1-2 years of professional experience in working with non-profit youth development programming
• Deep understanding of the issues faced by our youth in programming
• Ability to use creativity and initiative to plan activities that continually develop children
• Ability to work as a team player
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite
• Strong commitment and understanding of Friend-Seattle’s mission and core values
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task in a well-organized attention to detail manner
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to move self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments, including but not limited to, tight and confined spaces
• Adjusting or moving objects up to 20 pounds in all directions
• Ability to work in all different environmental conditions indoors and outdoors
• Ability to prioritize work and adapt to shifting demands and work situations, meet deadlines; maintain regular communication with supervisor regarding work plans, and proactively seek guidance regarding priorities and timelines
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-oppression
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, use good judgment, and follow procedures
• Must hold a valid driver’s license

Preferred Experience & Skills:

• Advanced training and/or experience with childcare or social emotional learning
• Strong knowledge and network from King County area
• Knowledge of fundraising and events
• Database experience
• Experience working with youth and families from marginalized communities
• Deep understanding of cultural humility

Occasional lifting of up to 25lbs may be required. Work hours vary but are generally 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, however, must be available to work occasionally on evenings or weekends.

Employment contingent on successful background check