Job Opening: Program Director 

Start Date:                  Immediate (flexible depending on current obligations)

 

Employment Type:     Full Time -
Minimum of 40 hours per week required. (Weekly
hours subject to flexibility based on program needs.)

 

Position Reports
to:    Executive Director

 

Summary

 

The “I Have A Dream” Foundation-New
York, which empowers children in low-income communities to achieve higher
education through guaranteed tuition support and a long-term program of
academic and social services, is seeking a Program Director to work with up to
approximately 40 students to maximize their success in school and ensure they
gain access to college. These students, called ‘Dreamers’, are currently in the
8^th, 9^th & 10^th grades, and predominantly
live in the DeHostos-Wise public housing complex on Manhattan’s Upper West Side
(W 93^rd St).

 

The Program Director plays a key role in
the academic success and overall development of the Dreamer class. The Program
Director will lead a team of volunteers and other program staff to maximize
their impact on student achievement with the overarching goal of college
enrollment for all Dreamers.

 

The “I Have A Dream” Foundation-New York seeks
individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply for the position.

 

Responsibilities

 

The Program
Director will be responsible for developing and implementing a long-term
program for up to approximately 40 Dreamers, currently in the 8^th, 9^th
& 10^th grades, focusing
on high school graduation, with the ultimate goal of ensuring
these students enroll in higher education and succeed in college and beyond.

 

Specific
responsibilities include:

 

• Building a
  culture of college and investing students and families in the goal of
  higher education;
• Developing
  strong relationships with Dreamers and their families through individual
  and group interactions, and working closely with them to maximize Dreamer
  success;

• Developing
  ambitious goals for Dreamers' academic achievement, utilizing appropriate
  diagnostic and assessment tools to track Dreamers’ progress towards these
  goals, and implementing strategies to meet individual academic needs and ensure
  Dreamers are on track to attend college;
• Designing
  and implementing an exciting and challenging curriculum that meets or exceeds New York State education standards; Creating
  and maintaining a program of after-school, weekend, and summer activities aimed
  at meeting Dreamers’ academic and social needs;

• Working
  closely with school officials (i.e. principals, teachers, guidance counselors)
  to review academic performance and attendance records of Dreamers, ensure
  Dreamers have the necessary academic and social support, and ensure Dreamers
  and their parents can effectively navigate the school system and can access the
  resources they need;
• Developing
  and maintaining relationships with program Sponsors, and fostering direct
  relationships between Dreamers and program Sponsors.
• Recruiting,
  supervising, and supporting the activities of program staff, volunteers,
  interns, and tutors; and
• Conducting
  outreach and accessing community resources (e.g., other nonprofits, local
  schools, colleges and universities, public agencies, local businesses) to
  support Dreamers on their pathway to college.

 

Competencies

 

The ideal candidate:

 

• Will
  commit to the position for the duration of the program, at least 5 years,
  until the youngest Dreamers have graduated from high school.

• Holds
  high expectations for all our students, believes that all students can
  succeed in college and beyond, and has firsthand experience helping
  students in low-income communities achieve at high levels despite the
  challenges;
• Is
  goal-oriented and operates with a high level of urgency and personal
  responsibility for achieving ambitious outcomes;
• Has
  strong strategic thinking, problem solving, and implementation skills;
• Can
  prioritize effectively and is organized and efficient;
• Has
  strong communications, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills;
  and
• Thrives
  in an achievement-oriented, entrepreneurial, and fast-paced environment.

 

Education
and Experience

 

• Bachelor’s
  degree required; Master’s degree a plus
• Education
  background required, ideally experience teaching in a public school and
  working with students in low-income communities
• Experience working with high school students and/or
  assisting students with college preparation process a plus
• Social work
  experience/background/education a plus
• Proficiency
  in Spanish ideal

 

Compensation:           Highly Competitive

 

To Apply:                    Send Cover
Letter & Resume to:  jobs@ihaveadreamfoundation-ny.org

                                    (No calls
please.)

 

For more info about the “I Have A Dream” Foundation
- NY please visit:

http://www.ihaveadreamfoundation-ny.org