Senior Manager, Mentor Programs

Title: Senior Manager, Mentor Programs 

Department: SEO High School Scholars, New York 

Report to: Associate Director, Scholar Support & Partnerships 

Compensation: $70,500 - $83,000 

FLSA: Exempt 

Employee Type: Full-Time, Regular 

Location: New York, NY 

Work Arrangement: Hybrid - 3 days/week in the SEO office at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005 or at Long Island University and Baurch College (subject to change); in-person attendance required for all Saturday programming at LIU and Baruch 

Schedule: The typical weekly schedule is: 

• For Fall/Spring Term: Tuesday through Saturday; Monday through Friday; and For Summer Term: Monday through Friday 

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Senior Manager, Mentor Programs leads the strategic and day-to-day operations of our mentorship program, a key element of the Scholars program. Our Mentorship Program matches 10th grade scholars with local professionals across many industries who volunteer to provide guidance and support as scholars begin to explore colleges and careers. This role will maintain communications, systems and processes that support 10th grade scholars along their journey through college and career and plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of program components, and supporting scholars, mentors, and volunteer partners.  

Mentor Recruitment & Selection 

• Lead mentor recruitment strategy, including identifying new partnerships, alumni and affinity networks, and platforms to promote the mentorship program. 
• Oversee corporate partnerships to source employee volunteers as mentors via attending city-wide events, hosting informational sessions and conducting outreach. 
• Manage annual mentor selection and matching process via interviews and surveys to ensure strong relationships for mentees and mentors.  
• Develop and refines orientation materials for mentors and facilitates mentor training sessions. 
• Ensure all mentors are in compliance with SEO, state-wide, and federal policies for working with minors including background checks and fingerprinting. 
• Partner with grade-level Program Managers to match scholars with mentors based on shared experiences and goals. 

Program Management 

• Co-manage one full-time staff member shared across two Scholar programs by conducting 1:1 check-ins to ensure initiatives are on track, and providing ongoing coaching and professional development. 
• Serve as the primary contact person for mentors by proactively communicating announcements and updates, and fielding questions as needed. 
• Act as relationship manager to half of 10th grade cohort pairs to track engagement, log concerns or safety notes, and intervene as necessary. 
• Coordinate internally with SEO Curriculum & Instruction, Operations and program teams to successfully plan and implement mentoring sessions on Saturdays and serves as the on-site lead. 
• Adapt curriculum and lesson plans as needed to ensure relevance and respond to scholar and mentor feedback from mid- and end-of-year surveys. 
• Ensure a smooth leadership transition of the Scholars Mentor Council annually, and collaborate with them to create a supportive and engaging community for all SEO Scholars volunteers. 
• Oversee volunteer initiatives throughout the high school program such as one-off partner engagements, networking events and career panels. 

Systems & Evaluation 

• Conduct and review mid-year and end-year surveys to ensure programming meets evolving scholar needs, and supports volunteer retention. 
• Audit communications between volunteers and scholars to ensure compliance with all applicable laws regarding working with minors.  
• Maintain scholar and volunteer records in Salesforce and Together Platform used for mentor program; Serve as main liaison with Together Platform. 
• Survey partners to align expectations and adjust programming when needed to ensure longevity of partnerships. Perform other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree required. 
• 3+ years overseeing youth-facing mentoring or employee volunteer programs, and working with large groups of high school students. 
• 2+ years of experience successfully managing staff. 

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Able to clearly and effectively present content in a public forum, engage in active listening, and command the attention of large groups. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Must be practiced in building professional relationships and delivering constructive, honest and productive feedback to scholars and family members. A proven track record of repeatedly building successful relationships with partners and leveraging relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive towards successful outcomes. 
• Strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit that translates into successful accomplishment of program goals 
• Highly adaptable and solutions-oriented with an ability to solve complex problems even when faced with resource limitations  
• Excellent organizational skills, detail-orientation, and ability to multitask and handle changing priorities 
• Strong follow-through and accountability able to manage multiple responsibilities while meeting deadlines with minimal reminders 
• Intermediate to advanced Excel and reporting skills with an affinity towards data-driven outcomes. 
• Background working with families and within communities reflective of SEO’s Scholar population with the combined lived and learned experience to effectively apply a genuinely empathic, and inclusive lens to both relationships and work product.  
• Bilingual Spanish/English is helpful; other languages skills are welcome. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS   

SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to put people first and foremost.  

The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.  

EEOC Policy 

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment. 

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status. 

If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent. 

THE ORGANIZATION 

Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is an educational non-profit founded on the belief that talent is everywhere; but opportunity is not. Our programs are designed to educate, train, mentor, and amplify the voices of our participants to give them a seat at the table – every table. We propel human potential. 

SEO is an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational career opportunities that maximize the full potential of our participants. Each year SEO serves 7,000+ participants nationally, and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results. 

Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity and SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence. Learn more about SEO's programs here: https://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/.