Join a small team of passionate and dedicated employees working to fulfill DREAM's mission: closing the opportunity gap for youth living in affordable housing communities. This position is a member of DREAM's Employee & Member Support team which strives to fulfill our organization's mission of closing the opportunity gap by supporting each other, our programs, our youth, and our AmeriCorps members.
The DREAM Program is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where all staff, volunteers, youth and families have the opportunity to thrive. We believe in continuous learning and growth, and we encourage members to engage with curiosity, openness, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact. Our mission is to close the Opportunity Gap by providing mentorship and enriching experiences that support youth from a wide range of backgrounds. We seek teammates who bring unique and varied perspectives, experiences, and skills. DREAM values individuals who are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels seen, supported, and empowered.
Responsibilities:
- Build and sustain high quality, community-based relationships
- Build a relationship with every volunteer mentor, as well as every youth and their caregivers.
- You will attend to youth, families, and partners' variety of needs as it relates to DREAM
- Assure each volunteer mentor and AmeriCorps member is prepared, trained, and supported and provides an intentional, enriching experience to the youth and families served.
- Lead Programs to Excellence
- Provide each youth with an excellent year-round DREAM experience by establishing and supporting each program offered at our program sites. Within the year round experience and each program offered, DREAM youth and families should experience: 1) agency over their DREAM experience, 2) high quality, dedicated relationships with mentors on a weekly basis through a combination of Village Mentoring and Summer Enrichment activities, 3)high levels of attendance and success in school, 4) a broader sense of self and the world, 5) a whole lot of fun!
- You will operate the organization's programs and activities with fidelity to its models, with the intention of continuing to strive toward excellence and expand our offering to as many eligible youth as possible.
- Support of program transitions seasonally between school year and summertime. Each program focuses on out-of-school time activities - summer months include creating and delivering daily activities that fight the “summer slide” and engage youth in fun and structure on a daily basis while school year months focus on out of school time activities and relationships.
- Communication
- You will be working closely on a team of other managers and directors in the region, communicating with and supporting others regularly, both in-person and virtually.
- Communication with mentors, parents and partners occurs every week (or more frequently as circumstances may direct).
- Communication with DREAM’s broader community occurs monthly in multiple ways (For example: reporting to our Board of Directors, building new partnerships in each community, and connecting with local organizations and resources that offer supplemental services to youth and families).
- Participate as a member of DREAM’s Employee & Member Support team by attending regular meetings and driving strategy and execution of initiatives.
Preferred qualifications/experience:
- 1+ years of experience in managing a group of employees, service members and/or volunteers.
- Demonstrated practice or education serving and supervising individuals who have a variety of lived experiences in a manner that is respectful and aware of how those experiences impact who they are as individuals and as a community.
- 2+ years experience in organizations focused on youth development.
- Demonstrated skills in positive communication among a team.
- Experience maintaining an organizational property, office, and/or program space.
- Computer proficiency: comfort with Microsoft Office apps, Google's GSuite and email communication; database experience; accounting software experience.
- Familiarity with AmeriCorps grant requirements and mentoring program requirements as expressed by CNCS and state and local regulations, respectively.
- Demonstrated ability to manage time and set priorities while giving consideration to staff, the organization, and the self.
- Creativity, energy, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
- A contagious energy for DREAM’s work.
- Comfortable working in an outdoor environment in all seasons.
Type of work/expected commitment:
This is a full time, salaried, overtime exempt position. The position will average 35-45 hours per week with regular evenings and occasional weekend events over the course of the year. Participation and leadership at regular multi-day retreats is required (typically one each quarter).
Compensation:
Total compensation value: upwards of $59,000 which includes:
- Salary range commensurate on experience ($45,526-$50,078), overtime exempt.
- Group Medical Insurance for the employee paid at 100% of cost the plan (no probationary period - plan is based on our current group offering in Vermont - a “bronze” plan level)
- five weeks (25 work days) paid time off (PTO) inclusive of vacation, sick and personal days;
- eight (8) paid holidays (including six (6) single days, a winter break from December 24-January 1 and a November break);
- free access to Employee Assistance Program and its corresponding benefits;
- free access to Amazon Prime buying and streaming services;
- paid membership in position-specific professional organization;
- access to professional development opportunities;
- DREAM gear/uniforms;
- access to 3% employer match retirement plan, and
- expanded health benefits (dental and vision) with employee contribution.
Work environment: This position operates in multiple spaces. The spaces included will often be an indoor environment, in both shared and remote workspaces. You will often travel to other regions, be present on-site with children, families, and volunteers, within the housing communities we serve, or on campus at the colleges we are partnered with. This role routinely uses computers, phones, and a variety of other softwares (design, databases, organization) for communications, systems, and program accountability.
Physical demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee/member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:
- This position requires comfort working in outdoor environments, regardless of the weather. This position can be active and frequently requires standing, walking, and bending.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to communicate with individuals who talk and hear.
- The employee/member may occasionally lift and/or move items over 50 pounds.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to observe and comprehend using vision abilities that include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Travel: Travel includes local travel during the work hours described. Out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be occasionally expected.
AAP/EEO Statement: The DREAM Program is an equal opportunity employer and an incorporated 501(c)3 charitable organization. The DREAM Program prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
At will employment: The DREAM Program is an at will employer. Employment with The DREAM Program is voluntary and is subject to termination by you or The DREAM Program at will, with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time. The policy of employment-at-will may not be modified by any officer or employee.
