Hiring a Bay Area Project Manager @ Youth In Focus! (Oakland)
Posted by: lailan
Submitted: July 26, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Youth In Focus
Bay Area Project Manager
Job Description
Youth In Focus (YIF) is a non-profit training and capacity-building organization that works with underrepresented youth and their adult allies in youth-led action research, evaluation, and planning projects. Our work is rooted in the belief that youth can effectively partner with adults to create vision and address social and organizational challenges, and that these partnerships are crucial to making just, democratic, and sustainable social change.
Youth In Focus seeks a Project Manager to coordinate youth-led action research projects that promote youth voice and power, organizational development and social change throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This position is based in our Oakland office, and is funded for 30 hours/week with the possibility of becoming full-time. Project Managers provide training and capacity-building support to youth-led action research and evaluation projects in the fields of community health, education, and community justice. Project Managers, along with all staff members, are also part of a shared leadership structure and have a significant role in the visioning, strategic planning, and continual growth of the organization and work.
In youth-led action research projects, young people identify issues that impact them in their schools and communities, collect data from their peers and adults, and work to turn this information into action. These projects aim to support youth and adult partnerships and sustain youth leadership in organizational and community planning, evaluation and design. Our project partners are community-based organizations, schools, service providers, government agencies, networks, and coalitions that serve youth of color, low-income youth, LGBTQIQ youth, immigrant youth and other underrepresented young people.
Project Manager Responsibilities include:
Project Management. Develop, conduct, and manage school-based and community-based youth-led action research and evaluation projects throughout the Bay Area. This includes implementing our curriculum to facilitate trainings for young people; providing coaching to adult site coordinators in the youth-led action research process; and building organizational capacity to sustain youth voice in organizational planning, assessment and design; and supervise project associates and interns on Youth REP projects.
Organizational Development. Collaborate with Youth In Focus staff to: participate in strategic planning; develop our Stepping Stones curriculum; participate in program planning and design in staff meetings; participate in peer support and accountability systems; contribute to internal staff trainings and organizational development toward a shared leadership model; share in administrative and operations tasks as needed.
Field and Movement Building. Actively participate in relevant coalitions, networks, and cohorts to support movements for social change. Collaborate with Co-Directors, fellow Project Managers, project partners, and youth to produce articles and publications, help build collaborative and accessible resources for allies, attend and make conference presentations, and help to build the field of youth-led action research.
Program Evaluation. Document and assess project work, including evaluation of youth-led action research and evaluation projects and capacity-building consultation and trainings. Help develop and implement on-going improvement in evaluation. Promote on-going learning and program improvement through assessment of the process and outcomes of our projects and initiatives.
Fund Development/Financial Management. Support the development of grant proposals and grant reporting for the projects and initiatives.
The nature and extent of responsibilities will be based on the needs of the organization and take account of the assets and interests of the applicant.
Qualifications
• Prior project leadership and/or organizational leadership experience (2 years minimum);
• Strong facilitation, teaching or training background (depth or length of prior experience, curriculum development);
• Demonstrated effectiveness in working with youth, especially using models of youth empowerment;
• Experience with and/or knowledgeable about health, educational, and community justice issues, especially in the Bay Area;
• Ability to work with both youth and adults of diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented young people and adults;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multi-task to complete project deliverables within tight deadlines;
• Ability to manage travel throughout the Bay Area with reliable transportation;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Enthusiasm for building an innovative, social justice organization; and
• Commitment to the organization for a minimum of 2 years.
Other Desired Qualifications
• Experience and/or knowledge with action research, popular education, and organizing;
• Experience and/or knowledge of youth empowerment, youth organizing, and youth leadership development;
• Familiarity with social science research and evaluation methods (degree or equivalent life experience);
• Background in organizational capacity building and/or professional/organizational coaching;
• Experience in leading program planning, design, and/or evaluation;
• Empowering supervision and/or mentoring skills;
• Experience and/or knowledge with policy analysis and/or advocacy at local and state levels;
• Experience working in collective or shared leadership structures.
How to Apply
Youth In Focus offers a supportive and progressive work environment. People of color and members of the queer and transgender community are encouraged to apply.
Compensation: DOE, annual salary range is $35,000 to $40,000, prorated accordingly for a PT position. The position includes comprehensive benefits and a generous vacation package. Excellent opportunities for growth and professional development.
Please send a cover letter that explains why you’re interested in Youth In Focus and why you’d be a good fit for the position, a resume and brief writing sample to lailan@youthinfocus.net.
Application deadline is August 1st, 2008.
Start Date: September 2008
No phone calls please.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.