Position Title: Mentoring Specialist
Department: Youth Mentoring
Status: Full-time (38-hour work week), Non-Exempt Professional, Union Employee, Classification 6A
Agency Location: Based in Los Angeles
Working Location: Based in Los Angeles – combined office/remote work (three days in office required)
We recognize that the diversity of the community we serve must be reflected in every aspect of our organization for JBBBSLA and Camp Bob Waldorf to have the greatest impact. Our commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion is vital to our mission and is essential for our success.
Join a forward-thinking organization that has been proven to make a positive impact on children’s lives. Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA), celebrating over 100 years of service in the greater Los Angeles area, is seeking a dynamic individual to join our innovative and collaborative team. JBBBSLA provides mentoring services, teen empowerment programs, college support, and year-round camp experiences at Camp Bob Waldorf. Our mission is to assist children in achieving their full potential through innovative, impactful programs.
Job Summary
The Mentoring Specialist role combines the enrollment, matching and match support functions, providing employee with diversity in the role and a high level of team collaboration and support. The Mentoring Specialist will conduct and document interviews with families and volunteers, coordinate background/screening requirements, develop written assessments, make recommendations regarding approval and match selection. They will facilitate in-person match introductions and maintain a match caseload. Through regular communication with Littles, Bigs and parents/guardians, the Mentoring Specialist will ensure child safety, promote positive impacts for youth, foster constructive and satisfying relationships between children and volunteers, and cultivate for all constituents a strong sense of affiliation with the agency. All processes and communication are documented in our workflow/database and executed with outstanding customer service.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Distribution of responsibilities among the areas below may vary depending upon the department’s needs.
- Enrollment & Matching
- Conduct interviews with children, parents/guardians and volunteer prospects, evaluating for eligibility, suitability, coachability, and readiness to partner effectively.
- Coordinate background/screening elements for volunteers (criminal background checks, fingerprints, references and other screening updates).
- Utilize Matchforce dashboards/workflows to thoroughly monitor, advance and document participants’ progress, keeping enrollment processing time to a minimum.
- Prepare comprehensive written assessments and recommendations based on interviews and all information gathered.
- Provide external referrals and resources to those whose needs we can’t meet.
- Ensure that all communication is documented professionally, and that enrollment records provide an accurate history with all data current and accurate.
- Propose safe and appropriate match relationships based on pools of volunteers and children, with priority attention to those waiting the longest.
- Process pending matches efficiently, following up with all parties promptly, and maintaining a healthy momentum toward the Match Introduction Meeting (MIM).
- Conduct Pre-Match Meetings and/or Match Introduction Meetings for pending matches.
- Ensure a smooth transition of constituents to the match stage.
- Conduct Match Support contacts with volunteers, children and parents/guardians.
- Document comprehensive written summaries of all match support contacts in database.
- Address potential problems and barriers promptly toward resolution whenever possible.
- Promote agency engagement at various levels for all constituents when appropriate.
- Facilitate development of Youth Outcome Development Plans for each match.
- Utilize validated surveys to determine health and progression of the match relationship and to provide additional support/intervention as needed based on survey data.
- Coach matches as needed to help avoid unnecessary or premature closures
- Encourage healthy closure processes for all involved to mitigate any negative impact on child
- Assess reasons for match closure and evaluate reenrollment/re-engagement potential.
- Miscellaneous
- Provide support to Events & Activities projects, including:
- Collaborate with mentoring team to strategically distribute in-kind donations based on criteria such as financial need, targeted interest and compliance with program
- Coordination/distribution of donated tickets
- Serving as point-person for Small Group Outings (SGOs)
- Development of digital event invitations and registration materials
- Additional Duties as assigned.
Skills and Qualifications
We are seeking a candidate with a strong belief in the Mission and Vision of JBBBSLA, as well as the following:
- Bachelor’s degree (preference for fields related to social work, psychology, human development, communications).
- 1-2 years of experience working with children/youth in social services, or in a customer service environment with a working understanding of child development and family dynamics.
- Relationship management experience with youth and/or adult populations.
- Experience in public speaking (presenting, facilitating, training and/or recruiting) with adults a plus.
- Highly collaborative workstyle with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (oral/written).
- Able to develop rapport with individuals and groups from diverse sectors; well-developed cultural competency.
- Able to work effectively and sensitively with confidential information.
- Able to work successfully both in a team and independently.
- Well-developed, active listening skills with high-level customer service in all areas of responsibility.
- Strong interpersonal insight with ability to document observations and impressions with objectivity and professionalism.
- Outside-the-box thinker with strong initiative and ability to leverage opportunities for multiple purposes.
- Solid networking skills with ability to recognize and cultivate the potential for connections/collaboration.
- Good judgment, able to make sound decisions and problem-solve effectively.
- Solid organizational skills, comfortable multi-tasking and able to shift priorities quickly when needed.
- Strong commitment to quality and results with good attention to detail.
- High-level computer skills: proficiency in Microsoft Office, internet-based and database applications (Salesforce and Constant Contact experience a plus).
- State-required auto insurance minimums and willingness to travel as necessitated by job responsibilities.
Must be able to work some evening/weekend hours and have some flexibility with schedule (related to outreach calendar). Position will involve occasional travel to facilitate enrollment, matching and/or match support process, and to participate in off-site match events.
Benefits Package: JBBBSLA offers a compensation package that includes a competitive salary range ($25-$28/hour) commensurate with experience. Generous paid vacation and sick leave plus four additional personal days, paid federal and all no-work Jewish holidays (avg. 13-19 total paid holidays per year). Employer-paid benefits include 5% 403b retirement plan (after one year), paid vision and dental insurance, paid life insurance (after one year), paid long-term disability insurance (after 60 days) and paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Other benefits include a generous portion of employee's medical premium paid, voluntary 403b retirement plan, voluntary Flexible Spending Account (FSA), pet insurance discounts, and opportunities for learning and professional development. We close early on Fridays in observance of Shabbat creating a 38-hour work week. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get to work with a fantastic team of people who truly care about the work that we do.
To apply, please send resume and cover letter to [email protected] and please enter Mentoring Specialist in the SUBJECT line. No phone calls, please.