About

Department: Youth Mentoring

Status:  Full-time (38-hour work week), Non-Exempt Professional, Union Employee

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 Mentoring Specialist 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.  JBBBSLA is proud to have achieved a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, their highest level of distinction. Our mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Our vision is that all children achieve success in life.

Job Summary: The Mentoring Specialist (MS) is responsible for interviewing families and volunteers, providing integrated assessments, making professional recommendations regarding approval and match selection, facilitating match introductions, and supporting the volunteers and children that are matched in the one-to-one mentoring program. The MS will ensure child safety, promote positive impacts for youth, foster constructive and satisfying relationships between children and volunteers, and cultivate a strong sense of affiliation with Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles on the part of the volunteers.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct child and family enrollment interviews, and present child safety information.
• Prepare written assessments and recommendations based on interviews and professional judgment.
• Create safe and appropriate match relationships based on current pool of volunteers and children.
• Conduct Introduction Meetings for new matches, match intervention and other meetings as needed with match parties.
• Conduct regularly scheduled Match Support contacts (either in person or through phone or electronic contact) with the volunteers, children and parents/guardians in order to ascertain that the elements of child safety, match relationship development, positive youth development and volunteer satisfaction are fulfilled. Identify and address potential problems and barriers as early as possible.
• Document comprehensive written summaries of all match support contacts in real-time, web-based contact management software, in order to comply with BBBS standards.
• Facilitate development of Youth Outcome Development Plans for each match.
• Monitor and meet metrics for enrollment and match support goals in the areas of match length and customer satisfaction, as well as match support and survey administration compliance.
• Conduct exit interviews by phone with all parties at match closure. Assess reasons for match closure and re-match/re-engagement potential and conduct re-assessments accordingly.
• Maintain accurate files and documentation on all volunteers and children/families
• Utilize validated surveys to determine health and progression of the match relationship and to determine child’s growth in the program, providing additional support/intervention as needed based on survey data.
• Identify and promote re-engagement of volunteers as Bigs, board members, donors and in other volunteer capacities.
• Support additional projects, as determined in collaboration with supervisor (e.g., mentor training, constituent newsletters, events, etc.)
• Collaborate and share information and resources with other agency staff and management.
• Other 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.
• 1-2 years of experience working with children in a social services environment, and/or understanding of child development and family dynamics
• Relationship management experience with youth and/or adult populations preferred.
• Ability to work effectively and sensitively with confidential information.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work both in a team and independently, to exercise good judgment, make sound decisions & problem solve.
• Collaborative workstyle with strong interpersonal skills
• A strong commitment to quality and results
• Strong computer skills: proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-based applications
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, state-required auto insurance minimums and willingness to travel as necessitated by job responsibilities.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours

BENEFITS PACKAGE:  Competitive salary, paid vacation and sick leave, 3 additional personal days, paid federal and Jewish holidays, and early Friday closure.  Medical/vision/dental insurance, retirement plans (403(b) and Defined Contribution Plan), Life Insurance and Employee Assistance Program.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to Megan Koehler (mkoehler@jbbbsla.org).