Mentoring Specialist

The Mentoring Specialist connects youth (Littles) with positive adult mentors (Bigs) in the Greater New Orleans region, inspiring and empowering them to reach their full potential. This role combines the enrollment, matching, and match support functions of service delivery, which may include screening, interviewing, training, and matching volunteers, parents/guardians, and youth. This position may maintain a caseload of site-based and/or community-based matches, providing support to ensure youth safety and well-being, positive youth impacts, and satisfying relationships between Bigs & Littles. The Mentoring Specialist may also facilitate group mentoring sessions, providing positive role modeling and exposure to help Littles plan, set goals, and increase social and emotional skills, as well as their self-confidence and sense of belonging. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, be organized and flexible, be able to provide a positive customer experience, be able to multi-task, and have a passion for improving the lives of young people.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Conduct volunteer enrollments, including individual & group orientations/pre-match training, interviews, and completion of any other enrollment processes.

• Conduct youth enrollments including orientations, pre-match training, interviews, child safety education, and any other enrollment processes. Assess and refer youth/families for alternative or additional services as needed.

• Ensure a high-level proficiency in applying child safety and risk management knowledge, policies, and procedures throughout all aspects of job function. Identify child safety issues for volunteers, children, and their families.

• Conduct volunteer and youth re-enrollments/updates as indicated.

• Identify and eliminate any barriers interfering with the completion of the enrollment process.

• Review all enrollment information, provide comprehensive assessments, and make match recommendations for volunteer and child participation in the program. Assess and apply factors contributing to a successful match. Effectively align volunteer interests and qualifications with the service options of the agency. Consult with other service delivery staff and/or supervisors as appropriate.

• Facilitate in-person match introductions between the youth and volunteer Big, including the parent/guardian when community-based.

• Maintain a caseload of volunteer mentors (Bigs) and youth (Littles) who have been paired in a mentoring relationship. Through regular support and communication, continually assess the match relationship, ensuring child safety and well-being, promoting positive impacts for youth, fostering constructive and satisfying relationships between youth and volunteers, and cultivating a strong sense of affiliation with the agency.

• Identify, address, and resolve existing and/or potential match challenges through regular coaching conversations and in-person or virtual meetings.

• Assess individual training, information, coaching, and support needs for each match participant to ensure a positive youth development experience for the child and a successful and satisfying experience for the volunteer.

• To ensure quality services and measurable outcomes, maintain up-to-date, accurate, organized, and detailed records for each match according to BBBS Standards and agency policies and procedures.

• Utilize technology to report, synthesize, and analyze data, ensuring all processes and communication are thoroughly documented in our workflow/database and executed with outstanding customer service.

• Lead group mentoring sessions by facilitating group relationship development, and curriculum, on a schedule established in partnership with the school.

• Maintain progress monitoring data and notes for youth participants in group mentoring sessions.

• Collaborate with other service delivery staff to ensure smooth transition among functions.

• Establish, monitor, and meet goals for new 1-1 match growth.

• Available on evenings and weekends to support program activities and events, as well as to best reach and support clients.

  Agency Support Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate with other departments to identify possible partners and partnerships, promote agency events, and provide support for other efforts, as necessary.

  • A high degree of collaboration with Match Support program staff to ensure smooth transition among functions, when applicable.

  • Participate in professional training as provided by the agency and the National office to achieve maximum development of professional skills when required.

  • Promote and maintain cooperative working relationships with other community organizations.

  • Participate in agency events to assist with recruitment and fundraising goals.

  • Assume other responsibilities as they arise.

  JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Must have a high school diploma/GED equivalent and meet one of the following criteria:

  • A documented bachelor’s degree, from an accredited college or university, in social work, child and family studies, human services, or a related field, or candidates shall be within six months of degree completion.

  • A documented associate degree or two years of higher education experience, from an accredited college or university in a related field and two years of relevant work experience in related fields, such as social work, counseling, social services, and child development.

  • Four years of relevant work experience in related fields, such as social work, counseling, social services, child and youth development, or other related fields.

  • Ability to work frequent evening and weekend hours and effectively manage a flexible schedule.

  • Ability to collaborate with staff colleagues.

  • Understanding of child development and family dynamics.

  • Ability to effectively assess and execute the following relational support skills: guiding, supporting, confronting, advising, and/or negotiating.

  • Ability to promote an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful mentoring environment that embraces diversity

  • Ability to form and sustain appropriate child, and adult volunteer-based relationships based on positive youth development and volunteer satisfaction.

  • Understanding of issues/barriers that impact children and families from underserved populations.

  • Access to a reliable automobile; valid driver’s license and automobile insurance required.

  • Comfortable in engaging in challenging conversations.

  • Able to form relationships with youth that lead to positive outcomes.

  • Ability to work independently, as well as with a team, exercising good judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

  • Understanding of confidentiality and ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information required.

  • Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment, showing strong attention to detail, handling logistics, and organizing time and priorities.

  • Ability to work autonomously with drive, enthusiasm, and flexibility to go along with a willingness to work as needed to accomplish job requirements.

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills reflecting outstanding customer service, both in-person and by telephone.

  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with proven ability to work with diverse populations and in multicultural environments.

  • Working knowledge of and use of a customer relationship management (CRM) system a plus (Salesforce preferred)

  • Passion for the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the ability to articulate the power of mentoring to make a difference in the lives of youth facing adversity.

  WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  Routine office environment, but with time spent traveling to appointments, interviews, home visits, schools, and to various meetings. The position could be based part-time in an assigned school and/or remote. Flexible work hours to meet enrollment needs. Frequent independent local travel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.

  Equal Employment Opportunity

  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana subscribes to and supports all laws concerning non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity. The policy of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity prohibits the exclusion of potential employees on the basis of a person’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, familial or marital status, pregnancy, age, veteran status, military status, national origin, or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and ordinances.

  American Disabilities Act

  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation and/or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship to BBBS of Acadiana. Contact the Executive Director with any questions or requests for accommodation.

  Disclosures

  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, physical demands and required skills. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana may at its discretion add to or change the duties of the position at any time.