Position Announcement—Youth Opportunities Specialist

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Job Title: Youth Opportunities Specialist
Department: Strategy, Innovation, and Engagement Team
Reports To: Strategy, Innovation, and Engagement Team Director

Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) supports the work of Georgia Family Connection—the only statewide network of its kind in the country. We bring together more than 3,000 local- and state-level partners in all 159 counties in Georgia working toward measurably better outcomes for our children, families, and communities.

We provide expertise in planning and governance, and by administering the state-appropriated funds for the county Collaboratives. We also set standards of excellence and help Collaboratives evaluate their progress in addressing the challenges in their communities by bringing together:

  • representatives and leaders from state agencies;
  • civic groups, local businesses, and faith communities;
  • elected officials; and
  • concerned citizens.

The state’s designated KIDS COUNT grantee, we also provide state agencies, policymakers, and community leaders with current, reliable data they need to inform decisions about improving outcomes for the children, families, and communities they serve.

Summary

The Strategy, Innovation, and Engagement Team provides an understanding and develops mechanisms to nurture partnerships and influence decision-making—ranging from exploratory conversations to cooperatively implementing innovative strategies—to better connect county- and state-level work in order to improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.

The youth opportunities specialist will provide content expertise and leadership to a newly formed cohort of 10 county Collaboratives focused on improving high school graduation rates in their communities. This position works closely with the Community Support, Evaluation and Results Accountability, and Outcomes teams to implement local strategies and create a feedback loop between partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Community Support:

  • In conjunction with lead regional manager and evaluator, engage cohort Collaboratives in developing, implementing, and evaluating community-based strategies for high school dropout prevention to improve graduation rates
  • Keep current on best practices related to community-based strategies that support youth development, high school dropout prevention, and improving graduation rates—and provide technical assistance to cohort Collaboratives in implementing strategies related to those areas
  • Serve as a content expert for GaFCP and the statewide network on youth development, and connect youth development strategies with other Collaborative programs, services, and activities, where applicable
  • Assist in engaging local partners and developing and supporting strategy teams’ work
  • Work with an evaluator to develop an evaluation plan for the cohort
  • Regularly engage cohort Collaboratives, convene cohort meetings, and support them in understanding the cohort process and adhering to the model

Partnership Development:

  • Establish and strengthen collaboration with local- and state-level partners and potential partners, working to address youth development and improve high school graduation rates.
  • Represent GaFCP in meetings and other forums related to youth development and educational success
  • Engage and regularly convene partners to maintain an advisory committee to provide high-level leadership to the cohort
  • Assist in developing the Request For Proposal process for cohort Collaboratives
  • Serve as a liaison between the Community Support and Strategy, Innovation, and Engagement teams for cohort work
  • Support the development of papers, compendiums, reports, briefs, and other material that highlight lessons learned and successes of the work

Skills

  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and coaching skills
  • Ability to synthesize data and research
  • Ability to organize and prioritize workload
  • Ability to lead and develop team members
  • Computer literacy in Word, Excel, and office management software
  • Experience working with data systems and data analytics
  • Diplomacy, sound judgement, and discretion when dealing with staff, partners, and the public
  • Expertise in applying best practices related to supporting youth development and improving high school graduation rates
  • Experience using an asset-based framework to support the development of community-based strategies

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in relevant field from accredited institution required
  • At least three years of community development, technical assistance, coaching, or related experience required

To apply for this position, send a cover letter and résumé to Akia Lewis at akia@gafcp.org (subject: Youth Opportunities Specialist).

This position will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.  We will contact those in whom we have an interest.

GaFCP is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.