POSITION DESCRIPTION May 2024

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT & VOLUNTEERISM

Mission: Student Sponsor Partners harnesses the power of quality education and mentorship to help New York City youth in underserved communities escape the cycle of poverty and reach their highest potential. 

Vision: Creating opportunities for students today. Impacting their tomorrow.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEGACY & CONTEXT

Founded by Peter Flanigan in 1986, Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) has been providing private high school education and one-on-one mentorship for New York City youth in underserved communities to equip them with the academic foundation and character development they need to realize their untapped potential.

Thousands of students are supported by a sponsor and a mentor to guide them through their high school years and beyond. SSP’s record of success is evidenced by the fact that more than 85 percent of its students graduate from high school, which is a substantially higher rate than that historically achieved by New York City public high schools. More than 50 percent of SSP high school students graduate from college. SSP currently supports approximately 1,200 students a year.

Based in the Wall Street District of New York City, SSP has a current budget of approximately $10 million and has 22 budgeted employees. SSP currently operates on a three-day or four-day hybrid in-office virtual work schedule.

For further information about SSP, please visit https://sspnyc.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

SSP comprises the following three divisions: Philanthropy & Resource Development; Programs; and General Administration.

The Director will create and monitor the most effective strategies for building partnerships with individuals, organizations, and corporations, defining the process for ongoing recruitment to fulfill volunteerism and mentorship needs. To promote corporate engagement, they will develop and lead volunteer and mentorship curricula and build a volunteer and mentoring program. They will develop a team to implement a supercharged outreach program to ensure the successful recruitment of 300 mentors per year for students and individual/corporate volunteers for other activities related to SSP. They will be responsible for developing the architecture of this program and making it efficient and easy to be a part of the volunteer community.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

It is expected that the Director of Corporate Engagement & Volunteerism will:

TEAMWORK & TEAMBUILDING

· Establish a strong working partnership with the team built on trust, hard work, and a shared passion and commitment.

· Listen to, communicate with, support, and partner effectively with colleagues, managers, students, mentors, donors, and external stakeholders in accordance with the spirit of SSP.

· Serve as an exemplary ambassador, partner, supporter, and promoter of SSP to corporate leaders, sponsors, and donors. Develop, cultivate, and strengthen relationships over time.

· Anticipate needs of corporate donors, staying ahead of the curve and addressing their requests.

· Build upon an environment in which all participants see themselves as an integral part of the SSP family. Convey sense of privilege to be part of SSP and inspire all supporters to feel it is their privilege as well.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

· Build relationships with partners to bolster recruitment efforts.

· Cultivate institutional and individual partnerships to attract volunteers with organizational alignment and the appropriate skillsets. Employ various platforms and social media as recruitment tools.

· Collaborate with the Communications Team to develop and implement a marketing strategy to expand outreach for recruitment of volunteers.

· Institutionalize the process of recruiting volunteers by implementing a strategic volunteer talent acquisition process and infrastructure.

· Lead mentor events by speaking to large groups in person and virtually.

· Strong public speaking skills and sales type approach to engagement. Participate in community volunteer fairs and similar activities.

· Partner with other SSP staff on corporate and other applicable pitches.

· Create and monitor programmatic budget.

TRAINING

· Maintain and build upon SSP’s branded templates of mentor service descriptions and requirements, application forms, and promotional materials for comprehensive mentor trainings.

· Ensure cultural sensitivity in mentor and volunteer training.

· Utilize SSP curriculum on mentor training and introduce valuable resources to mentors.

EVALUATION

· Commit to a culture of continuous improvement, pursuing ways to address the gaps and enhance the efficiencies for volunteer recruitment.

· Establish and achieve recruitment metrics.

· Assess strategies. Monitor and provide monthly analysis of mentorship engagement.

· Provide direction to staff for mentorship pairs and volunteerism and track management.

· Report on volunteer and mentorship engagement for corporate partners to steward relationships.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, & CHARACTERISTICS

The Director of Corporate Engagement & Volunteerism will be a poised, motivational, organized team player and relationship builder. Specifically, the ideal candidate will be or will possess:

· A leader passionate about education and inspired to recruit others to strengthen opportunities for educational equity and access.

· Committed to the value, impact, and benefits that mentorship and volunteerism can play and offer in the lives of underserved students.

· Skilled in volunteer management with deep knowledge of social sector, including current trends.

· Strong emotional intelligence to deal effectively with diverse populations. An empathic communicator who can quickly build rapport, trust, and credibility.

· Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.

· A consummate team player with a proven track record of success and enjoyment working collaboratively with others.

· Excellent analytical skills. Able to work with abstract ideas and synthesize information.

· Able to leverage networks and interpersonal skills to influence outcomes.

· Strong program development and project management skills.

· Experience in event planning, community giving, or program participation a plus.

· Impeccable attention to detail, deadlines, and follow-through. The ingenuity and creativity to find solutions with limited resources.

· Outgoing, straightforward, and able to share information, listen, and learn as well as give advice.

· An optimist with a proactive and positive can-do attitude. Enthusiasm to grow and willingness to take on new responsibilities as needed.

· Experience with information systems and technology.

· Highest level of integrity and trustworthiness, with the skill to exercise confidentiality and discretion.

· A bachelor’s degree and two-plus years of relevant work experience including working with volunteer organizations and programs.

· Spanish proficiency a plus.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management software.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is estimated at $120,000 to $150,000. SSP offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package.

SSP seeks a diverse pool of candidates and will offer a competitive salary. Applications, including cover letters and résumés, and nominations should be sent to the attention of Paul Spivey at SSPManager@PhillipsOppenheim.com.

Student Sponsor Partners