Scholar Program Coordinator

ORGANIZATION

Journey into Education and Teaching (JET) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides expert college admissions advising, financial aid guidance, and multi-year 1:1 mentoring to ethnic-racially diverse cohorts of Massachusetts paraeducators who aspire to obtain a bachelor’s degree and Massachusetts teaching license. We prioritize working with communities where the ethnic-racial diversity of the student population does not align with the ethnic-racial composition of the teacher workforce.

To learn more about JET, please visit: https://www.jetintoteaching.org/.

OPPORTUNITY

We seek a qualified, committed candidate to coordinate all aspects of the JET Scholar Program. The Scholar Program supports and enhances the academic and professional learning journey of JET’s paraprofessionals – our scholars – as they go through our onboarding process to apply and enroll in college, apply and navigate financial aid, persist through college, and begin their teacher preparation and career as a teacher. 

Reporting to the Program Manager, the JET Scholar Program Coordinator plays a critical role in implementing JET’s service model. The JET Scholar Program Coordinator is a remote role. There may be periodic in-person JET staff convenings in Massachusetts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Responsibilities coordinating the JET Scholar Program (80% of job) 

Scholar Cohort - Peer Support Network

• Facilitate the development of a Scholar Cohort each year to serve as a peer support network.
• Create opportunities for Scholar Cohorts to get to know each other and be able to communicate with one another. 
• Under the guidance of the Program manager, review and co-facilitate professional development and programming to support the needs of each cohort based on scholar identified needs.  
• Set up a calendar of check ins, goal setting, and motivation including sending a regular newsletter with relevant and encouraging information. 
• Set up and manage a data system to track scholar progress in the JET program. 
• Assist in tracking new scholar onboarding data.

Mentor Program  

• Manage communications for 30-40 mentors based on JET’s organizational calendar.
• Assist in executing a recruitment strategy including tracking mentor responses from application.
• Help implement the Mentor Program Model with fidelity. Ensure mentoring partnerships are meeting as assigned and expected. Troubleshoot as necessary.
• Deliver training modules and relevant information to mentors through monthly emails.

Scholar Program Data and Impact 

• Support data tracking and collection of both quantitative and qualitative outcomes of mentoring including sending surveys to improve quality and measure impact and evaluation.  

Responsibilities as part of the JET staff team (20% of job)

In addition to these main priorities, the Scholar Program Coordinator is responsible for supporting statewide work and projects as needed to ensure program goals are met. Statewide projects include, but are not limited to the following: 

• If necessary, represent JET at public events, including presentations at meetings and conferences
• Participate in professional and leadership development.
• Collaborate to share best practices, including working closely with JET staff to align the needs of paraprofessionals and mentors.
• Diversity and equity work.      
• Community building events with scholars and mentors and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with our development work in support of telling the JET story. 
• Engage with the JET staff  – participate in professional development track and build connections and resources.

QUALIFICATIONS

A competitive candidate for this role will have many of the following skills and experiences. Research shows that women and people of color tend to only apply for positions when they match every criterion. If you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every check box in this job description, we encourage you to still apply. We'd like to learn more about you and see if you could be a great fit for JET. 

• Demonstrated experience managing, leading, and developing a diverse team of adults, often through conflict and with an eye toward identity exploration and development, in service to a common goal.
• Experience preparing and facilitating training sessions.
• Knowledge of mentoring/coaching adults.
• Experience teaching or working with adult learners.
• Strong project management skills; able to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and stakeholders effectively; ability to generate results and complete projects within deadlines. 
• Strong track record of building authentic partnerships and relationships with school districts and schools rooted in anti-racist practices, as well as experiences partnering with and engaging communities of color, with immigrant, refugee, Indigenous and/or trauma-affected populations. 
• Strong problem-solving skills, with experience building equitable, human-centered processes and finding creative solutions to balance competing priorities; the ability to manage challenging situations with patience, kindness, and professionalism.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the proven ability to adapt and translate complex topics and messages for different audiences and lean into difficult conversations. 
• Demonstrated a lived commitment to apply racial, gender and economic justice lenses in both personal and workplace contexts.  
• Demonstrated commitment to curiosity and humility as a life-long learner, seeking diverse perspectives and opportunities for self-growth.  
• Background working in a school, district or other education setting preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This role is a full-time, remote position. The salary is $60,000. We offer health benefits, PTO, holidays, and a home office stipend. 

If you are interested, email your resume and cover letter to Jazmine Benoit at jazmineb@jetintoteaching.org  with the subject line “Program Coordinator Application.”

ORGANIZATIONAL CORE COMPETENCIES TO BE DEVELOPED IN THIS ROLE 

Core Competencies

• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Equity mindset
• Mission orientation
• Ownership

Leadership Competencies

• Data-Driven management
• Decision making
• Inclusivity
• Management under uncertainty
• Strategic thinking
• Team development and motivation

JET is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.