Foster Postsecondary Success Manager

Key information about this role:

• Hybrid position - mostly remote with an in-office component. Local applicants only, please. 
• The position is dependent on state funding.
• The start date is estimated for July 8, 2024.

About us

Youthprise is a resource for youth-serving organizations and systems throughout Minnesota. Youthprise’s mission is to increase equity with and for MN’s low-income, indigenous, and racially diverse youth by mobilizing and investing resources, investing knowledge, and advocating for change. Our priority areas are learning and leadership, economic opportunity, health, ownership, wealth, and power.

Why Join Our Team?

In addition to working with passionate individuals focused on driving change and making a difference through innovation, we offer the following generous benefits.

Paid for 100% by Youthprise for employees:

• Medical Insurance with a defined contribution to the employee’s HSA 
• Family Dental Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement match on day one
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance (up to $10k – additional voluntary available)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Up to 12 paid holidays
• 18 paid vacation days (accrued throughout the year and pro-rated for part-time employees)
• Unlimited Sick Time
• Paid Parental Leave

Benefits available paid partially or wholly by the employee:

• Vision insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Medical and life insurance for dependents

We are currently seeking a Foster Postsecondary Success Manager.

Job Summary:

The Foster Postsecondary Success Manager implements and ensures equitable and timely distribution of grants for eligible former fosters in Minnesota. The manager works with young people, community and college & postsecondary partners, and the state of Minnesota to ensure grant funds support credential and degree attainment for former fosters in the state of Minnesota.  

Essential Job Functions:

Leadership & Program Administration

• Collaborate with the System Transformation Officer & key Youthprise staff, the Minnesota State ETV (Educational and Training Voucher) Manager, and young people on the Foster Postsecondary Success Board to ensure equitable and powerful results in degree and credential attainment.  
• Ensure seamless distribution of the full funds of the semester award in alignment with federal and state compliance. Use data and young people’s experiences to make necessary improvements to ensure the postsecondary award is an effective tool for postsecondary credential and degree attainment.
• Develop an orientation to the Foster Postsecondary Program and guides.
• Maintain a navigation caseload of young people enrolled in the grant program, ensuring that young people are making safe and equitable progress toward their career goals in appropriate settings.
• Manage a budget for the program and ensure that funds are distributed appropriately and within the state budget.
• Develop effective systems that meet state and federal compliance and ensure that they are easy to use for the young people who use this tool.
• Prepare reports for the state of Minnesota and larger communities on the use and distribution of funds.
• Supervise the Foster Postsecondary Success Coordinator and collaborate with the Senior Financial Capability Navigator to ensure program goal attainment.

Working with Community Partners

• Collaborate with the Director of MAA to offer regular learning opportunities for social workers (in the county, in schools, in the community) that result in CEUs and a better understanding of the pathways to and through postsecondary credential and degree attainment.  
• Ensure the positive functioning of the Foster Postsecondary Success leadership board & that feedback is incorporated 

Communications

• Publicly communicate about the Foster Postsecondary Success program with county staff, partners that support young people in Foster Care, higher education institutions, and other key community members.
• Create regular state reports and a public yearly summary report of outcomes of the Foster Postsecondary Success program.
• Collaborate with youth leaders on the Foster Postsecondary Success board to ensure aligned communication for future users of the program. Include young adults in decision-making processes. 

Shared Strategy and Measurement

• Prepare work plans that respond to program metrics, youth feedback, and shifting contexts.
• Prepare and administer surveys for young people in the program to assess program quality, connection to the postsecondary program, and overall well-being.
• Maintain appropriate data using mandated data privacy practices.
• Use data to develop a progress system for each young person and develop support navigation appropriately

Plus other duties as assigned or apparent.

Requirements

Minimum Education and Experience

• Leadership experience in a youth board, within a school, local nonprofit, government agency, etc.
• A relevant postsecondary credential or degree.
• Experience leading or creating programming.
• Expansive experience with Opportunity Youth (Foster Youth; Youth experiencing Homelessness; Young Parents; Youth in the Justice System; Youth who left school without a degree.)

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Ability to build strong relationships across various community groups with a vested interest in the Foster Postsecondary Success program.
• Ability to lead a meeting for results.
• Demonstrates characteristics of Social Entrepreneurship which include: Ambitious (tackling major social issues); Mission Driven (promoting systemic social change); Strategic (has a vision for the future); Resourceful (skilled at mobilizing human, financial, and political resources); and Results Oriented (driven to produce measurable results.)
• Demonstrated experience organizing and/or managing collaborative or partnership efforts with emphasis on mobilizing diverse constituent groups for a common purpose.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills and the ability to use current technology efficiently (Google Suite–Slides; Docs; Sheets; Remind; Canva).
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work through ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to be at ease with individuals representing a broad spectrum of beliefs, backgrounds, and ideologies to work in crafting solutions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of organizational development, operational and project planning, and strategic planning processes.

A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable insured vehicle are also required.

Working Conditions and Environment

• Ability to travel occasionally (15%); mainly in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, but travel within the state is possible.
• This is a hybrid position with the in-office component in an accessible office building that is smoke-free.
• Work is performed in an office setting, where the incumbent may be exposed to noise and a regular flow of people. Headaches, eyestrain, and other related occupational hazards reflect the most common potential for injury. 
• Work is light duty and sedentary, with the ability to lift, carry, or push during setup for meetings and events.
• This position may be frequently exposed to mental effort and stress, assigned to changing priorities, and perform work requiring attention to detail under deadlines. 
• The ability to operate and interact with computers or other office equipment via keyboard, mouse, or touch screen is required.