US2020 Program Manager, Mayor’s Office of Education

Posted by City of Philadelphia on June 15, 2015

US2020 Program Manager
Reports to: Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director
Compensation: $35K – $45K. Contract or salary status to be negotiated

Overview
The US2020 Program Manager is a new position that will help continue Philadelphia’s US2020 STEM Mentoring Initiative beginning in July 2015. Philadelphia’s STEM Mentoring Initiative arose out of Philadelphia’s participation in the national US2020 effort, which was developed from a White House call to generate large-scale, innovative solutions to our STEM education challenge, with a focus on increasing access to STEM careers for girls, low-income youth and students of color. Announced by President  Obama at the 2014 White House Science Fair, US2020 will match one million STEM mentors with students at schools and youth-serving nonprofits by the year 2020, creating moments of discovery for the next generation of STEM professionals, from kindergarten through college.

The US2020 PHL STEM Coalition is comprised of over 100 corporations, educational institutions and nonprofits whose mission is to grow a local talent base of diverse students that will become the region’s next generation of STEM professionals.

The US2020 PHL STEM Coalition will continue to create a culture, framework, and national model for high-impact STEM mentoring of Philadelphia youth: that both leverages the skill base and expertise of STEM professionals and lowers the achievement gap of low-income, female, and students of color in STEM. The US2020 Program Manager will work with the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director to manage the schedule, stated outputs and outcomes, and implementation of tasks set forth in a related grant application and the Year 2 Strategic Plan. The US2020 Program Manager will be charged with assisting the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director in developing innovative solutions to Philadelphia’s STEM education challenge: in partnership with the US2020 PHL Coalition and other relevant stakeholders across the city.

Duties and Responsibilities:
o Recruit corporate partners, educational institutions and nonprofits to join the US2020 PHL STEM Coalition.
o Work with the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director to execute a citywide strategic plan for high-impact STEM mentoring in partnership with the US2020 PHL Coalition.
o Work with the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director to develop a performance management framework, including outcomes and metrics for the Coalition’s efforts.
o Supervise and manage three AmeriCorps VISTA staffers that will serve as additional program leaders and capacity builders for the project.
o Serve as point person for local nonprofits and K-12 educators and administrators regarding their needs and experience with receiving STEM mentors.
o Manage information gathering into opportunities to replicate successes across sites and course correct quickly as needed.
o Assist the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director in developing marketing strategies to promote awareness of high-impact STEM mentoring, partnerships and volunteer opportunities.
o Promote STEM mentoring citywide, and assist youth serving organizations in implementing high impact STEM mentoring into existing programming.
o Report progress regularly to the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director and the US2020 PHL STEM Coalition; seek strategic direction, guidance and support from them as needed.
o Plan quarterly US2020 PHL STEM Coalition meetings to further create a local community of practice. Work collaboratively to determine best practices, find solutions to unforeseen challenges, find ways of leveraging assets and knowledge sharing, and seek on-going opportunities to recruit corporate, non-profit, and school-based partners.
o Generate a robust and comprehensive STEM mentoring map reflecting out-of-school and in-school STEM program opportunities citywide: building on the current work from Year 1.
o Work with the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director to oversee the management of the city’s Online STEM Resource Center (OSRC): to keep the public abreast of citywide STEM opportunities and keep STEM corporations informed about mentoring opportunities.
o Assist the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director in developing a sustainability plan beyond the Nutter Administration. This includes working with the Mayor’s Office of Grants and the US2020 Fundraising and Development Coordinator to identify and pursue funding opportunities to support the sustainability of the US2020 PHL work.

Organizational Relationships:
Reports to the Director of STEM Initiatives/US2020 Project Director. The position works closely with the US2020 PHL STEM Coalition and US2020 PHL Leadership Team to design and promote high-quality STEM mentoring opportunities for disadvantaged youth throughout Philadelphia. Manages three AmeriCorp VISTA Coordinators.

Required Qualifications:
o Experience in a STEM or mentoring field highly preferred.
o Experience and proven track record in building and leading successful collective impact initiatives.
o Ability to build and develop strong, constructive relationships with STEM corporations, higher education institutions and non-profits required.
o Experience in capacity-building, movement building, and proven team building skills required.
o Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and skill levels required.
o Strong oral and written communication skills; presentation skills; problem-solving skills; decision-making skills; influence/interpersonal skills; analytical skills; project management skills; supervisory skills; and multi-tasking skills required.
o Ability to work within budgetary parameters and garner resources from coalition members to accomplish project objectives.
o Positive attitude, sense of humor, a strong vision for and belief in the project and ability to collaborate, inspire and engage with all players and partners a must.
o Education/Experience: A Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred.

To apply please submit a resume and cover letter to Kendrick.davis@phila.gov by June 22, 2015