Manager of the Women in Entertainment Mentoring Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Los Angeles, CA

Mentoring of the Women in Entertainment Mentoring Program

Posted on: February 1, 2015
Posted by: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles

Partial Grant Funded Position

Reports to: Director of Programs

Position Description

The Manager of the Women in Entertainment Mentoring Program will oversee the planning and execution of all aspects of the program for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (BBBSLA). S/he will oversee and execute: (1) the recruitment and competitive application process for potential mentees, (2) develop and maintain relationships with school partners and liaisons, and liaise with the program partners, namely The Hollywood Reporter, as well as Loyola Marymount University (LMU), (3) screen the potential mentors recruited in partnership with The Hollywood Reporter, (4) provide guidance and match support to each mentor-mentee match throughout the WIE program, (5) collaborate with BBBSLA staff to provide college and career resources to the mentees throughout the year and execute associated scholarship program, and (6) coordinate the logistics of the WIE program execution.

About the Women in Entertainment Program (WIE Program)

Launched in 2009 in partnership with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the WIE Program offers a select group of young women from some of Los Angeles' most vulnerable communities an unprecedented opportunity to receive one-to-one mentorship from the most successful women in the entertainment industry. The WIE Program launches annually at the Power 100 Women in Entertainment Breakfast hosted by THR. Mentors and mentees meet twice a month for a calendar year at the offices of their mentors. Transportation is coordinated by BBBSLA. Individualized professional support is provided to each mentor, mentee and family throughout the length of each match to support the development of each relationship, and the safe and positive growth of each young woman participating in the program. College preparation programming, including SAT preparatory courses, college and career preparation seminars, and a college day at LMU's campus, are coordinated for the WIE mentees throughout the year. Thanks to the generosity of Lifetime through A&E Networks, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, each young woman is awarded a $10,000 scholarship to support their pursuit of higher education upon completion of the WIE Program.

ESSENTIAL JOB ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The essential job activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Manage all aspects of the WIE program in collaboration BBBSLA leadership.
• Act as liaison with program partner, THR, for all WIE program activities.
• Responsible to recruit, interview and select mentee participants working in conjunction with high school partners and The Hollywood Reporter annually.
• Responsible to screen all potential WIE mentors annually.
• Responsible for maintaining WIE program data systems reflecting goals, completions, and overall progress.
• Manage WIE scholarship grants in collaboration with BBBSLA staff to ensure all obligations are met.
• Responsible to help build strong and productive working relationships with entertainment executives represented in our WIE program.
• Collaborate with BBBSLA staff to bring college and career preparation resources to the WIE mentees throughout the WIE Program to ensure readiness for higher education and access via the WIE Scholarship Program.
• Through scheduled in-person and telephone contact, ascertain that the elements of child safety, match relationship development, positive youth development and volunteer satisfaction are fulfilled and that potential problems and barriers are identified and addressed as early as possible. Promptly notify supervisor regarding concerns, which may negatively influence the match.
• Document and monitor all elements of match support and supervision.
• Ensure high-level proficiency and good judgment in applying child safety and risk management knowledge, policies and procedures throughout all aspects of job function.
• Develop strategic interventions to identify and strengthen match relationships that require extra support to continue to grow.
• Establish, monitor and meet goals for match length and customer satisfaction. Utilizing SOR and YOS to assess match impact on youth development.
• Conduct exit interview with all parties at match closure. Assess reasons for match closure and re-match potential Bigs and Littles that are approved to remain active.
• Collaborates with the Director of Marketing on all media and entertainment opportunities, and video or other story telling opportunities.
• Share with development and/or marketing staff any potential partnership relationships as discovered through volunteers' and parents' employers and affiliations.
• Identify and promote re-engagement of mentors and mentees as Bigs, board members, donors and in other volunteer capacities.
• Participate in all Agency staff and team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by agency leaders.
• Customer/Client Focus—Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of fellow staff, volunteers, children, parents and agency partners; talks and acts with them in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationship with customers/clients and gains their trust and respect; views her/his role as adding value to the experience of volunteers and children in their match relationship; builds parental support for the match; deals effectively with diversity; demonstrates high degree of flexibility and adaptability.
• Priority Setting—Spends her/her time and the time of others on what' s important; quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial many aside; can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; creates focus.
• Organizing—Marshals resources to get things done; orchestrates multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal; uses resources effectively and efficiently, identifies informal and incomplete information in time to do something about it.
• Listening—Practices attentive and active listening; has the patience to hear people out, can accurately restate the opinions of others even when he/she disagrees; understands child safety issues and is vigilant in recognizing signs of problems.
• Interpersonal Savvy—Relates well to all kinds of people; builds appropriate rapport; listens carefully to all points of view builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; capable of diffusing difficult situations comfortably; doesn't show frustration. Ability to mediate and create middle ground understanding.
• Approachability—Is easy to approach and talk to; spends the extra efforts to put others at ease; can be warm, pleasant and gracious; is sensitive to and patient with the needs and interests of others; builds rapport well; is a good listener.
• Commitment to Task – Willing and able to pursue goals with commitment and to take pride in accomplishment. Willing and able to take action to achieve goals and strives to exceed goals.
• Results/Outcome Oriented – Is motivated by results; can be counted on to meet and exceed goals successfully; bottom-line oriented; pushes self for results; sets clear objectives and measures; monitors process and progress.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred in related fields: Psychology, Sociology, Child Development, Education, or related fields along with significant life experience working with at-risk youth and low-income communities.
• Must be familiar with the Los Angeles area, community and public schools.
• Ability to work with youth from a variety of different backgrounds.
• Must be able to develop/maintain effective partnerships with community constituents, corporate executives, non-profit groups, and private individuals.
• Demonstrate solid experience in program coordination for 3-5 years
• Must have Customer/Client Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of fellow staff, volunteers, children, parents and agency partners.
• Must have a high level of organization and excellent time management skills.
• Must have excellent public speaking skills and written presentation skills.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours including weekend and evenings.
• Must be willing and able to work with diverse populations
• Must have English/Spanish fluency.
• Must have transportation, valid CA driver's License, and evidence of automobile insurance.
• Must demonstrate advanced computer literacy with MS Office programs

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, bend and drive. Job requires frequent verbal and computer communication. Computer, telephone and fax use are frequently required.

Working Location: Location is based on a percentage of where work time is spent. Indoors--85%. Travel (local) – 15% - job requires local travel to communities, corporations and educational institutions. Occasional out-of-state travel to applicable approved conferences.

Hours and Benefits: Full-time Exempt position (40+ hrs/week). Typical work schedule: Mon-Fri, 10am – 7:30pm, occasional evening and weekend work required. Benefits include PTO, medical, dental, Life, LTD and vision insurance and matching 403(b) participation.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your cover letter and resume to careers@bbbsla.org