GEAR UP Education Specialist

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Position: GEAR UP Education Specialist
Reports To: Youth & Family Engagement Coordinator
Type: Full-Time
Position Summary: The GEAR UP Education Specialist is a new position within Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey. This position will work on the Girls Inc. GEAR UP program created in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. GEAR UP provides critical early college awareness and support activities including mentoring, academic enrichment, career exploration, and financial education to improve access to higher education for low income and minority students, most of whom will be the first in their families to attend college.

To Apply, please send cover letter and resume in PDF format to: Thalia Wetherill, Youth & Family Engagement Coordinator twetherill@girlsincpa-nj.org – The subject line of the email should include your full name and “Girls Inc. GEAR UP Education Specialist Application”.

Organization Description: Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey (Girls Inc.) is committed to providing opportunities to empower girls and support women by advancing their rights and opportunities through education and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire all girls and young women to be strong, smart, and bold. Reducing the barriers they face and reforming systems that impede their success is fundamental to our mission. In partnership with schools and at our Girls Inc. center, we focus on the development of the whole girl. We approach this work with an equity lens, focusing on the needs of girls from low-income communities and girls of color, who face multiple intersectional challenges. We are committed to girl-centered advocacy, informed by the lived experiences of girls in our network, and girl-led advocacy that lifts their voices and empowers them to be change agents in their communities and beyond. The combination of long-lasting mentoring relationships, a pro-girl environment, and research-based programming equips girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. Girls Inc. serves over 3,000 girls annually.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and lead youth development activities and programs.
Identify, recruit, and retain eligible GEAR UP students at assigned school sites.
Design and implement a comprehensive plan with strategies and timelines that is grade-level specific and supports post-secondary planning.
Facilitate the planning, coordination, and execution of programs.
Provide GEAR UP students with assistance in the areas of healthy living, academic enrichment, and life skills instruction.
Foster relationships with school/site administrators and teaching staff. This includes spending non-direct service time at sites to meet with teachers/administrators to discuss students’ progress.
Communicate directly with parents/caregivers to promote, support, and encourage both parent and student participation in GEAR UP activities.
Maintain accurate data, records, and files to track the activities, achievement, participation, progress, and status of individual GEAR UP students; generate written reports as required.
Submit accurate, complete, and timely data and performance reports as requested.
Work collaboratively with the Youth & Family Engagement Coordinator to maintain a high quality and safe program.
Act in accordance with Girls Inc. policies and procedures; practice the duties and responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Enthusiastic about the mission and vision of Girls Inc
Must be able to report to program site daily
Experience implementing trauma-informed activities that support behavioral health or social emotional learning
Ability to plan, implement, monitor, assess, and record student progress against GEAR UP goals
Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of students in a diverse community
Knowledge of community health care and community services
Experience in prevention, intervention, education, social work, child development, special education, social welfare, psychology, or other related science fields
2+ years experience working with students
Experience facilitating meetings and working in groups
MUST be bilingual (Spanish/English)

Required Certifications and Clearances

BA/BS in Social Work or a closely related field (e.g. social services, sociology, psychology, theology, education, criminal justice, human services, and public administration)
CPR/ First Aid/ AED Certification
Child abuse clearance, FBI clearance, and criminal background clearance

Location: Girls Inc. at the BOK Building and other school-based locations as required
Salary: $40,000 with benefits