Director of Corporate Engagement & Volunteerism

Mission: Student Sponsor Partners
harnesses the power of quality education and mentorship to help New
York City youth in underserved communities escape the cycle of
poverty and reach their highest potential.

Vision: Creating opportunities for
students today. Impacting their tomorrow.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL LEGACY & CONTEXT

Founded by Peter Flanigan in 1986, Student Sponsor Partners
(SSP) has been providing private high school education and
one-on-one mentorship for New York City youth in underserved
communities to equip them with the academic foundation and
character development they need to realize their untapped
potential.

Thousands of students are supported by a sponsor and a mentor to
guide them through their high school years and beyond. SSP’s record
of success is evidenced by the fact that more than 85 percent of
its students graduate from high school, which is a substantially
higher rate than that historically achieved by New York City public
high schools. More than 50 percent of SSP high school students
graduate from college. SSP currently supports approximately 1,200
students a year.

Based in the Wall Street District of New York City, SSP has a
current budget of approximately $10 million and has 22 budgeted
employees. SSP currently operates on a three-day or four-day hybrid
in-office virtual work schedule.

For further information about SSP, please visit
https://sspnyc.org.

 

POSITION SUMMARY

SSP comprises the following three divisions: Philanthropy &
Resource Development; Programs; and General Administration.

The Director will create and monitor the most effective
strategies for building partnerships with individuals,
organizations, and corporations, defining the process for ongoing
recruitment to fulfill volunteerism and mentorship needs. To
promote corporate engagement, they  will develop and lead
volunteer and mentorship curricula and build a volunteer and
mentoring program. They  will develop a team to implement a
supercharged outreach program to ensure the successful recruitment
of 300+ mentors per year for students and individual/corporate
volunteers for other activities related to SSP. They will be
responsible for developing the architecture of this program and
making it efficient and easy to be a part of the volunteer
community.

 

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

It is expected that the Director of Corporate Engagement &
Volunteerism will:

TEAMWORK & TEAMBUILDING

• Establish a strong working partnership with the team built on
  trust, hard work, and a shared passion and commitment.
• Listen to, communicate with, support, and partner effectively
  with colleagues, managers, students, mentors, donors, and external
  stakeholders in accordance with the spirit of SSP.
• Serve as an exemplary ambassador, partner, supporter, and
  promoter of SSP to corporate leaders, sponsors, and donors.
  Develop, cultivate, and strengthen relationships over time.
• Anticipate needs of corporate donors, staying ahead of the
  curve and addressing their requests.
• Build upon an environment in which all participants see
  themselves as an integral part of the SSP family. Convey sense of
  privilege to be part of SSP and inspire all supporters to feel it
  is their privilege as well.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

• Build relationships with partners to bolster recruitment
  efforts.
• Cultivate institutional and individual partnerships to attract
  volunteers with organizational alignment and the appropriate
  skillsets. Employ various platforms and social media as recruitment
  tools.
• Collaborate with the Communications Team to develop and
  implement a marketing strategy to expand outreach for recruitment
  of volunteers.
• Institutionalize the process of recruiting volunteers by
  implementing a strategic volunteer talent acquisition process and
  infrastructure.
• Lead mentor events by speaking to large groups in person and
  virtually.
• Strong public speaking skills and sales type approach to
  engagement. Participate in community volunteer fairs and similar
  activities.
• Partner with other SSP staff on corporate and other applicable
  pitches.
• Create and monitor programmatic budget.

TRAINING

• Maintain and build upon SSP’s branded templates of mentor
  service descriptions and requirements, application forms, and
  promotional materials for comprehensive mentor trainings.
• Ensure cultural sensitivity in mentor and volunteer
  training.
• Utilize SSP curriculum on mentor training and introduce
  valuable resources to mentors.

EVALUATION

• Commit to a culture of continuous improvement, pursuing ways to
  address the gaps and enhance the efficiencies for volunteer
  recruitment.
• Establish and achieve recruitment metrics.
• Assess strategies. Monitor and provide monthly analysis of
  mentorship engagement.
• Provide direction to staff for mentorship pairs and
  volunteerism and track management.
• Report on volunteer and mentorship engagement for corporate
  partners to steward relationships.

 

IDEAL EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, &
CHARACTERISTICS

The  Director of Corporate Engagement & Volunteerism
will be a poised, motivational, organized team player and
relationship builder. Specifically, the ideal candidate will be or
will possess:

• A leader passionate about education and inspired to recruit
  others to strengthen opportunities for educational equity and
  access.
• Committed to the value, impact, and benefits that mentorship
  and volunteerism can play and offer in the lives of underserved
  students.
• Skilled in volunteer management with deep knowledge of social
  sector, including current trends.
• Strong emotional intelligence to deal effectively with diverse
  populations. An empathic communicator who can quickly build
  rapport, trust, and credibility.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation
  skills.
• A consummate team player with a proven track record of success
  and enjoyment working collaboratively with others.
• Excellent analytical skills. Able to work with abstract ideas
  and synthesize information.
• Able to leverage networks and interpersonal skills to influence
  outcomes.
• Strong program development and project management skills.
• Experience in event planning, community giving, or program
  participation a plus.
• Impeccable attention to detail, deadlines, and follow-through.
  The ingenuity and creativity to find solutions with limited
  resources.
• Outgoing, straightforward, and able to share information,
  listen, and learn as well as give advice.
• An optimist with a proactive and positive can-do attitude.
  Enthusiasm to grow and willingness to take on new responsibilities
  as needed.
• Experience with information systems and technology.
• Highest level of integrity and trustworthiness, with the skill
  to exercise confidentiality and discretion.
• A bachelor’s degree and two-plus years of relevant work
  experience including working with volunteer organizations and
  programs.
• Spanish proficiency a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management
  software.

 

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is estimated at $120,000 to
$150,000. SSP offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits
package.

 

SSP seeks a diverse pool of
candidates and will offer a competitive salary. Applications,
including cover letters and résumés, and nominations should be sent
to the attention of Paul Spivey at SSPManager@PhillipsOppenheim.com.