Overview

About the Bard Prison Initiative

Formed in 1999 to address the mass incarceration crisis, the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) defies expectations of who college is for and where it might lead. For twenty years, BPI has reimagined and redefined questions of availability, affordability, and expectations typically associated with college in America. One of the most rigorous and effective college-in-prison programs in the country, BPI is now extending its radical intervention in educational inequity outside of prison through the Bard Microcolleges and BardBac.

About the Position

The Associate Director of Career and Workforce Development will join BPI’s New York City team to implement a high-touch, data-driven program model that helps young people and adults affected by the justice system to be equipped for economic mobility. This role will focus on youth in a juvenile detention center in Brooklyn, NY and will manage a team member who serves BPI’s adult students. The Associate Director of Career and Workforce Development position is a one-year, full-time and salaried position that will start on July 1, 2023 and end on June 30th, 2024. There is a possibility for a 2-year extension depending on grant renewal. The person in this position reports directly to the Director of NYC Programs.

The Associate Director is a highly skilled relationship builder and a strategic, energetic, and effective leader who will ensure the individuals BPI serves develop the skills they need to obtain, retain, and thrive in their career of choice. The Associate Director will have the opportunity to design and oversee a youth’s career journey and ensure superb delivery of direct services and programming (e.g., individual support, workshops, educational resources). In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Learning and Instruction and occupational training partners, the individual will ensure that curricula and programming are aligned with needed industry competencies.

Work Locations

  • Crossroads Juvenile Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York
  • BPI New York CIty Office – midtown Manhattan office 

Please note that initially, the Associate Director will be primarily in the NYC midtown office. Following onboarding, with exception to Thursdays, the Associate Director will be fully in person at the juvenile center Monday through Friday. On Thursdays, the Associate Director will be in BPI’s midtown Manhattan office for staff meetings and professional development.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee overall day-to-day facilitation, design, and consistent delivery of programs and youth engagement and retention during the course of the grant
  • Facilitate the success and cohesion of the teams and partners working on the youth career development grant and foster a positive team environment
  • Manage and develop Academic and Career Experiential Learning Coaches and an Alumni Career Advisor to have a positive and sustainable impact
  • Coordinate with the Associate Director of Education Persistence, Success, and Advising in ensuring that students in need of higher education for their chosen career are properly informed and supported
  • In collaboration with the NYC Programs team, establish goals, key performance indicators, and metrics and ensure the data and information are collected
  • Effectively engage and motivate youth
  • Develop and manage strong and purposeful relationships with occupational training partners

Required Qualifications

  • At least 5 years of professional experience in career services, career development, workforce development, or talent recruitment and/or development
  • At least 3 years of experience managing a team
  • Extensive knowledge of job recruitment landscape, including deep insights on employers, labor market trends, bars of success, barriers to employment
  • Strong understanding of the opportunities, issues, and challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face in the workplace
  • Associates degree required
  • Capacity to recognize and appreciate the lived experience of students while supporting them in reaching their highest potential
  • Have an aptitude for engaging youth
  • Values and promotes diversity and inclusion
  • Comfortable with and skilled at working with/navigating technology
  • Ability to adhere to BPI and NYC Administration for Children Services policies and procedures at all times
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Strong time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail
  • Flexible and adaptable

Preferred

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Three or more years in program or grant management
  • Professional experience with youth development or the reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals

Compensation: $75,000 – $85,000 plus benefits

To Apply

Please submit a resume and list of three professional references as well as one document that answers the following questions:

  • What are the top two reasons you are interested in exploring whether this position is the right fit for you? (Maximum of 250 words)
  • What are the top two to three things that others would say you are better at than 95% of the people they know? Share how this has made a difference in your work. (Maximum of 250 words)
  • Take a look back at any job and/or class you had and tell us about one to two experiences when you had to go to someone else for help because they were stronger in a certain area. (Maximum of 250 words)
  • What are the top 2-3 things those who have worked with you would say you are not so good at doing? Cite some evidence or examples. (Maximum of 250 words)

Upload these documents to Interfolio at: http://apply.interfolio.com/125879

Equal Opportunity Employer

Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information.

Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.