ABOUT US

First Place for Youth is the largest provider of housing and comprehensive services for transition-age foster youth in the state of California. We’re giving young people the tools, support, and opportunities they need to take control of their own lives and create the futures they want. We’ve built a 20+ year record of success, measured not just by the number of youth who walk through our doors, but by the outcomes they achieve.

POSITION SUMMARY

The National Practice Support Manager provides training, technical assistance, implementation planning, and support on the My First Place™ program model to our national partners, including data collection and fostering a performance driven culture. This includes initial training and ongoing role-specific coaching to support site launch, implementation, and improved youth outcomes. This individual will facilitate building relationships with key community providers and connections to local resources. This staff person will help identify barriers or issues arising and employ creative solutions, informing the type of assistance needed to help improve on the ground support. Additionally, the National Practice Support Manager will support the department’s administrative and research specific needs.

The National Practice Support Manager is a specialized role requiring staff with program oversight and implementation experience, ability to facilitate site and program planning, intensive training, and implementation coaching. This person needs to be comfortable engaging externally, managing high profile relationships, and adapting to context and need while upholding fidelity to our mission, program model, and approach.

The National Practice Support Manager will work in both structured, and at times, undefined environments. As such, this position requires a program expert whose passion for First Place’s mission is matched with decisiveness, outstanding communication skills, a strong understanding of First Place culture, and a keen ability to train others. This requires a strategic and resourceful individual with a drive to do whatever it takes to ensure that network partners receive proper support while working at a practical level to engage line staff one-on-one to effectively serve youth. Up to 30% of out-of-state travel is a requirement for this role and will fluctuate based on project goals and implementation timeline. Travel may range from a couple of days up to 6 weeks, project dependent.

BENEFITS

• Full-time position
• 15 days of vacation time in year one
• 12 days of sick time
• 2 flexible holidays
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid sabbatical
• Paid maternity and paternity leave
• Employee’s choice of Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO
  • Up to 90% of premium covered by First Place
• Delta Dental Premium PPO
• VSP Vision
• Retirement opportunities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning, Training, Launch, and Technical Assistance

• Co-develop and execute customized implementation plans with project sites providing comprehensive technical assistance and coaching to support their launch and operation of My First Place™ core components.
• Provide in-person facilitated training with program leadership and implementing service team(s). The length of time the National Practice Support Manager will be on-site at the partner organization varies based on the project scope and implementation timeline.
• Conduct bi-annual Youth Service Reviews with active implementing partners to check on the quality of services being provided and effectiveness of those services for participating youth.
• Collaborate with VP of National Partnerships and other departmental leaders to inform oversight and strategic recommendations, and remain informed about practice improvements from First Place direct service sites.

National Network Support

• Share insights from launch, implementation and support of assigned partners to strengthen network offerings.
• Support formal and informal ways for partner sites to engage with each other in peer learning activities, such as our community of practice calls.

Administrative and Research Specific Support

• Conduct background research to support due diligence and vetting of potential new network partners.
• Coordinate document requests, conduct background research and data entry to support the ecosystem mapping and analysis process, and partner relationship development.
• Coordinate and schedule stakeholder and youth focus groups.
• Co-facilitate stakeholder focus groups and interviews.

ABOUT YOU

• ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE – MA/MSW/MPA preferred. BA required.
• LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE – A strategic thinker with the ability to foster a learning environment while driving outcome achievement. Effective team-based leadership skills and cross-functional collaborative capacity. A minimum of two (2) years of management experience required; relevant experience may be considered. Experience managing people, projects, or programs preferred.
• TRAINING OR COACHING EXPERIENCE – Experience providing technical assistance or coaching support to government agencies, non-profit organizations, or staff.
• PROGRAM AND FIELD KNOWLEDGE – At least two (2) years of experience working with vulnerable populations, preferably transition age youth. Understanding of social service systems, with particular emphasis on the foster care system and services for young adults and young parents. Experience with current or former foster youth or with education, employment, or housing programs preferred. At least one year of direct service, residential, or wraparound experience preferred.
• CLEAR COMMUNICATION – Communicates clearly and effectively with co-workers, supervisors, and youth. Must be able to comprehend, follow, and clearly convey instructions to others.
• DATA AND EVALUATION EXPERTISE – Experience using a performance management system to manage a youth development program required. Experience with Apricot and Power BI preferred. Aptitude to use data to assess progress towards goals and ability to problem solve within the framework of the My First Place model. Ability to leverage and coach on the use of data to inform decision-making.
• WORK IN AMBIGUITY – Experience working with undefined projects and at times making decisions without clear direction or clarity on potential outcomes. The personal grounding to work in ambiguity and create direction.
• CHARISMA – Interpersonal charisma. Public speaking ability. Flexible, energetic and outcomes- oriented individual who brings a creative approach to solving problems.
• DECISIVE NATURE - Well-honed ability to anticipate and analyze situations, define problems and objectives, recognize viable alternatives and formulate rapid solutions in collaboration with First Place leadership, with understanding of the inherent risks and the implications of making tough decisions.
• COMPUTER SKILLS – Must be able to work on a computer for up to 40 hours per week. Proficiency with Office applications including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook required. Experience with performance management systems preferred.
• AVAILABILITY FOR FREQUENT TRAVEL – Travel estimated at 15-30%, and most significant immediately after each new affiliate is launched. When launching a new site, staff may be at the partner site for up to two (2) months.
• SYSTEM-WIDE THINKING - Uses role to champion First Place’s strategic vision internally and externally. Strategizes and implements rather than just completes tasks.
• LEADERSHIP - Models desired behaviors. Builds on strengths and is willing to grow in areas of weakness. Seeks input, assesses risks and makes decisions. Creative approach to challenges. Demonstrates good instincts regarding impact and implications of action. Makes effective decisions and achieves results in the midst of change.
• OPERATIONS - Implements operational systems that support completion of project goals and deliverables. Anticipates challenges and responds appropriately to unforeseen problems.
• TIME MANAGEMENT - Concentrates efforts on First Place priorities and supporting successful project launch and ongoing monitoring of implementation at assigned sites. Utilizes systems, processes and tools to ensure accuracy and efficiency in approach to effectively use their own and other people’s time and resources.

If First Place for Youth is the organization you are looking for then apply today! Our team will be excited to meet you. Review the attached job description for position details.

www.firstplaceforyouth.org