Project Manager

Please see below an announcement for a position with the National
Youth Employment Coalition which seeks a Project Manager of
Postsecondary Achievement. Application deadline: August 6th, 2010.
Send application materials to psi@nyec.org only.

The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC), established in 1979,
is a national network of over 250 organizations and is dedicated to
improving the effectiveness of youth-serving systems and organizations
that help youth become productive citizens. NYEC works at the
intersection of three fields of practice: workforce development,
education and youth development and reflects a blending of principles,
standards and strategies that have emerged from these fields. To
learn more about NYEC, visit www.nyec.org.
NYEC seeks a Project Manager of Postsecondary Achievement who will
provide expertise in education communications and research to
facilitate building a community of practice in the area of
postsecondary completion. This position reports to the Director of
Postsecondary Achievement and is based in Washington, DC. The Project
Manager of Postsecondary Achievement will work to achieve the goals of
NYEC’s Postsecondary Success Initiative (PSI).

The PSI is a national pilot seeking to strengthen the ability of youth-
serving organizations to re-engage disconnected youth and young adults
onto a path leading to postsecondary completion and employment.
Toward this goal the Project Manager of Postsecondary Achievement will
be responsible for collaborating with and providing educational
leadership to the cohort of PSI sites, as well as codifying and
sharing the knowledge that is developed as part of this initiative.

Major duties and responsibilities

Developing and implementing cross-site learning and communication:
• Create a strategy to capture the nature of work at each site and
identify trends. Use this information to design, plan and execute two
yearly all-site conferences and monthly all-site calls
• Identify experts in the field of postsecondary success to deliver
content at all-site conferences and collaborate with NYEC on special
projects
• Travel to sites to conduct assessments of educational capacity,
coordinate with a team of colleagues to create tools and technical
assistance activities to ensure consistent and effective
implementation
• Work as part of a team to ensure synergy and cross-pollination
between the PSI sites

Tool and resource development:
• Serve as the repository of knowledge that is developed through this
work and ensure that ongoing learning informs the practice of NYEC and
the PSI sites. Work with the Director to develop and implement
successful dissemination strategies
• Conduct research on tools and education resources (assessments,
curricula, best practice guides) and assess appropriateness for NYEC
PSI sites. Put into practice online dissemination of tools and
resources on relevant and timely issues of practice to facilitate
cross-site learning and collaboration
• Develop tools, resources, guides, publications on education-specific
topics: promoting college readiness and success, implementing
effective assessments to gauge student learning, using project-based
learning, utilizing cohort-based models, etc.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with other relevant educational
organizations and groups with the goal of recognizing and
disseminating promising practices

Administrative and logistics
• Continue to manage and assist when necessary, conference logistics,
including identifying location of events, food and beverage orders,
rooming lists, audio-visual equipment, registration, maintaining
communication with the hotel staff and other needs as required.
Manage logistics at the conference and provide all follow up and
closing out of accounts
• Support the Director in creating and refining an archive and
dissemination system to create institutional knowledge of the PSI work
• Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications (knowledge, skills and abilities)
• Bachelor’s degree (Human services, social sciences or education
fields and Master’s degree a plus)
• 5-7 years’ experience in direct service and a secondary/
postsecondary education setting
• Experience with organizational capacity building highly desired
• Deep belief in power of low-income youth to succeed with the right
guidance and opportunities
• Fluency in multi-cultural settings and ability to collaborate with
partners to ensure success
• Strong researcher with a deep knowledge of pathways from GED/High
School Diploma to postsecondary education for disconnected youth;
ability to use a variety of research modes, codify findings and
present them to participants with varied knowledge on the subject
• Ability to conduct an on-going literature review, codify and present
findings orally and in writing
• Skilled writer with experience in developing tools and guides on
education-specific topics
• Experience with curriculum development and familiarity with
effective learning principles, training techniques, assessments and
other aspects of educational administration
• Strong knowledge of HTML, web 2.0 design principles to produce web-
based training and communication tools as well as design graphics/
presentations; proficiency with MS Office Suite
• Ability to work effectively across organizations as well as to
provide strong representation of NYEC in the field of education, youth
development and workforce development
• Ability and willingness to travel and make own travel arrangements
(Domestic, up to 50% )
• Must be detail-oriented and a fast learner with deft and humor to
deal with shifting priorities and strategies

Compensation is commensurate with experience, plus an excellent
benefits package. Relocation expenses are not covered.

To apply: Show, don’t tell. Send a cover letter and resume rich with
examples demonstrating drive and talent to excel at this position; two
writing samples exemplifying excellent communications skills; and
sample of web design skills to psi@nyec.org by August 6th, 2010. Only
applications meeting these conditions and with salary requirements
will be considered. Please include PROJECT MANAGER OF POSTSECONDARY
ACHIEVEMENT in the subject line. No phone calls please.

The National Youth Employment Coalition is an equal opportunity
employer. Women and persons of color are encouraged to apply.