Associate Director of Pathways for Young Adults

Friends of the Children•Portland, OR

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Friends of the Children is seeking a visionary, collaborative, and data-informed leader to join us as the Associate Director of Pathways for Young Adults Program. This is a unique opportunity to help operationalize and scale a new national program focused on helping young people ages 16–22 successfully navigate postsecondary education, career readiness, workforce entry, and life success. Working closely with the Director of Pathways for Young Adults Program, this leader will play a key role implementing new program infrastructure, leading a team of Life Coaches, refining best practices, and ensuring young adults have the support they need to become happy, healthy, and economically independent adults. The Pathways for Young Adults Program is a strategic innovation at Friends of the Children designed to improve access to postsecondary education, career training, workforce opportunities, and long-term economic mobility for program youth and graduates. This role sits at the intersection of youth development, coaching excellence, program implementation, and systems-building. As Associate Director, you will help shape a program model that can transform outcomes for young people across our national network. You'll serve as a key connector among national staff, local chapters, youth-serving professionals, alumni, and community partners, while ensuring that the program remains youth-centered, outcomes-driven, and aligned with our mission and values.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
5+ years of experience in college access, workforce development, or related field
2+ years of people management or team leadership experience
Demonstrated experience with and understanding of postsecondary pathways (college, CTE, workforce)
Experience working with underserved, first-generation, or historically marginalized students
Strong communication, coaching and people management skills
Data-driven decision-making and analytical thinking
Relationship-building across diverse stakeholders
Cultural responsiveness and adaptability
Ability to manage complexity and drive results

Nice To Haves

Experience managing outcomes-driven programs with measurable KPIs
Familiarity with FAFSA, financial aid systems, and admissions processes
Experience building employer or higher education partnerships
Proficiency with CRM/data systems and performance tracking tools

Responsibilities

Lead program implementation and develop tools required for program execution
Work with Director to set key performance metrics and drive results
Develop and refine coaching frameworks, tools, and resources that operationalize the program design and delivery
Ensure consistent, high-quality coaching aligned to program model and standards
Work with Friends of the Children staff and leaders to co-create solutions that are both standardized and localized to meet community needs
Ensure alignment across the Friends of the Children 12+ years professional mentoring program model and the Pathways for Young Adults Program
Work with Director to analyze data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement
Supervise and develop the Life Coaches and the Alumni Coordinator
Foster a strong, solutions-oriented Pathways for Young Adults team culture grounded in accountability and youth-led success
Steward relationships within and outside the Network that enhance partnerships and opportunity for program graduates and alumni
Manage project against implementation timeline, accountable for key milestones
Ensure compliance with organizational policies and funding requirements
Partner with leadership on budgeting, staffing, and program growth
Manage program logistics, including events, communications and reporting timelines
Champion access to postsecondary and career pathways and opportunities
Ensure culturally responsive coaching practices across the team
Address systemic barriers impacting underserved youth, developing an holistic empowerment model that advances economic independence and opportunity

Benefits

100% of employee only health premium covered for 2 of the 4 plans
100% of employee only dental premium covered
100% of employee only vision premium covered
Basic Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment: 100% paid by Friends of the Children
Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability: 100% paid by Friends of the Children
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Healthcare FSA minimum of $100 maximum of $3,400.
Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary Benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospitalization, Legal, etc.
401(k) savings plan with a company match of up to the first 4% of earnings that the employee contributes.
Cell phone and/or Internet Reimbursement: up to $75/month
Office reimbursement of $150 per year on anniversary date.
Up to three weeks of paid vacation annually for the first 4 years (pro-rated first year, increases with service)
Two weeks/80 hours of sick time awarded on January 1st of each year (prorated for new employees)
Eleven paid holidays, including three Floating holidays
Career Development and Wellness Reimbursement of up to $1000 after the first year of employment (up to $200 for Wellness)
Summer hours and end of year holiday gift of time off
Employee Perks and Discount Programs