Director of Postsecondary, Career and Life Coaching

Friends of the Children • Portland, OR

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Friends of the Children is seeking a visionary and data-informed leader to serve as their Director of Postsecondary, Career & Life Coaching. This role will help refine and evolve a new national program innovation focused on postsecondary access, career readiness, persistence, and life success for young people aged 16-22. The Director will be responsible for project management, coordination, and leading a team of Life Coaches and the National Alumni Coordinator. This position reports to the Chief Officer of Strategy and Innovation and is part of the National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in college access, workforce development, youth development, or related field
• 2+ years of people management or team leadership experience
• Strong understanding of postsecondary pathways (college, CTE, workforce)
• Experience working with underserved, first-generation, or historically marginalized students
• Project management and strategic planning skills
• Strong coaching and people management skills
• Data-driven decision-making and analytical thinking skills
• 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 a team of Life Coaches supporting young people from their junior/senior year of high school through age 22.
• Ensure high-quality, consistent coaching that results in successful transitions to life, postsecondary education, career training, or the workforce, and persistence in those pathways.
• Serve as the central point of project management and coordination for the new postsecondary, career and life coaching program.
• Evaluate and evolve the program design as lessons are learned.
• Be responsible for staff supervision, program quality, and outcomes.
• Help shape strategy and continuous improvement efforts.
• Partner with internal teams to refine program design and implementation strategy.
• Work with national leadership, external partners, and researchers to set key performance metrics.
• Manage the project against the implementation timeline and be accountable for key milestones.
• Hire, supervise, coach, and evaluate a team of Life Coaches and an Alumni Coordinator.
• Provide ongoing professional development, training, and performance feedback.
• Foster a strong team culture grounded in accountability and youth-led success.
• Support Life Coaches in managing complex situations and escalations.
• Support the Alumni Coordinator in stewarding relationships that enhance partnerships and opportunities for program graduates and alumni.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality coaching aligned to the program model and standards.
• Work with national staff to develop and refine coaching frameworks, tools, and resources.
• Observe coaching sessions and provide actionable feedback.
• Ensure alignment across the Friends of the Children program and the postsecondary/career extension program.
• Support the collection of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Work with researchers to analyze data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure coaches are effectively tracking individual youth progress and milestones.
• Lead coordination with chapter program leadership to maximize collaboration and coordination in service to young people ages 16-22.
• Build and manage relationships at the national level that advance program goals.
• Represent the program in external meetings and events.
• Manage program logistics, including events, communications, and reporting timelines.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and funding requirements.
• Partner with leadership on budgeting, staffing, and program growth.
• Champion access to postsecondary and career opportunities.
• Ensure culturally responsive coaching practices across the team.
• Address systemic barriers impacting underserved youth.

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
• 100% paid Basic Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• 100% paid Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Healthcare
• 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
• 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 in the first year)
• Two weeks/80 hours of sick time awarded annually (pro-rated for new employees)
• Eleven paid holidays, including three floating holidays
• Flexible work schedule/Remote/Hybrid work options
• Career Development and Wellness Reimbursement of up to $1000 after the first year of employment ($200 for wellness)
• Summer hours and end of year holiday gift of time off (assessed annually)
• Employee Perks and Discount Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director